HILLSBORO, Ore. – George Fox has been selected as the Northwest Conference frontrunner for the 2022 season, as voted on by conference head coaches. The Bruins earned 35 points and five first-place votes. Willamette ranks second in the poll with 31 points and two first-place votes.
Linfield received 26 points for 3rd, with Whitman closely behind with 20 points. Puget Sound (17 pts), Pacific (Ore.) (12 pts) and Whitworth (6 pts) round out the poll.
The regular season will begin for most NWC teams Saturday, February 12th, with conference play kicking off on Saturday, February 26th.
Below are key returners and players to watch from each team as well as NWC accolades from 2021.
George Fox
Carleigh DeLapp | A/M | FR | Bonney Lakes, WA | Bonney Lake | First Team All-NWC | 2021 NWC Freshman of the Year
Andrea Garcia-Milla | M | JR | Palo Alto, CA | Gunn | First Team All-NWC
Kyra Barnes | M | SO | Boulder, CO | Boulder | First Team All-NWC
Linfield
Bethany Shade | M | SR | Snohomish, WA | Snohomish | First Team All-NWC | 2021 NWC Player of the Year
Gemmajean Patterson | D | SR | San Francisco, CA | Marin Catholic | First Team All-NWC
Maia Rezoski | M/A | SR | Duvall, WA | Cedarcrest | Second Team All-NWC
Pacific (Ore.)
Alex Avila-Griffin | D | SO | Aliso Viejo, CA | Aliso Niguel | Second Team All-NWC
Hyland Cullen-Musengo | M | SO | Portland, OR | Wilson
Vivian Mai | M | SR | Portland, OR | St. Mary’s
Puget Sound
Emily LaRiviere | M | JR | Seattle, WA | Kennedy Catholic | Second Team All-NWC
Bee Bridge | M | SR | Salt Lake City, UT | Skyline | Honorable Mention All-NWC
Hayden Hotchkiss | M | SR | Boulder, CO | Boulder | Honorable Mention All-NWC
Whitman
Claire Podoll | D | SO | San Geronimo, CA | Sir Francis Drake
Sophia Maroulis | A | SO | Palo Alto, CA | Palo Alto
Amelia Leopold | A | SO | Bellevue, WA | Interlake
Whitworth
Jenae Mercado | M | SO | Royal City, WA | Royal | First Team All-NWC
Madison Perry | M | JR | Tacoma, WA | Curtis | Honorable Mention All-NWC
Kylee Walker | M | JR | Boise, ID | Bishop Kelly
Willamette
Catie Kawamura | M | JR | San Diego, CA | San Diego International Studies | First Team All-NWC
Maddie Garcia | M | JR | Encinitas, CA | San Dieguito Academy | First Team All-NWC
Emma Canchola | D | SR | Oregon City, OR | Oregon City | First Team All-NWC
| Team |
Pts. |
2021 NWC Finish |
| George Fox (5) |
35 |
1st |
| Willamette (2) |
31 |
2nd |
| Linfield |
26 |
3rd |
| Whitman |
20 |
6th |
| Puget Sound |
17 |
4th |
| Pacific (Ore.) |
12 |
5th |
| Whitworth |
6 |
7th |
(Points awarded on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Coaches could not vote for their own teams; numbers in parentheses indicate first place votes)