SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth men's soccer team will be back at home this week with a split schedule against a pair of Northwest Conference opponents.  Instead of the normal Saturday-Sunday slate, the Pirates host Whitman College on Wednesday afternoon (2:00 pm) and Pacific University on Saturday at 2:30 pm.

Check the Whitworth men's soccer schedule for live links to follow the action.

The Pirates:  Whitworth (2-3-1) went 0-1-1 during the conference opening trip to Tacoma last weekend, falling at Pacific Lutheran and tying at Puget Sound. 

The Pirates fell behind PLU early and could not recover in a 4-1 loss to the Lutes last Saturday in Parkland.  PLU got on the board in the 12^th minute with a penalty kick goal and added a second goal later in the first half.  Sterling Eaglin scored his first goal of the season for Whitworth in the 77^th minute.  Anton Dershem allowed four goals and made seven saves as PLU held a 21-10 advantage in shots, including a 12-3 edge in shots on-goal.

On Sunday the Pirates responded better to giving up an early goal, earning a 1-1 draw at Puget Sound when Dominic Gusman scored his first goal of the season in the 88^th minute.  Jordan Voigt had the assist.  Shots were nearly even, 13-12 in favor of UPS.  But Whitworth had eight on target while the Loggers only put five on the net.  Dershem played the first half and allowed one goal with one save.  Aiden Chase played the second half and made three saves, including one in the final five seconds to preserve the tie.

Friesen is Hot: Cole Friesen has five goals in Whitworth's six matches so far this season.  He ranks second in the NWC in goals and in total points (10).

The Opponents:  Whitman comes into Tuesday's match 1-4-1 overall and 1-1 in the NWC.  The Blues picked up their first win of the 2023 season with a 3-2 victory at Puget Sound last Saturday.  PLU rolled past Whitman 6-0 on Sunday.  Jose Cedeno is in his ninth season as Whitman's coach and he has built a consistently strong program.  Senior forward Edwin Romero (2^nd team All-NWC in 2022) has three goals this season.  Junior forward Sawyer Valero has one goal and three assists.  Last season Whitman swept Whitworth, winning 2-0 in Walla Walla and 4-2 in Spokane.  In fact, the Blues have flipped the script on the Pirates.  From 1997 (when Whitworth rejoined the NWC) through 2017, the Pirates had a 33-7-1 advantage in the series, including a 15-matching winning streak from 2001 through 2008.  But from 2018 through last season, the Blues hold a 10-1-1 edge in the Battle of Whits.

Pacific University is 1-2-3 overall and 1-1 in the NWC heading into Saturday's contest.  The Boxers lost 1-0 at George Fox last Saturday but rebounded to defeat Lewis & Clark 4-0 on Sunday for their first win of the season.  Pacific alum Brandon Porter is in his fourth year as head coach.  Junior midfielder Aidan Heflin has three goals and two assists this season, tied for third in the NWC with eight points.  Junior defender Tait Kuchenbrod scored twice in the win over L&C.  Last season Whitworth defeated Pacific 2-1 at home and the teams tied 1-1 in Oregon.

The Coach: Kevin Moon is the Pirates' interim head coach in 2023 and perhaps no one more connected to the history of Whitworth men's soccer could have taken on that role.  Moon was a Pirate player from 1988 through 1991, winning three NCIC titles under Whitworth Heritage Gallery Hall of Fame coach Einar Thorarinnson.  Moon served three stints as an assistant coach at Whitworth under several head coaches.  He was an assistant coach for the women's team from 1992 through 1996, when the Pirates won a pair of NCIC titles under Damon Hagerott.  He was an assistant coach for the men under Sean Bushey in 2001 when the Pirates won a conference crown.  Moon returned as an assistant coach with the women's program from 2010 through 2015 under both Hagerotts – Damon and Jael.  He was back with the Pirate men under Morgan Cathey in 2018 and 2019.

He also has significant coaching experience in the Inland Northwest. Kevin has a USSF National A License and was an ODP Washington Staff Coach from 2008-10. He was also a 2014 ODP Idaho Staff Coach.

Coming up:  Whitworth will play at Willamette and Linfield on Sept. 30 / Oct. 1.