By: Caden Frank
SPOKANE, Wash – The Whitworth women's soccer team will face a big test this weekend as it hosts the top two teams in the Northwestern Conference. The Pirates will kick off Saturday against first place Pacific Lutheran and finish with second place Puget Sound. Both matches will start at noon as the first half of women's-men's doubleheaders.
Links to video and live statistics are available on the Whitworth women's soccer schedule.
The Pirates: Whitworth (4-5-3 overall, 4-4 NWC) carries momentum going into the weekend, winners in four of its last five matches. The Pirates did not allow a goal last weekend, shutting out Lewis & Clark on Saturday and George Fox on Sunday.
Against Lewis & Clark the Pirates got on the board early with a goal from Addison Dizard in the 5th minute thanks to a brilliant assist from Baylee Trejo. Whitworth continued to stifle the Pioneers' attack, controlling much of the possession and outshooting them 8-2 in shots on goal. Trejo stretched the field again in the second half with a run down the left side before crossing it to Rebekah Hines who tapped it in to give the Pirates a 2-0 cushion in the 57th minute.
On Sunday, Whitworth outlasted George Fox in a defensive battle that featured just five shots on goal between the two sides. Both teams missed early opportunities to get on the board and the game remained scoreless for 79 minutes. But Trejo managed the winning score, cashing in a free kick in the 80th minute as her shot glanced off a Bruins' defender before crossing the line.
Trejo's playmaking: Trejo played a huge role in the Pirates jumpstarting their offensive attack last weekend, assisting on both goals against Lewis & Clark before scoring the game winner against George Fox. Trejo ranks sixth in the NWC with three assists, and fifth in the NWC in game-winning goals with two.
The Opponents: Pacific Lutheran (9-2-1 overall, 7-1 NWC) leads the conference by four points in the standings, currently riding a six-game win streak. They've outscored their opponents 34-6 this season, leading the NWC in goals scored and goals allowed. During this win streak the Lutes have outscored their opponents 26-2, so Whitworth will have its hands full on both sides. The Lutes beat the Pirates 2-0 in their first meeting back in mid-September. Pacific Lutheran is coached by Seth Spidahl, whose success includes winning the last six conference championships. They are seeking their seventh straight this season. On the field, the Lutes are led by Hannah Cecil and Alyssa Leong. Cecil leads the conference with 12 goals and Leong leads the conference with six assists. The two make a lethal duo, ranking No. 1 and 2 in total points in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran hasn't lost to Whitworth since 2018, they are 11-0-1 in the last 12 matches against the Pirates.
Puget Sound (7-3-2 overall, 5-1-2 NWC) is second place in the conference with 17 points. The Loggers are looking to get back into the win column after losing to PLU 2-0 and tying Linfield 2-2 at home last weekend. Puget Sound has been proficient in close games this season, only holding a plus three goal differential over the course of the year. They rank third in the conference in goals scored (17) and fourth in goals allowed (14). They are coached by Stephanie Cox who is in her first season as the head coach after being named the interim coach in 2022. Cox was a former member of the USWNT, winning a gold medal in 2008. The Logger players to watch are Kya Scott and Ava Cholakian, both of whom rank top ten in the NWC in goals and total points. Scott is fifth in the NWC in goals (6), fourth in assists (4), and third in points (16).
The Coach: Whitworth soccer alum Cameron Bushey is in his second season as head coach of the women's soccer team. The Pirates finished 6-8-5 overall and 6-6-4 (fourth place) in the NWC last season.
He came from Stanislaus State, where he was the top assistant coach. Bushey has club coaching stints in Spokane and Colorado, and he was an assistant at Gonzaga University for two seasons (2018-19). He graduated from Whitworth in 2012 as a four-time All-NWC honoree who helped lead the Pirates to three NWC titles and NCAA Division III tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009.
Coming Up: Whitworth will be back on the road to take on Whitman on Wednesday, Oct. 18 and Pacific the following Sunday.
