IN COME THE W'S
Still undefeated and still among the top teams in the nation, the Puget Sound Loggers will head into their first full weekend of Northwest Conference play this weekend when they play host to Whitman on Saturday and Whitworth on Sunday. Both games will be played at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Peyton Field, following the women's games featuring the same teams.
The Loggers vs. Linfield
Sophomore Alex Lehecka (Burlington, Wash./Burlington-Edison) broke a scoreless draw in the 88th minute as the ninth-ranked Puget Sound Loggers defeated the host-Linfield Wildcats, 1-0, in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on Saturday afternoon in McMinnville, Ore.
The Loggers (7-0, 2-0 NWC) used an arsenal of shots on goal to wear down the Wildcats (4-3, 0-3 NWC). Of the 20 shots taken, Puget Sound was able to get 16 on goal, including Lehecka's late-match goal. Following a series of shots, block and rebounds near the Linfield goal, Lehecka was able take an ill-directed clear from a Linfield defender and power the ball into the net for the game-winner.
Goalkeeper Pete Van Sant (Santa Cruz, Calif.) was solid in net for the Loggers, making six saves to preserve the shutout. Linfield's Mike Belzberg made 15 saves of his own but allowed the lone goal to take the loss.
National Attention
The Loggers have continued to climb in the D3Kicks.com Top 25, moving up two spots to seven after spending last week at ninth. Some paperwork got in the way of the Loggers being ranked in this week's NSCAA/adidas National Rankings but the Loggers are expected to return next week.
Statistically Speaking
As a team, the Loggers are leading the NWC in several categories. Puget Sound is tops in shots (138), goals allowed (1), shutouts (6), and attendence (379 avg/g). Individually, Kyle Benson is tops in assists (4) and Pete Van Sant is tops in goals against average (0.14) and save percentage (.958), as well as shutouts (6.0).
On the national stage, the Loggers are fourth in team goals against average (0.14), and seventh in shutout percentage (0.86) and are fifth in save percentage (0.958). Van Sant is fourth in GAA (0.143) and save percentage (0.958) while Benson in 59th in assists per game (0.57).
Scouting Whitman
The Missionaries head into Tacoma with a respectable record of 6-3, including 3-1 in NWC play. Last weekend, Whitman was in Oregon and picked up wins at George Fox, 1-0, and Willamette, 3-0. Stephen Phillips and Andy Huntington have been the main firepower for the Whitman offense, scoring seven goals apiece in 2007. In net, Brett Axelrod has seen the majority of the time, allowing seven goals in 661:39 for a 0.95 GAA.
Scouting Whitworth
Whitworth comes to town for the first of two annual meetings with the Loggers and this one should be as intense as the previous games. The Pirates head into the weekend with a record of 6-1-1, including 4-0-0 in NWC play. Their lone loss came at Trinity (Texas), 2-1 but the Bucs have pitched five straight shutouts, including the last four in NWC contests. Matt Friesen has led the Whitworth offense in 2007, scoring five of the Bucs' 14 goals this season. Scott Barnum has been strong between the pipes, allowing three goals in 741:05 for a 0.36 GAA and has made 27 saves for a .900 save percentage. Whitworth was among teams receiving votes in both of the national polls.
The Coach
In his 14th season at the helm of the Loggers, Reece Olney has compiled a career record through the weekend of 166-74-24. In Northwest Conference matches, Olney has a record of 94-28-12.
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