TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University men's soccer team looks to finish out its non-conference slate this weekend as they travel to Santa Cruz, California to play University of California Santa Cruz on Friday and Chapman University on Sunday.
 
Last weekend the Lutes (2-2) traveled to Saint Louis to take on Washington University in St. Louis and Fontbonne University. The team fell in the first game to WashU 2-0 on two first half goals, before dominating the second game against Fontbonne taking the 8-0 win over the Griffins. The weekend was capped by freshman Zak Gregg notching his first collegiate hat-trick, Jackson Moore adding two more goals, and Dane Helle, Alex White, and Keeton Heggerness all finding the back of the net.
 
"We had a tough game against Washington U and did not play the way we wanted to, but were able to bounce back by watching film and seeing the areas we needed improvement on, then working on those things during training we had on Saturday before our game Sunday," said freshman Zak Gregg. "We came out Sunday ready and knowing what we had to do and did the things we worked on in training."
 
Gregg has really enjoyed the start to his collegiate soccer career and the transition to the college lifestyle.
 
"It feels great getting my first hat trick especially as a freshman, a lot of it comes from my teammates giving me opportunities to score and play well. Hopefully it won't be my last hat trick as a freshman because on a team this good with the support I have on the field, it's much easier to play to the best of my abilities. I'm most looking forward to just playing games and hopefully being Northwest Conference Champions because that is always our goal."
 
"The transition to PLU has been very good, the team and coaching staff are very welcoming. We all have one goal and that's to make it to nationals, so we are all on the same page."
 
In terms of academics, Gregg is looking to get his college career off to a good start and establish a healthy studying routine.
 
"I'm going to major in kinesiology and hopefully become a physical therapist after I graduate. My interest in physical therapy came from me being hurt before and having to go through physical therapy. They helped me get back on the field and I want to be someone that can do that for other people as well.
 
Gregg is very determined to develop his game even after long and demanding practices and the academic commitments.
 
"I don't have any hobbies really besides soccer, just hanging with the team and other people on campus. Sometimes going out and shooting so I can perform better in games and practice."
 
Gregg is enjoying the strong chemistry and bonds that the team are building since the beginning of pre-season.
 
"The chemistry with the team is great. Everyone likes each other and we all like playing with each other so it helps a lot on the field because we have great team camaraderie. 
We are going to keep working on things that we need to fix and keep getting better and better so that we can improve and keep the momentum going."
 
Gregg and the Lutes are looking forward to end their non-conference slate on a high note as they travel to Santa Cruz, California to take on UC Santa Cruz at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and Chapman at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
 
Sept. 13: PLU vs. UC Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California (4:30 p.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Banana Slugs have met four times with UCSC enjoying a 3-0-1 edge in the all-time series. The two squads last met in the 2009 season opener with the Slugs escaping from Tacoma with a 1-0 win.  
 
About the Banana Slugs: UC Santa Cruz (2-2) heads into Friday's clash with a .500 record. The Slugs opened the season with Ari Sidman collecting a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Division II Academy of Art. UCSC was blanked in its next two matches, falling 3-0 to Menlo College and 1-0 to Whitman College before besting Whitworth University 1-0 on Sunday. 
 
Andrew Pimentel has handled a majority of the goalkeeping duties, logging 270 minutes in net and making 12 saves with a 1.00 goals against average. 
 
Sept. 14: PLU vs. Chapman in Santa Cruz, Calif. (11 a.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Panthers have met four times on the pitch with Chapman holding a slim 2-1-1 edge in the series, including a 2-1 win last year in Orange, California. 
 
About the Panthers: Chapman (1-2) has experienced mixed results through the opening three games of the year. The Panthers fell 2-1 to Whitworth in the season opener, falling victim to a goal in the 87th minute before netting two early scores in a 3-0 win over Pacific University on Sept. 1. Chapman experienced a rough 12 minutes on Wednesday, yielding three goals from the 30th through 42nd minutes in a 3-0 setback to Hope International University.
 
Justo Garcia and Aidan Wall are the Panthers' top goal scorers with two goals apiece while Chandler Siemonsma has logged the most time between the posts, boasting a 1.11 GAA in 163 minutes of work.