STILL ALIVE
The Loggers' hopes of repeating as Northwest Conference champions disappeared over the weekend but their postseason hopes are still alive as they look to hit the 15-win mark with weekend at George Fox and Pacific.
The Loggers vs. Whitworth
For the third time in the last four games between the two squads, the 10th-ranked Puget Sound Loggers and the Whitworth Pirates headed to overtime, unable to settle things following 90 minutes of regulation. While it was the Loggers who earned the 2-1 overtime victory in Tacoma on Sep. 30, it was the Pirates who picked up the 2-1 overtime victory on Saturday in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match in Spokane, Wash.
In a game much like that of a month ago, the Pirates (13-2-1, 11-1 NWC) scored the game's first goal, an unassisted score by Ryan Powers in the 24th minute that gave Whitworth a 1-0 halftime lead. The Loggers evened things up midway through the second half when reserve Ben Coffey (Mt. Vernon, Wash./Western Washington) headed in a cross from senior Greg Swanson (University Place, Wash./Curtis) in the 72nd minute for his first career goal as a Logger. Neither team was able to score a go-ahead goal in the remaining 18 minutes as the two teams headed to overtime.
Neither squad was able to get a shot off in the first overtime period but come the second, it was the Pirates who controled play and finally scored the game-winner in the 109th minute when Keith Kirsch put in a clear attempt from point blank for an unassisted score and a 2-1 Whitworth victory.
Logger keeper Pete Van Sant (Santa Cruz, Calif.) made two saves on the day while Whitworth keeper Scott Barnum was forced to make five saves in the win. The Pirates outshot the Loggers, 9-7, while the Loggers were whistled for more fouls, 17-15.
The Loggers vs. Whitman
Despite outshooting their opponents 16-14 and earning a solid performance from senior goalkeeper Pete Van Sant (Santa Cruz, Calif.), the Puget Sound Loggers were stunned by the Whitman Missionaries, who earned a late goal in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on Sunday afternoon in Walla Walla.
The Loggers (13-3-1, 8-3-1 NWC) were able to get 12 shots, including seven on-goal, in the first half but the Missionaries (10-8-1, 6-6-1 NWC) kept the game scoreless through the first 45 minutes. In the second half, it was much of the same as the Whitman defense tightened up a bit, allowing UPS just four second-half shots, three on-goal, but Brett Axelrod made nine saves on the day for Whitman and a late goal by Kevin Sigley sealed the Loggers fate as they were handed the 1-0 upset loss.
The lone goal of the game came in the 87th minute when Kevin Sigley took a cross from Stephen Phillips and put the ball into the bottom left corner of the net for the game-winner.
Van Sant made seven saves for the Loggers in 90 minutes played. Puget Sound was whistled for 12 infractions on the day, including a yellow card by freshman Chris Shaw (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho), compared with 13 fouls and two cards shown to Whitman.
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 (337), goals (42), goals allowed (9), goals against average (0.51), shutouts (10), corners (113), and attendance (394 avg/g). Individually, Pete Van Sant is tops in goals against average (0.51) and shutouts (10).
On the national stage, the Loggers are 11th in save percentage (0.88), 19th in team goals against average (0.51) and 23rd in shutout percentage (0.59). Van Sant is 20th in GAA (0.508) and 16th in save percentage (0.878).
Scouting George Fox
The Bruins come into the match with the Loggers holding a record of 3-11-3 overall and just 1-8-3 in NWC play. Their lone NWC win came at home against Willamette. When the Loggers and Bruins met on Oct. 7 in Tacoma, the Loggers picked up the 2-0 victory. Carlos Pehr leads the Bruins with five goals and three assists on the year for 13 points. Kyle Putnam has seen most of the time in goal, allowing 26 goals in 1196:08 for a 1.96 GAA.
Scouting Pacific
The Boxers head into this weekend with a record of 7-6-2 overall and 5-5-2 in NWC play. Pacific stunned the Loggers with a 2-1 overtime victory in Tacoma on Oct. 6. Danny Williams leads the offense with eight goals on the season while Andrew Stevermer has allowed just 11 goals in 1045:06 for a 0.95 GAA on defense.
The Coach
In his 14th season at the helm of the Loggers, Reece Olney has compiled a career record through the weekend of 172-77-25. In Northwest Conference matches, Olney has a record of 100-31-13.
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