TACOMA, Wash. - The three-time defending Northwest Conference Champion Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team looks to continue its dominance in 2019, having high expectations heading into tomorrow's season opener in Minnesota.
 
"As proud as I was of our team last year, we felt a little slighted at the end of the season by not receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. This has really driven us for this upcoming season," said three-time NWC Coach of the Year Seth Spidahl, who enters his eighth season with an impressive 92-24-25 record at the helm.
 
"Our 'vision' each year is to be another great PLU women's soccer team. I'm looking for the best version of each player and this group for 2019. We don't ever compare ourselves to other teams, as the 2019 journey is this team's journey and no one else's. We also realize past success means nothing towards potential future success. We're grateful for everything, but entitled to nothing. This attitude creates a resilient work ethic each and every year."
 
The Lutes' won their final four games on the season last fall, finishing the season with a 13-3-4 overall record and a 12-2-2 record in conference play. PLU shared the league title with crosstown rival University of Puget Sound who claimed the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on tiebreakers. 
 
Pacific Lutheran lost an impressive senior class that graduated with a 61-10-12 record on the pitch over the past four seasons. Despite the departures, the Lutes are the prohibitive favorite to win the NWC, securing seven of the nine first place votes in the preseason coaches' poll. 
 
"(NWC Offensive Player of the Year) Liz Griffith was a great player for us last year but Tasha Tennyson and Vivian Shinall are primed and ready to step into the number nine role and score goals! They have worked hard and are ready to have great junior and sophomore years respectively. Rachel Ross is a big loss in the midfield, but Kelly Brown will step back into her midfield role from her freshmen year and Emma Hunter will look to fill the center back spot that Kelly played last year." 
 
"Newcomer Grayson Nottage is off to a great start as a center back as well. Sarah Burns, a very experienced player coming back for her fifth year, will fill the right back spot and Alyssa Carter the left back spot.  Danielle Lisk, Emma Fleming, and Ellie Reardon will also give us great depth in those spots."  
 
One of the question marks revolves around goalkeeper and the task of replacing Natalie Robinson who patrolled the goalmouth for 3,909 of the 3,928 minutes the Lutes played over the past two seasons. 
 
"We have two juniors who will battle it out in Cassidy Crosswhite and Ashton Huppert.  Our goalkeeping situation will be new this year due to Natalie's graduation but also very similar to when Natalie stepped into goal. Natalie stepped in as a starter in her junior year and was a two year all conference player. We're in a similar situation this year with two juniors Ashton Hand Cassidy who have been working and training hard and are now ready for their shot!  Our new goalkeeping coach Nathan Salveson has been doing a fantastic job so I know we will not miss a beat in goal."
 
Amongst the stable of returners is Brianna Hunting, Leah Magee, and Ellie Johnson who combined for 11 goals and five assists during the 2018 campaign.
 
"We're super pumped to have Bri, Leah, and Ellie back for the 2019 season! Bri is our heart and soul of the team and our leader in the back line. I couldn't ask for a better captain to lead this team.  We'll be looking to Ellie to be an offensive threat every game as she looks to break out in her junior year. She's worked very hard this past summer to set herself up for a great season. Leah in my opinion is the best overall player in the NWC. She's fit, has great defensive game insight, and has the pace and skill to get in behind or cut inside. My only regret is I only get to coach Leah, Bri, Danielle, and Alyssa for one more season!"
 
The Lutes open the season with four consecutive road games before diving into the grueling 16-game NWC slate. That journey begins tomorrow in Minnesota and continues next week with a pair of games in southern California. 
 
"I'm very happy with this group, we had one of our best pre-season's ever! They've really set themselves up to be successful this year with all the work they did last spring and this summer. The senior class's word this year is "unfinished" as they want to make it back to the NCAA Tournament and I've never been more motivated to take on the challenges of a college season. As long as we work hard, continue to improve, 'sail the right 'ships', and enjoy ourselves, this group will reach their potential. That is all we can ask for."
 
The Lutes open things at Carleton College at 4 p.m. (Central Time) on Friday before an early afternoon showdown with Saint Olaf College the following day at 1 p.m. (Central).
 
Aug. 30: PLU vs. Carleton in Northfield, Minn. (4 p.m. Central)
 
Series History: This is just the second all-time meeting between the Lutes and Knights. The two last met in 2010 with Carleton claiming a 6-1 win in Tacoma. 
 
About the Knights: Carleton boasts seven seniors and five juniors from a team that finished the 2018 season with a 6-7-4 record and a 3-5-3 mark in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. The Knights started the year hot, dropping just one game through the first 10 games of the season but ended the season on a sour note, losing six of the final seven games. 
 
Aug. 31: PLU vs. Saint Olaf in Northfield, Minn. (1 p.m. Central)
 
Series History: This is the first meeting between the Lutes and Oles. 
 
About the Oles: Saint Olaf returns eight starters from a squad that finished the season 10-6-2 overall and 6-4-1 in MIAC play. The Oles qualified for the MIAC Tournament for the second consecutive season before bowing out to Augsburg University 2-0 in the quarterfinals.