UPS Picked to Unseat Linfield in 2001
| NWC Men's Soccer Coaches’ Pre-Season Poll: |
2000 records |
| School |
(1st)
|
Pts.
|
All
|
NWC
|
| 1. Puget Sound (Wash.) |
(4)
|
64
|
12-5-3
|
9-3-2
|
| 2. Linfield (Ore.) |
(3)
|
60
|
21-1-1
|
13-0-1
|
| 3. Whitworth (Wash.) |
(1)
|
45
|
11-5-3
|
7-4-3
|
| 4. Willamette (Ore.) |
|
38
|
10-8-2
|
6-6-2
|
| 5. Whitman (Wash.) |
|
36
|
9-11
|
6-8
|
| 6. Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) |
|
20
|
5-14
|
4-10
|
| 7. George Fox (Ore.) |
|
18
|
7-11-1
|
3-10-1
|
| 8. Pacific (Ore.) |
|
15
|
5-13-1
|
3-10-1
|
(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).
For the second consecutive season, the University of Puget Sound has been selected by Northwest Conference coaches to win its second NWC men's soccer title. However, rather than being selected to repeat, the Loggers have been picked to unseat defending NWC champion Linfield College. In close balloting by the eight conference coaches, UPS finished with four first place votes and 64 total points, while Linfield finished with three first place votes and 60 points.
UPS, which won the title in 1999, finished last season with a 12-5-3 record overall and a 9-3-2 mark in the NWC. The Loggers return a pair of 2000 First Team All-NWC players, including senior goal keeper Ryan Wittstruck.
Linfield had its most successful season ever in 2000, advancing to the NCAA national semifinals before losing in overtime to the eventual national champions from Messiah College. Chris McDonald, the 2000 NWC Player of the Year returns to lead the Wildcats. But Linfield will be without 2000 (and 1995) NWC Coach of the Year Steve Simmons, who left to take a position with Oregon State and has been replaced by longtime assistant Ian Clarihew.
Whitworth College also was tabbed to win on one ballot and finished third in the poll with 45 points. The Pirates have First Team midfielder Brian Hein returning to lead the attack.
Willamette University and Whitman College are picked to finish fourth and fifth, respectively, with only two points separating the Bearcats and Missionaries in the poll. Their selection matches the teams' finishes last season.
Pacific Lutheran University, George Fox University and Pacific University rounded out the coaches’ poll in sixth-eighth places.