By: Cody Wright
SPOKANE, Wash. – After opening the 2026 season with a trip to Colorado, the Pirate men's soccer team returns to Spokane to continue its non-conference schedule against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Friday at 2:00 pm and UC Santa Cruz on Sunday at 11:00 am.
Northwest Conference rival Whitman will also make the trip to Spokane to play UCSC on Friday at 4:30 pm and UMHB on Saturday at 3:00 pm. Both neutral site matches will be streamed on FloCollege.
Check the Whitworth men's soccer schedule for live links to follow the action.
Watch on FloCollege: All of Whitworth's Northwest Conference athletic events will be streamed through FloCollege in 2026-27. Fans can sign up to watch Pirate sports on the FloCollege portal. Registration is $120 for an annual subscription or $25 per month. Those who register with a .edu email address get a significant discount.
The Pirates: The Pirates (1-1) split a pair of matches in Colorado Springs to open the season last weekend.
On Friday, the Bucs fell 3-0 to a talented Colorado College team. The Whitworth defense played well for the first 60-plus minutes before the Tigers broke through with two quick goals in the 64th and 65th minute. CC added its third goal in the 75th minute. The Bucs were outshot 18-2 in the match, with both shots coming from Lucas Diaz.
Whitworth earned its first win of the season on Sunday, beating Austin College 3-1. After another scoreless first half, the Pirates netted three second-half goals to take control. Boden Thomson scored his first career goal off a rebounded shot in the 63rd minute. After a forced turnover and pass from Sebastian Alvarez, Lucas Waarvick added his first career goal in the 73rd minute. Ralph Borromeo put home the Bucs' third goal of half in the 77th minute. The Kangaroos got one back a minute later, but it wasn't enough. Whitworth outshot Austin 14-9 and generated five corner kicks. Dax Flanders made four saves and got the win in net.
The Opponents: Mary Hardin-Baylor heads into this weekend with a 2-0 record to start the season. Those two wins were commanding ones, with victories over Concordia 4-0 and Centenary 4-1. UMHB pushed the envelope offensively, averaging 24 shots per game. Opponents have totaled 16 total shots and 10 on target against them. Grayson Bowler, Martin Valdes, and Billy Yonce have two goals apiece to lead the Cru. Sophomore goalkeeper Hughston Taggart has a .900 save percentage in two starts. Whitworth is 2-0 against UMHB, with the last matchup coming back in 2015.
UC Santa Cruz is 1-1-1 heading into matchups against the Whits. The Banana Slugs will play Whitman on Friday before taking on the Pirates on Sunday. UCSC's results include a 3-2 loss to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, a scoreless draw against Whittier and a 3-0 win at Caltech. They have put up 39 shots in three games and allowed opponents just 26, only eight of those on goal. Production has been spread out in the attacking third, with Oliver Gill leading the team with a goal and two assists. Tobias Jacobson-Bell has a .625 save percentage in three starts in net. Whitworth is 5-2-1 against the Banana Slugs since 2001. UCSC took the last meeting 2-1 in 2023 in California.
The Coach: Kevin Moon became the Pirates' head coach in 2023 and has a 30-17-12 record heading into his third season at the helm. 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 four 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: The Pirates will open Northwest Conference play at home on September 19-20 against Lewis & Clark and Linfield.
