TACOMA, Wash. - Looking for their first Northwest Conference title since 2006, the Puget Sound Logger men's soccer team has been picked to finish second by the NWC coaches in the preseason poll, as announced by the conference office on Friday.

Leading the way for the Loggers in 2009 will be senior defender Cole Peterson (Great Falls, Mont./C.M. Russell).  Peterson, a First Team All-NWC selection in 2008, is also expected to use his 6-3 frame in the Loggers' corner sets.

Up front, the Loggers return a dangerous offensive duo in junior Kyle Benson (Lynnwood, Wash./Kamiak) and senior Alex Lehecka (Burlington, Wash./Burlington-Edison) as well as a strong senior class.

Whitworth was the unanimous selection to win a third-straight NWC title but the Pirates should look just west of the Cascade Mountains for their biggest competition.  The Loggers took second in the poll with 47 points while Pacific Lutheran was third with 46 points.  Whitman and Pacific tied for the fourth spot with 35 points while Linfield is right behind in sixth with 33 points.  Willamette took seventh with 18 points while George Fox was a unanimous pick to take eight with just eight points.

The Loggers open up the season on Sept. 1 when they play host to UC Santa Cruz in a match set to begin at 5:00 p.m. on Peyton Field at Baker Stadium in Tacoma, Wash.

NWC Release