Puget Sound Picked to Win Sixth Title in a Row

Puget Sound Picked to Win Sixth Title in a Row

(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).

The Northwest Conference women's soccer coaches have been pretty successful at picking the eventual conference champion the last five years. Mostly because the coaches have been able to pencil in the University of Puget Sound at the top of the list. The Loggers have won five NWC titles in a row and are again picked at the top of the 2007 NWC preseason poll with seven first place votes and 85 points, finishing ahead of Willamette University (two first place votes and 72 points).

Puget Sound, which finished 15-1-4 overall and 13-2-1 in the NWC last year, returns the 2006 NWC Offensive Player of the Year in forward Adrienne Folsom. However, the Loggers must overcome the graduation of NWC Defensive Player of the Year Katie Wullbrandt, along with fellow First Team All-NWC defender Katy Daly. Kallie Wolfer, who earned all-conference honors as a freshman last fall, will be back guarding the net.

Willamette, who finished only one points behind UPS in the standings last fall with a 16-2-3 overall record and a 13-2-1 conference mark, will be led by First Team All-NWC selections Meghan Anderson (MF) and Kelsey Rogel (D). The Bearcats, who have won or shared nine NWC titles in the last 14 years but have not won since 2002, returned to the NCAA Division III playoffs last season.

Whitworth University is third in the poll with 64 points. The Pirates (12-5-2 overall, 10-5-1 NWC) welcome back First Team All-NWC players Jael Hagerott and Greta Thibodeau.

Whitman College is fourth in the poll with 52 points and is coming off of an 8-5-4 season that included an 8-4-4 conference mark. Senior forward Kristen Berndt, a two-time All-NWC selection, will lead a potent attack for the Missionaries.

Pacific Lutheran University (41 points) was in fifth place in the poll. The Lutes (12-7-1 overall, 8-6-2 in the NWC in 2006) return 2005 Second Team All-NWC forward Christina McDuffie, who missed much of last season with an injury.

George Fox University, which made great improvements in 2006, is sixth in the poll with 29 points. The Bruins (6-12-2 overall, 4-10-2 NWC last fall) welcome back honorable mention All-NWC keeper Jessica Cardwell.

Linfield College (27 points) finished just behind GFU in the poll. The Wildcats (also 6-12-2 overall, 4-10-2 NWC) return last season's leading scorer Kelli Gillespie.

Pacific University (23 points) and Lewis & Clark College (21 points) round out the poll in eighth and ninth place, respectively. Honorable mention All-NWC selections Meghan Fredette (Pacific) and Katie Burnett (L&C) return for their senior seasons.

The 2007 season kicks off on August 31st.