SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth men's soccer team is back on the road to take on two different sets of 'Cats this weekend. The Pirates play the Willamette Bearcats on Saturday and the Linfield Wildcats on Sunday. Both matches will start at 2:30 as the second halves of women's-men's doubleheaders.
Check the Whitworth men's soccer schedule for live links to follow the action.
The Pirates: Whitworth (4-3-1 overall, 2-1-1 NWC) got its groove back with a pair of wins last week to end an 0-3-1 stretch.
The Pirates ended an eight-match winless skid against Whitman College with a 3-2 victory over the Blues on Wednesday. Beckett Arthur scored his first goal of the season in the eighth minute, heading in a cross from Dominic Gusman. The Pirates took advantage of an own-goal by Whitman in the 16th minute for a 2-0 lead and Chris Barry's penalty kick in the 74th minute increased the lead to 3-1. Anton Dershem made six saves and allowed one goal in the first half in goal, while Aiden Chase allowed one goal, but didn't see another shot on goal in the second half. Whitman had 17 shots in the first half, but only two after halftime.
On Sunday Whitworth scored two second half goals in a 3-1 win over visiting Pacific (Ore.). Cole Friesen had his name all over the match, assisting on Clayton Crockett's first goal of the season in the 15th minute. After Pacific tied the match with a penalty kick in the 34th minute, Friesen was fouled on a breakaway leading to a red card late in the half. Friesen scored twice in the one-minute stretch of the second half to put the game away. Kauli'a Shiroma assisted on both goals. The Pirates outshot the Boxers 19-5, including a 7-4 edge in shots on goal. Dershem made two saves and allowed the PK in the first half, while Chase made one save in the scoreless second half.
Friesen is Hot: Cole Friesen has seven goals and one assist in Whitworth's eight matches this season. He ranks second in the NWC in goals and in total points (15).
The Opponents: Willamette is the defending NWC champion. The Bearcats (3-4 overall, 3-0 NWC) have bounced back from a very difficult non-conference schedule to win three straight league games. Last weekend Willamette beat Puget Sound 3-1 and George Fox 6-0, both at home. Head coach Sam Adelman led the Bearcats to a conference crown in only his second year in 2022. Freshman Lucas Carballo leads the team with three goals and two assists, while senior Fernando Bitelli has two goals and two assists. Willamette edged Whitworth twice last fall, winning 2-1 in Spokane and 1-0 in Salem.
Linfield comes into the weekend 1-4-3 overall and 1-1-2 in the NWC, but the Wildcats are coming off a very good week. Last weekend Linfield rolled to a 5-0 win at Lewis & Clark, then held league-leading Pacific Lutheran to a 0-0 tie at home. Senior Sid Kosaris has three goals this season, including one vs. L&C. Fellow senior Seamus Miller has two goals. Head coach Andrew Duvall is in his fourth year at Linfield. Whitworth swept the Wildcats in 2022, winning 3-0 at home and 2-0 in McMinnville.
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 close out the first half of its NWC schedule on October 7-8 with home matches against Lewis & Clark and George Fox.
