Oct. 4, 2006

MEN’S SOCCER: Lutes Host Two NWC Foes After Split East of Mountains

THIS WEEK: PLU hosts Linfield, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.; PLU hosts Willamette, Sunday, 2:30 p.m.

MORE TOUGH CONFERENCE TESTS AHEAD: One week after facing a couple of tough conference foes on the road, the PLU men’s soccer team (6-3-0 overall, 3-1-0 conference) resumes its quest for the top spot in the Northwest Conference when it hosts Linfield and Willamette this weekend. Linfield has been among the elite NWC programs in recent seasons and currently sits in fourth place, one spot behind the Lutes, in the conference standings. Linfield has eight points (three for a win, one for a tie) with a 2-1-2 record. PLU has played one less match and has nine points based on a 3-1-0 conference mark. The Wildats have a prolific offense, scoring 13 goals in conference play and 25 for the season in just nine total matches. Willamette currently sits at the bottom of the conference standings with one point on a 0-4-1 record. Willamette might be considered the polar opposite of Linfield when it comes to offense as the Bearcats have managed just one goal in its five conference counters. In 10 total matches the Bearcats have scored just five goals while giving up 23.

LUTES SPLIT EAST OF MOUNTAINS: Pacific Lutheran split its Northwest Conference matches last weekend east of the mountains, losing 2-0 to Whitworth on Saturday and winning 1-0 at Whitman on Sunday. The Lutes never got untracked against Whitworth, the defending conference champion. PLU managed just five shots while the Pirates put pressure on the Lutes with 15 shots. They scored a goal in each half to garner the win. The following day, the Lutes shook off their second straight loss by taking a 1-0 decision over the Whitman Missionaries. Junior midfielder Erik Gracey (Maple Valley, Wash. / Tahoma HS) scored the only goal on a header late in the first half. Sophomore defender Andy Stolz (Lakewood, Wash. / Life Christian HS) sent a 50-yard free kick into the penalty box, and Gracey leaped above the crowd to head the ball into the net. Sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Croft (Kenmore, Wash. / Inglemoor HS) made the goal stand up by recording his sixth shutout of the season.

PLU OUT OF REGIONAL POLL: One week after breaking into the No. 10 spot in the NSCAA West Region rankings, Pacific Lutheran dropped out of the rankings. Interestingly, Colorado College, a team that PLU defeated 6-0 in Colorado Springs earlier this season, is in the No. 9 spot.

LUTES BY THE NUMBERS: PLU forwards Baard Asker (Oslo, Norway / Wang) and Mike Ferguson (Sumner, Wash. / Auburn Riverside HS) are tied for the PLU team lead with six goals apiece. Sophomore forward Derek Karamatic (Gig Harbor, Wash. / Gig Harbor HS) has been limited to only four matches because of injury, but he continues to lead the team with four assists. Goalkeeper Andrew Croft (Kenmore, Wash. / Inglemoor HS) has a 1.03 goals against average this season.

HEAD COACH: John Yorke is in his fifth season at PLU (his alma mater) and has a 43-42-4 overall record.

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