Nov. 1, 2006

MEN’S SOCCER: Weekend Sweep Keeps Lutes’ Playoff Hopes Alive

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran (11-5-1 overall, 8-3-1 NWC) at Willamette, Friday, 1:30 p.m.; PLU at Linfield, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

STAYIN’ ALIVE: While it is true that Pacific Lutheran’s hopes of making the NCAA Division III national tournament are slim, those hopes are still alive after the Lutes swept the Whit schools last weekend in Northwest Conference play. PLU won both matches by a 1-0 score, taking out Whitman on Saturday and Whitworth on Sunday. In the Whitman match, freshman forward Baard Asker (Oslo, Norway / Wang) tallied his ninth goal of the season. Sophomore midfielder Andy Hyres (Wilkeson, Wash. / White River HS) served a low cross to Asker, who drove the ball home from close range. The match was defensive in orientation as both teams managed just six shots apiece. The following day, the Lutes played one of their best matches of the season to beat the Whitworth Pirates, 1-0. Sophomore midfielder Brennan Brown (Tacoma, Wash. / Bellarmine Prep), foiled three times earlier in the match by Whitworth goalkeeper Kevin Bostock, scored on a header three minutes into the second half for the lone goal. Brown slipped behind his defender and headed a cross from Asker into the right side of the goal, his second tally this season. Pacific Lutheran had the statistical advantage with 15 shots to eight for the Pirates, and were it not for Bostock, the Lutes could have had more than just the one goal. Whitworth’s keeper saved goal-bound efforts from Brown in the 37th and 43rd minutes, and then again in the 47th minute.

MUST WINS: If the Lutes are to make the playoffs, several things have to fall into place. First, there is still a chance that PLU could win the conference title, but that seems highly unlikely given the run of excellent play turned in by current NWC leader Puget Sound. Another key factor is that the national tournament selection committee has to look favorably on the Lutes’ season. Finally, and most important, PLU has to win twice this coming weekend. The Lutes play at Willamette on Friday and at Linfield on Saturday. The Lutes easily defeated Willamette in an earlier match, 5-0, but they dropped a 2-1 decision at home to Linfield. Wins are a must in both matches; a loss in either match and the Lutes are surely done.

FERGUSON KEEPS UP PACE: Junior forward Mike Ferguson (Sumner, Wash. / Auburn Riverside HS) came into the season just about on pace to eclipse the Pacific Lutheran goal-scoring record currently held by Brian Gardner, who tallied 49 goals while playing from 1986-89. Ferguson started the season with 24 goals (nine as a freshman, 15 last year) and has added 11 to his tally. With two regular season matches remaining this year and his senior season ahead, Ferguson has a chance to move to the top of the PLU men’s soccer all-time goal scoring list.

- PLU -