NEXT UP....
Using a come-from-behind overtime win over Whitworth to cap a perfect September, the Loggers now turn their focus towards the month of October. This week, Puget Sound will play host to Pacific on Saturday and George Fox on Sunday.
The Loggers vs. Whitman
En route to their fifth straight shutout, the seventh-ranked Puget Sound Loggers used a goal by Greg Swanson (University Place, Wash./Curtis) to push past the Whitman Missionaries, 1-0, in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on Saturday afternoon in Tacoma, Wash.
Swanson scored the games only goal in the 23rd minute following a Whitman foul just inches outside the box. After lining up his shot, Swanson was able to sail the ball past Whitman keeper Brett Axelrod as the Loggers picked up the 1-0 win. The Whitman defense stepped it up a notch in the second half, allowing the Loggers to just five second half shots, compared with 14 in the first period but Logger keeper Pete Van Sant (Santa Cruz, Calif.) made a pair of saves to collect the shutout, his seventh of the season.
The Loggers vs. Whitworth
In what can only be described as an instant classic in what has become a fantastic rivalry, the seventh-ranked Puget Sound Loggers scored a goal late in regulation and then put home the game-winner in overtime to earn a 2-1 win over the visiting Whitworth Pirates in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on Sunday afternoon at Peyton Field at Baker Stadium in Tacoma.
The Loggers (9-0-0, 4-0-0 NWC) and Pirates (7-2-1, 5-1-0 NWC) battled through the first half as neither team was able to get a goal in the defense-minded contest. In the second period, Whitworth broke the draw in the 69th minute when Caleb Barnhill broke free of a UPS defender and fired a shot past Pete Van Sant (Santa Cruz, Calif.). The Loggers evened things up in the 80th minute when Scott Blanchet (Gig Harbor, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) took the ball from a scrum near the goal line and powered a shot into the net to push the game into overtime.
In the extra period, the Loggers used the momentum they gained in the later stages of regulation to keep the ball in their offensive half of the field and Greg Swanson (University Place, Wash./Curtis) found Mark Conrad (Seattle, Wash./Willamette) near the far post on the cross from the endline. Conrad was able to get up and put the ball into the net to give Puget Sound the 2-1 overtime win.
The game was physical on both sides with 23 fouls called in the 97-minute contest and three yellow cards dished out by the officials. Whitworth finished with 19 shots on the game, compared with 15 for the Loggers but Van Sant showed why he was named an All-American in 2006, making seven saves to earn the win.
Players Of The Week
After a weekend of exciting soccer on Peyton Field, the Puget Sound Logger soccer teams were rewarded for their strong play, taking all four of the Northwest Conference weekly awards, as announced by the conference office late Monday.
On the men's side, senior forward Scott Blanchet (Gig Harbor, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) was named NWC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring the match-tying goal against Whitworth, allowing the team to win in overtime. All-American Pete Van Sant (Santa Cruz, Calif.) was named NWC Defensive Player of the Week after allowing just one goal in two wins while making nine saves, including seven in the overtime win over Whitworth.
National Attention
The Loggers moved up two more spots in the D3Kicks.com Top 25, settling in the fifth spot this week. In the NSCAA national rankings, the Loggers are ranked 18th.
Statistically Speaking
As a team, the Loggers continue to lead the NWC in several categories. Puget Sound is tops in shots (172), points (73), goals (28), goals allowed (2), goals against average (0.22), shutouts (7), and attendance (392 avg/g). Individually, Kyle Benson is tops in assists (4) and Pete Van Sant is tops in goals against average (0.22) and save percentage (.941), as well as shutouts (7.0).
On the national stage, the Loggers are second in team goals against average (0.22), third in save percentage (0.943) and seventh in shutout percentage (0.78). Van Sant is third in GAA (0.22) and save percentage (0.941).
Scouting Pacific
The Boxers come to Tacoma on Saturday, holding a record of 3-3-2 and 1-2-2 in NWC matches, following a pair of 2-2 ties over the weekend against Linfield and George Fox. Danny Williams leads the Pacific offense, having scored five of the team's 10 goals in the 2007. Three goalkeepers have seen minutes in 2007 with the majority going to Andrew Stevermer, who has allowed six goals in 530:09 for a 1.02 GAA.
Scouting George Fox
The Bruins head into the weekend with a record of 3-6-1 overall and 1-3-1 in NWC play. Last week, GFU had a light week, only playing Pacific and settling for a 2-2 draw. Carlos Pehr and Justin Meyer lead the team with three goals scored on the year. Kyle Putnam has seen the majority of time in net, allowing 13 goals in 706:08 for a 1.66 GAA.
The Coach
In his 14th season at the helm of the Loggers, Reece Olney has compiled a career record through the weekend of 168-74-24. In Northwest Conference matches, Olney has a record of 96-28-12.
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