| 2009 NWC Men's Soccer Coaches' Pre-Season Poll:
| 2008 records
|
| School
| (1st)
| Pts.
| All
| NWC
|
| 1. Whitworth (Wash.)
| (8)
| 72
| 14-2-4
| 10-2-2
|
| 2. Puget Sound (Wash.)
|
| 47
| 10-7-2
| 8-4-2
|
| 3. Pacific Lutheran (Wash.)
|
| 46
| 9-8-2
| 7-5-2
|
| 4. Whitman (Wash)
|
| 35
| 11-2-7
| 9-2-3
|
| Pacific (Ore.)
|
| 35
| 10-6-4
| 6-4-4
|
| 6. Linfield (Ore.)
|
| 33
| 9-10
| 5-9
|
| 7. Willamette (Ore.)
|
| 18
| 3-14-1
| 2-11-1
|
| 8. George Fox (Ore.)
|
| 8
| 2-15-3
| 1-11-2
|
(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on
9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).
Northwest Conference men's soccer coaches made
Whitworth the unanimous pick to win the 2009 NWC title as the
Pirates aim for their third straight championship. Whitworth
picked up all eight first place votes and a maximum of 72 points in
the poll.
The rest of the poll was more muddied as Puget
Sound barely edged Pacific Lutheran for second place, while
Whitman, Pacific and Linfield were closely clumped in fourth
through sixth places.
The Pirates, who finished 14-2-4 overall and
advanced to its fifth appearance in the NCAA Division III
tournament last season, will try to defend their title without 2008
NWC Offensive Player of the Year Caleb Barnhill who has
graduated. Senior Bryan Olson will anchor the Whitworth
defense as a center back, while Cameron Bushey and Elly Bullega
lead the offense.
Puget Sound totaled 47 points in the poll, while
Pacific Lutheran has 46 points. The Loggers are coming off of
a third place finish in 2008 and will be led by First Team All-NWC
defender Cole Peterson. Meanwhile the Lutes hope to move up
from a fourth place finish in 2008 and will look to All-NWC
midfielder Jason Bjorgo to lead the way.
Whitman and Pacific tied for fourth in the poll
with 35 points. The Missionaries, coming off of a narrow
runner-up finish last fall, lost 2008 NWC Defensive Player of
the Year Brett Axelrod (GK) to graduation, but welcome back Second
Team All-NWC forward Todd Wallenius.
Pacific will be strong in the back with All-NWC
defender Brandon Porter and Second Team All-Conference keeper
Andrew Stevermer.
Linfield was right behind Whitman and Pacific
with 33 points. Senior Kurtis Wong returns as a First Team
All-NWC forward.
Willamette (18 points) is seventh place in the
poll, while George Fox (8 points) is eighth. Senior Casey
Dineen will lead the Bearcats, while sophomore Brennan Altringer
leads the Bruins. Both were Second Team All-NWC selections
last fall.
The season gets underway on September 1st.