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NWC POLL: Bruins Picked 8th in 2012 NWC Women’s Soccer Pre-Season Coaches’ Poll
NEWBERG, Ore. - Coming off a 2-12-6 record in 2011, it is understandable that George Fox University has been picked to finish eighth in the Northwest Conference women's soccer race in 2012, according to a pre-season poll of the league’s nine coaches - but if the Bruins can turn their overtime games (0-2-6) into wins, they could be the surprise team of the fall.
The Bruins, who finished 2-10-4 in the conference race and tied Pacific Lutheran University for seventh with 10 points last season, collected 15 points in the balloting by the NWC coaches.
Bolstering the Bruins’ chances for a significant turnaround this season are 11 returning letter winners and six returning starters, including their leaders on offense and defense. First Team All-NWC selection Melanie Gaither returns at forward for her senior year, bringing back eight goals scored and three assists. Second Team All-NWC sweeper Corin Beaudry and All-NWC honorable mention goalkeeper Alyssa Montero, who led the league with 133 saves, spearhead the Bruins’ defensive lineup.
The University of Puget Sound has been picked to continue its decade-long dominance in the conference, tallying 66 points and six first-place votes in the poll. The Loggers will be led by goalkeeper Kara Merfeld, the lone First Team All-NWC honoree returning from last season. She will get help from forward Robin Vieira, who received Second Team All-NWC honors last season.
Linfield College took second with 62 points, including the remaining three first-place votes. The Wildcats will be led by midfielder Christine Tamamoto and the 2010 NWC Offensive Player of the Year, Emily Fellows, who had seven goals in six games in 2011 before suffering a season-ending injury.
Whitworth University and Willamette University each tallied 46 points to tie for third. The Pirates welcome back two Second Team All-NWC selections in defender Kelsey Griswold and midfielder Mackenzie Grow. Willamette will be led by 2011 Coach of the Year Hillary Arthur and midfielder Andi Rowan, who has received Second Team All-NWC honors the past three seasons.
Pacific University (Ore.) finished fifth with 36 points. The Boxers return several starters from last season, led by Brittany Hartmann and Kailee Green.
Whitman College and Pacific Lutheran followed in sixth and seventh places with 28 and 21 points respectively. Standout defender Erin Flannery will lead Whitman, while PLU welcomes back Sarah Gamache, who received Second Team All-NWC honors in her first collegiate season.
After George Fox, Lewis & Clark rounded out the poll with 13 points. The Pioneers will look to honorable mention All-NWC selections Traci Nakamura and Gina Watkins for leadership.
The 2012 NWC season gets underway on Aug. 31, with the Bruins playing their first game on Saturday, Sept. 1, a home contest at the Austin Athletic Complex against the Oregon Institute of Technology at 5:00 p.m. It will be part of a doubleheader with the George Fox men’s team, who will take on the Oregon Tech men at 7:00 p.m.
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2012 NWC Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll: |
2011 records |
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|
School |
(1st) |
Pts. |
All |
NWC |
|
1. Puget Sound (Wash.) |
(6) |
66 |
14-3-3 |
12-2-2 |
|
2. Linfield (Ore.) |
(3) |
62 |
14-3-3 |
11-2-3 |
|
3. Whitworth (Wash.) |
|
46 |
8-6-4 |
8-4-4 |
|
Willamette (Ore.) |
|
46 |
11-8-1 |
10-5-1 |
|
5. Pacific (Ore.) |
|
36 |
10-6-4 |
7-5-4 |
|
6. Whitman (Wash.) |
|
28 |
8-10-2 |
6-8-2 |
|
7. Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) |
|
21 |
4-13-1 |
3-12-1 |
|
8. George Fox (Ore.) |
|
15 |
2-12-6 |
2-10-4 |
|
9. Lewis & Clark (Ore.) |
|
13 |
3-15-2 |
2-13-1 |
(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.)
