Loggers Favored To Capture Ninth Consecutive Championship

SEATTLE – The University of Puget Sound women’s soccer team was picked to win its NWC-record ninth consecutive conference championship in a poll of the conference coaches. The Loggers were also ranked 19th in the preseason poll of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

"It's an honor and very flattering to be picked to finish highly in the conference,” said head coach Randy Hanson. “With many new faces being added to our team and returning players stepping into new or expanded roles, I'm very excited to get the season underway.”

Last year, the Loggers finished 18-2 overall and 15-1 in the NWC to capture their eighth straight conference title, but will have to replace Janece Levien and Kallie Wolfer, who swept the Player of the Year honors for the Loggers. However, the Loggers’ long history of success earned them all nine first-place for 90 total points in the poll.

The Loggers also finished with a No. 19 ranking in the NSCAA poll after being upset in the NCAA Tournament.

Whitworth, who handed the Loggers their only conference loss in 2009, were a unanimous choice for second place as they totaled 72 points in the poll. Willamette was picked third while Linfield and Whitman were separated by one point in fourth and fifth, respectively. Pacific, Pacific Lutheran, George Fox and Lewis & Clark rounded out the preseason poll in that order.

The last time the Loggers did not win a NWC title was in 2001 when Willamette’s 13-1 record edged out the Loggers’ 12-1-1 record. The Loggers have been picked to win the NWC outright in seven of the last nine years. They have also been named the unanimous favorites in each of the last two years.