8/16 - NWC POLL: Conference Coaches Pick Bruins 6th in Women's Soccer Poll
2007 NWC Women's Soccer Coaches' Pre-Season Poll
NEWBERG, Ore. - With seven returning starters and a talented group of newcomers, sixth-year coach Andy Hetherington of George Fox University believes the Bruins have a chance to finish higher than the sixth-place finish predicted for them in the 2007 Northwest Conference pre-season women's soccer poll as voted on by the league's nine coaches.
The Bruins are coming off a 6-12-2 overall season and a tie for sixth in the conference at 4-10-2. Half of their losses were by one goal, and they actually outscored their opponents on the season 29-28.
The Bruins will again be solid defensively with honorable mention All-NWC goalkeeper Jessica Cardwell (125 saves, 1.41 goals against average) back for her senior season. Forward Amber Stevens (4 goals, 2 assists) and midfielder Molly Schaefer (3 goals, 8 assists) provide a potent 1-2 offensive punch. Schaeffer was second in the league in assists. Other starters returning include midfielder Kayla Corn and defenders Megan Servoss and Mari Nagamine.
The NWC coaches have been pretty successful at picking the eventual conference champion the last five years, mostly because they have been able to pencil in the University of Puget Sound at the top of the list. The Loggers have won five NWC titles in a row and are again picked at the top of the poll with seven first-place votes and 85 points, finishing ahead of Willamette University (two first-place votes and 72 points).
Puget Sound, which finished 15-1-4 overall and 13-2-1 in the NWC last year, returns the 2006 NWC Offensive Player of the Year in forward Adrienne Folsom. However, the Loggers must overcome the graduation of NWC Defensive Player of the Year Katie Wullbrandt, along with fellow First Team All-NWC defender Katy Daly. Kallie Wolfer, who earned all-conference honors as a freshman last fall, will be back guarding the net.
Willamette, which finished only one point behind UPS in the standings last fall with a 16-2-3 overall record and a 13-2-1 conference mark, will be led by First Team All-NWC selections Meghan Anderson at midfielder and Kelsey Rogel at defender. The Bearcats, who have won or shared nine NWC titles in the last 14 years but have not won since 2002, returned to the NCAA Division III playoffs last season.
Whitworth University is third in the poll with 64 points. The Pirates (12-5-2 overall, 10-5-1 NWC) welcome back First Team All-NWC players Jael Hagerott and Greta Thibodeau. Whitman College is fourth in the poll with 52 points and is coming off of an 8-5-4 season that included an 8-4-4 conference mark. Senior forward Kristen Berndt, a two-time All-NWC selection, will lead a potent attack for the Missionaries.
Pacific Lutheran University (41 points) is in fifth place in the poll. The Lutes (12-7-1 overall, 8-6-2 in the NWC) return a pair of Second Team All-NWC selections in forward Christina McDuffie (2005) and forward Jenny McKinsey. George Fox is sixth in the poll with 29 points.
Linfield College (27 points) finished just behind GFU in the poll. The Wildcats (also 6-12-2 overall, 4-10-2 NWC) return last season's leading scorer in Kelli Gillespie. Pacific University (23 points) and Lewis & Clark College (21 points) round out the poll in eighth and ninth place, respectively. Honorable mention All-NWC selections Meghan Fredette (Pacific) and Katie Burnett (L&C) return for their senior seasons.
The 2007 season kicks off for the Bruins at home on Sept. 1 when they host The Master's College at 12 noon. The men's team will play afterward at 2:30 p.m. vs. Holy Names University.