PLAYING FOR FIRST
If the Loggers want to repeat as Northwest Conference champions, this is the week they must play their best soccer of the year as they travel to Spokane and Walla Walla for matches against Whitworth on Saturday and Whitman on Sunday.
The Loggers vs. Pacific Lutheran
On a cold and windy day, sophomore Derek Woodworth (Tacoma, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) was the hero for the ninth-ranked Puget Sound Loggers, scoring the games' only goal in a 1-0 victory over the host Pacific Lutheran Lutes in a Northwest Conference men's soccer game on Wednesday afternoon in Parkland, Wash.
In the first half, the Loggers (12-1-1, 7-1-1 NWC) outshot the Lutes (8--6-2, 6-2-1- NWC) by a total of 4-2 but neither team was able to get the ball into the net. That didn't mean the referees weren't busy as the Lutes were shown three yellow cards in the first half of a physical contest.
In the second period, Woodworth got off a successful shot in the 53rd minute to put the Loggers ahead, 1-0, which proved to be enough for the win. Logger keeper Pete Van Sant ( Santa Cruz, Calif.) had an easy day, only having to make one save to collect the shutout. Lute keeper Daniel Mangum made a single save as well but allowed the goal by Woodworth.
The Loggers vs. Linfield
Heading into Saturday's Senior Day celebrations, senior Mark Conrad (Seattle, Wash./Willamette) had scored seven goals in the Logger career. After the game, Conrad has bumped that number up to 10 career goals, recording all three goals in the ninth-ranked Loggers 3-0 win over the visiting Linfield Wildcats in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on East Athletic Field in Tacoma.
Conrad scored his first goal in the fifth minute on a powerful shot near the right post that got past Linfield keeper Mike Belzberg. He made it 2-0 in the 25th minute, heading in a pass from Taylor Hyde (Sandy, Utah/Waterford) following a corner kick by Daniel Lee (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt).
The third goal came in the 86th minute when Logger keeper Pete Van Sant (Santa Cruz, Calif.) used free kick following a Linfield offside to feed Conrad in the box. Conrad dribbled once before firing in a shot to give the Loggers the 3-0 win.
The two squads combined for 30 fouls in the physical contest, including yellow cards shown to Linfield's Michael Camacho and Zach Hubbard.
Van Sant made three saves to collect the shutout, the 23rd clean sheet of his career. Belzberg was strong for the Wildcats, making seven saves but allowing the three goals by Conrad.
National Attention
The Loggers moved up three spots in the NSCAA/adidas National Rankings and will hold down the number 10 spot for at least a week.
Statistically Speaking
As a team, the Loggers continue to lead the NWC in several categories. Puget Sound is tops in shots (314), points (106), goals (41), goals allowed (6), goals against average (0.40), shutouts (10), corners (106), and attendance (394 avg/g). Individually, Alex Lehecka leads the NWC in game-winning goals (4) while Pete Van Sant is tops in goals against average (0.39) and save percentage (.903).
On the national stage, the Loggers are third in save percentage (0.905), sixth in team goals against average (0.39) and 12th in shutout percentage (0.67). Van Sant is eighth in GAA (0.387) and fourth in save percentage (0.903).
Milestone Reached
In Saturday's 3-0 win over Linfield, head coach Reece Olney picked up his 100th career Northwest Conference victory.
Scouting Whitworth
Currently 12-2-1 on the season, the Whitworth Pirates sit in first place in the NWC with 30 points and a 10-1-0 NWC record. Their lone conference loss of the year came on Sep. 30 at Puget Sound in a 1-0 overtime game. Matt Friesen leads the Buc offense with seven goals and four assists in 15 games played this season. Scott Barnum has been strong in net, allowing nine goals in 1371:10 for a 0.59 GAA.
Scouting Whitman
The Missionaries have been hit-or-miss for much of 2007 and head into the weekend with an 8-7-1 overall record and 5-5-1 in NWC play. Last week, they picked up a 3-1 win over Willamette before playing to a 1-1 draw with George Fox on Sunday. Stephen Phillips leads the Whitman offense with 11 goals and two assists in 16 games played. Brett Axelrod has seen most of the time in net, allowing 16 goals in 1332:12 for a 1.08 GAA.
The Coach
In his 14th season at the helm of the Loggers, Reece Olney has compiled a career record through the weekend of 172-75-25. In Northwest Conference matches, Olney has a record of 100-29-13.
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