| 2010 NWC Men's Soccer Coaches' Pre-Season
Poll: |
2009 records |
| School |
(1st) |
Pts. |
All |
NWC |
| 1. Whitworth (Wash.) |
(6) |
67 |
16-3-3 |
11-1-2 |
| 2. Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) |
(1) |
55 |
14-5 |
11-3 |
| 3. Pacific (Ore.) |
(1) |
46 |
14-3-2 |
10-2-2 |
| 4. Puget Sound (Wash) |
|
37 |
9-9-2 |
6-6-2 |
| 5. Linfield (Ore.) |
|
27 |
5-13-1 |
4-10 |
| 6. Willamette (Ore.) |
|
25 |
6-13 |
5-9 |
| 7. Whitman (Wash.) |
|
23 |
4-12-3 |
3-9-2 |
| 8. George Fox (Ore.) |
|
10 |
5-14 |
2-12 |
(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on
9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).
Whitworth picked up six out of eight possible first place votes
to top the 2010 Northwest Conference men's soccer coaches
poll. The Pirates are aiming for a fourth consecutive NWC
title.
Whitworth finished 16-3-3 last season and advanced to the NCAA
Division III elite eight after winning its fifth conference title
in the last six years. The Pirates will have to overcome the
graduation of 2009 NWC MVP Elly Bulega, along with defensive
standout Bryan Olson. First Team All-NWC midfielder Justin
Meyer and Second Team All-NWC midfielder Cameron Bushey return.
Pacific Lutheran and Pacific (Ore.) each received one of the
other first place votes with PLU edging the Boxers in the poll 55
points to 52.
The Lutes return a potent offense led by First Team All-NWC
forward Chad Kearns and Second Team All-NWC forward Spencer
Augustin, who combined to score 20 goals last season - more than
any other NWC combo.
Pacific will rely on the stout defense of senior keeper Andrew
Stevermer, the 2009 NWC Defensive MVP. Mike Iacolucci, an
All-NWC forward, will lead the Boxers' attack.
Puget Sound is fourth in the poll with 37 points. The
Loggers' always-tough defense will be led by Second Team All-NWC
defender Ben Coffey.
Linfield is fifth in the poll with 27 points. Michael
Camacho, a Second Team All-NWC forward in 2009, returns for his
senior season.
Willamette (25 points) is followed by Whitman (23 points) in
sixth and seventh place, respectively. Willamette returns
Erick Kaufman, who scored nine goals last fall. Whitman
welcomes back standout defender Cooper Crosby.
George Fox is eighth in the poll with 10 points. The
Bruins look for improvement behind defender Peter Luginbill.
The season gets underway on September 1st.