The Northwest Conference opens Saturday with a full slate of contests with INW 26 sides Whitman and Whitworth headed to the west side for the difficult Puget Sound & Pacific Lutheran double dips. PLU was picked number one in both preseason polls while UPS is number two in the women’s. Three of the four sides were projected to finish in the top four of their respective preseason coaches’ polls.
NWC WOMEN
Whitman (3-12-1 NWC in 2022, 9th) – Coming off a last place finish a year ago, the Blues are headed into the season with a defense that may help them move up the ladder, allowing just four goals in four games. They opened the preseason slate with a 1-0 win against Howard Payne and then tied Luther and UC Santa Cruz 1-1 and 0-0. Corban spoiled their unbeaten status last week in a close 2-1 contest.
Whitworth (6-6-4, 4th) – The Pirates are looking to improve upon their best finish since the 2018 campaign this season. They kicked off their official preseason slate with a scoreless draw against Luther and a narrow 1-0 loss to Howard Payne. They found the scoring touch in the next two with a 2-2 draw against Corban and a 1-1 draw against UC Santa Cruz in a pair of games held at Whitman.
Preseason Poll (released by NWC 8.31.23):
4 Whitworth; Tied 8 Whitman
THIS WEEK
Saturday
Whitman @ Puget Sound
Whitworth @ Pacific Lutheran
Pacific @ George Fox
Willamette @ Lewis & Clark
Sunday
Whitman @ Pacific Lutheran
Whitworth @ Puget Sound
Linfield @ George Fox
Lewis & Clark @ Pacific
NWC MEN
Whitman (9-4-1 NWC in 2022, 3rd) – A consistent top three finisher the past six seasons the Blues are coming into the season a bit slowly, having not earned a victory in four matches. They opened with late loss to College of Idaho at home before heading to Texas for a trio of close-fought contests. They tied Hardin-Simmons 1-1 before falling 2-1 and 3-1 to Southwestern and Trinity.
Whitworth (5-7-2, 5th) – The Pirates opened the preseason with an easy outing against Walla Walla U before earning a 3-2 result against Northwest. A trip to California saw them drop a pair of contests 3-0 and 2-1 to California Lutheran and UC Santa Cruz.
Preseason Poll (released by NWC 8.30.23):
3 Whitman; 4 Whitworth
THIS WEEK
Saturday
Whitman @ Puget Sound
Whitworth @ Pacific Lutheran
Willamette @ Lewis & Clark
Pacific @ George Fox
Sunday
Whitman @ Pacific Lutheran
Whitworth @ Puget Sound
Lewis & Clark @ Pacific
Linfield @ George Fox