| 2010 NWC Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason
Poll: |
2009 records |
| School |
(1st) |
Pts. |
All |
NWC |
| 1. Puget Sound (Wash.) |
(9) |
90 |
18-2 |
15-1 |
| 2. Whitworth (Wash.) |
|
72 |
17-3 |
14-2 |
| 3. Willamette (Ore.) |
|
55 |
9-9-2 |
8-7-1 |
| 4. Linfield (Ore.) |
|
49 |
10-9-1 |
7-8-1 |
| 5. Whitman (Wash.) |
|
48 |
8-9-2 |
7-8-1 |
| 6. Pacific (Ore.) |
|
34 |
7-10-3 |
6-8-2 |
| 7. Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) |
|
29 |
5-13-1 |
4-10-1 |
| 8. George Fox (Ore.) |
|
19 |
7-12 |
4-11 |
| 9. Lewis & Clark (Ore.) |
|
12 |
3-12-5 |
2-12-1 |
(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on
10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).
Aiming for a ninth consecutive Northwest Conference championship
in women's soccer, the University of Puget Sound has unanimously
been picked to finish first in 2010, according to the preseason
poll of conference coaches.
Puget Sound picked up all nine first place votes for a maximum
of 90 points in the poll. The Loggers can extend their NWC
record with their ninth straight conference title.
The Loggers, who finished 18-2 overall and won the NWC at 15-1
last season, must replace Janece Levien, the only
four-time NWC Offensive Player of the Year in conference
history. Goalkeeper Kallie Wolfer, the 2010 NWC Defensive
Player of the Year, also graduated. But the Puget Sound
defense will be led by All-NWC honorees Abby Goss and Serwaah
Fordjour, while All-NWC forward Jenny Moore sparks the offense.
Whitworth was picked second on all nine ballots and has 72
points in the poll. The Pirates, who handed UPS its only
conference loss last season, return All-NWC midfielders Elizabeth
Mattila and Sidonia Davin. Whitworth returns nine
starters.
Willamette is third in the poll with 55 points. The
Bearcats aim for continued improvement behind All-NWC midfielders
Stephanie Skelly and Andrea Rowan.
Linfield (49 points), perhaps the most improved team in the NWC
in 2009, edged Whitman (48) for fourth place in the poll. The
Wildcats were sparked by Anna Sours last fall, who finished second
on the team in goals scored as a true freshman.
Whitman must replace Corina Gabbert, the NWC's leading
scorer in 2009, but returns All-NWC midfielder Amy Hasson.
Pacific (Ore.) is sixth in the poll with 34 points. The
Boxers welcome back Second Team All-NWC forward Ashley Kanda.
Pacific Lutheran received 26 points for seventh place.
Junior midfielder Karli Hurlbut was the Lutes' leading scorer last
season.
George Fox is eighth (21 points), while Lewis & Clark
(19) is ninth in the poll. All-NWC defender Nicole Akiu will
lead the Bruins. Goalkeeper Elise Delgado, who had eight
shutouts last fall, returns for the Pioneers.
The 2010 NWC season gets underway on September 1st.