Pacific Men's Soccer Weekly Notebook
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THIS WEEK IN PACIFIC MEN'S SOCCER
PACIFIC VS. WHITMAN
Match No. 8/Home Match No. 2
Sat., Sept. 22, 2:30 p.m., Lincoln Park Stadium Forest Grove, Ore.
Live Stats: www.goboxers.com/livestats
Live Video: www.goboxers.com/webcasts
PACIFIC VS. WHITWORTH
Match No.9/Home Match No. 3
Sun., Sept. 23, 2:30 p.m., Lincoln Park Stadium Forest Grove, Ore.
Live Stats: www.goboxers.com/livestats
Live Video: www.goboxers.com/webcasts
BOXERS OPEN NWC WITH TWO LOSSES
The Boxers opened Northwest Conference over the weekend against Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran. Against Puget Sound on Saturday, the Boxers scored early to take a 1-0 lead into the second half, but the Loggers scored two goals to come back and claim victory 2-1. On Sunday, the Boxers were shutout by the Lutes 2-0. This coming weekend the Boxers look to get back on a winning track, hosting Whitman on Saturday and Whitworth on Sunday.
BOXER BYTES
• Michael Summers played tough between the posts over the weekend collecting 17 saves for the Boxers.
• Nick Rudella paced the offense for the Boxers, scoring the lone goal over the weekend. Rudella created many opportunities to score, but couldn't find the back of the net.
• In the last four games, Mark Watson has been a factor in the Boxer offense, scoring one goal and collecting two assists.
• The Boxers are currently in the top five in six different statistical categories in the Northwest Conference, along with five players that rank in the top five of different categories.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
WHITMAN
Whitman finished fourth in the Northwest Conference in 2011 with a 9-5-0 record, 9-8-2 overall. Mike Washington is in his 14th season as head coach for the Missionaries. Whitman opened Northwest Conference play over the weekend against Willamette and Linfield. On Saturday, the Missionaries ended in a 0-0 draw with the Bearcats. On Sunday, Linfield claimed a 2-1 victory over Whitman. The Missionaries currently sit tied for fifth place after posting a 0-1-1 record over the weekend. Whitman returns Leland Matthaeus, a 2011 First Team All-NWC selection. The senior finished with four goals and led the Missionaries with 41 shots in 2011. Michael Barthurst returns to protect the posts, recording 53 saves in 2011.
ALL TIME SERIES: Pacific leads 24-18-5 AGAINST BRAZEAU: Whitman leads 13-6-3
LAST MEETING: Whitman won 3-0 at Walla Walla, Wash. (10/22/11)
WHITWORTH
Whitworth finished tied for first with Pacific Lutheran in the Northwest Conference in 2011 with a 12-2 record, 14-3-1 overall. Sean Bushey enters his 17th season as head coach for the Pirates. Whitworth opened NWC action over the weekend with Linfield and Willamette. On Saturday, the Pirates shutout the Wildcats 2-0. On Sunday, Whitworth shutout the Bearcats. The Pirates return senior Kekoa Mountcastle, a Second Team All-NWC selection in 2011. Mountcastle has 14 career goals in a Pirate uniform. Also returning is Colin Shockman. In 2011, Shockman was selected to the All-NWC as honorable mention.
ALL TIME SERIES: PLU leads 30-12-4 AGAINST BRAZEAU: PLU leads 15-7-2
LAST MEETING: PLU won 6-0 at Forest Grove, Ore. (10/28/11)
PACIFIC NEWS & NOTES
SAVING SUMMERS: With the Boxers not seeing much offensive action over the weekend, Michael Summers (Jr., Beaverton, Ore.) played tough defense between the pipes for the Boxers, collecting 17 saves against Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran. Summers tallied seven in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Loggers. On Sunday, he recorded 10 saves in 2-0 loss against the Lutes. Going into the fourth week of soccer action, Summers is tied for first in saves (31) in the Northwest Conference. Summers currently holds a 2-5-0 record in the net. Summers earned his first shutout of the season on Sept. 9 against Oregon Tech.
RUDELLA PRODUCES OPPORTUNITIES: Nick Rudella (Jr., Sammamish, Wash.) scored the lone goal for the Boxers over the weekend. On Saturday, Mark Watson (So., Clackamas, Ore.) crossed to Rudella who finished on through the ball to find the back of the net, to take an early lead on the Loggers 1-0. Puget Sound would score two second-half goals to claim victory over the Boxers. On Sunday, Rudella was not able to find the back of the net, but created scoring opportunities. Rudella collected three of the seven shots that were fired in the match. Rudella's first shot came in the 14th minute, but was saved by Pacific Lutheran's goalkeeper. Rudella ranks in the top five of two statistical categories in the Northwest Conference including fourth in shots (17) and second in shots on goal (10).
MARK'S MAGIC: In the past four games, Mark Watson has scored a goal and assisted on two occasionas. Against Walla Walla on Sept. 7, Watson fired between the posts on a cross from Mason Nakama (Jr., Honolulu, Hawaii) to cap the scoring of the match at 6-0. Watson collected his first assist of the season in a 2-0 shutout against Oregon Tech on Sept. 9, when he crossed to Quintin Love (Fr., Kailua, Hawaii). Watson's second assist of the season came on Saturday against Puget Sound, when he crossed to Rudella, who went on to score the first goal of the match. Watson has started all seven matches of the 2012 season, recording two goals and 12 shots. Watson is tied for fourth in the Northwest Conference with eight shots on goal.
BOXERS STATISTICALLY RANK HIGH IN NWC: Heading into the fourth week of soccer action, the Boxers rank in the top five of six different categories in the Northwest Conference. The Boxer rank third in shots (102), second in goals (12), second in assists (10), tied for fourth in goals allowed (8), second in saves (33), and fourth in corner kicks (35). The Boxers have five different players that also rank high in the Northwest Conference. Alex Arrington (So., Portland, Ore.) ranks second in assists with two and Love is tied for second with three goals.
COMPLETE SEASON PREVIEW: The complete 2012 Pacific men's soccer season preview can be viewed online at http://goboxers.com/sports/2012/8/29/MSOC_0829121618.aspx?tab=menssoccer&path=msoc
PACIFIC PICKED TO PLACE SIXTH: After posting a 5-12-1 record in 2011 the Boxers were picked sixth in a preseason poll of NWC coaches. The Boxers received 20 of a potential 64 points in the poll. Pacific Lutheran received five first place votes with Whitworth receiving two and Whitman receiving one. The Boxers were seven points in front of rival Linfield and seven behind Willamette.
