SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth University women's soccer team will play its final home matches of the 2021 season this weekend. The Pirates host Lewis & Clark on Saturday and George Fox on Sunday. Both contests will start at noon.
See the Whitworth soccer schedule for live links to this weekend's matches. Masks are highly recommended, but not required, at the Whitworth Soccer Field.
The Pirates: Whitworth is 8-6-2 overall and 5-5-2 in the NWC after a pair of road matches at Whitman and Willamette last week. The Pirates remain in fifth place in the league standings.
Gabriella Coprivnicar scored two goals and had an assist in Whitworth's 4-2 win at Whitman last Wednesday. The Pirates were able to respond after Whitman took an early lead with a set piece goal. After Ireland Eaton tied the match with a goal before halftime, Coprivnicar scored twice in the second half and set up Eaton for the clinching goal in the 88th minute. Whitworth swept the season series against Whitman.
The Pirates were unable to respond in the same way after giving up an early goal at Willamette on Sunday. The Bearcats went on to win 3-0. The Bucs finished with a 17-14 advantage in shots, but could not find the net. Macey Morales had four shots, two on goal, to lead the offensive effort. Whitworth and Willamette split the season series.
Senior Send Off: Whitworth will recognize four players who are competing at home for the final time after Sunday's match vs. George Fox. Riley Martinson was able to play for the Pirates as a graduate transfer this season. Gabriella Coprivnicar, Macey Morales and Amanda Gerard are all four-year letter-winners. That presentation will occur immediately following the contest with the Bruins.
Building a Wall: Kate Nelson has been strong in goal for the Pirates. Nelson has a 1.03 goals-against average this season and has stopped 81% of the shots she has faced. She leads all Northwest Conference keepers in minutes played (1480) and ranks tied for second in shutouts with seven.
Finding Balance: Whitworth is very balanced offensively this season. Eleven different Pirates have scored the team's 19 goals. Gabriella Coprivnicar has seven, Ireland Eaton has four, while Maggie Ames, Macey Morales and Kendall Sharp each have two. Seven players have combined for the Bucs' nine assists. Coprivnicar has four and Morales has two.
Coprivnicar is tied for second in the NWC in goals scored.
The Opponents: Lewis & Clark is 9-6-1 overall and 7-5 in the NWC heading into Saturday's match. The Pioneers won 1-0 at Pacific (Ore.) last Saturday then fell 3-0 at second place Pacific Lutheran on Sunday. Celeste Schreifels is leading the conference in goals scored (10) and total points (24). She had two in L&C's 2-0 win over Whitworth in Portland on October 2nd.
George Fox is 10-4-2 overall and 8-2-2 in the NWC heading into Saturday's match at Whitman. The Bruins are having their best season in several years, thanks partly to Maggie Phillips (6 goals, 2 assists) and Taylor Ho (5 goals, 2 assists). Whitworth and George Fox played to a scoreless draw in Newberg, Oregon on Oct. 3rd as Kate Nelson made ten saves for the Pirates.
The Coach: Bryan Olson, previously the top assistant coach for the highly successful Whitworth men's soccer program, was named as the head coach for the Pirate women's soccer team in February of 2016 and enters his sixth year leading the Bucs in 221. He is 44-38-8 in five seasons as a head coach, including a 12-5-3 overall record in 2018 and a 10-4-2 mark in the Northwest Conference (third place).
Olson was the top assistant coach for the Whitworth men's soccer team for six seasons. His title was elevated to Associate Head Coach ahead of the 2015 season. Over that time the Pirate men's team posted a record of 66-17-12 and made the NCAA Division III Tournament three times (2012, 2014 and 2015).
Coming up next: Whitworth will finish the season with road matches at Linfield and Pacific (Ore.) on Oct. 6-7.
