TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University men's soccer team will be eyeing a fifth straight title this fall as they return to a full non-conference and Northwest Conference schedule.  The Lutes have won the NWC crown three straight seasons and topped the other three conference foes in the state of Washington last spring when competition was limited to in-state opponents.
 
"The spring was very helpful," said Head Coach John Yorke.  "We are way ahead of where we would normally be on some tactical things, based on having so many returners back.  It's been a better start to training camp than usual because we can review rather than reteach."
 
A veteran and talented group of offensive players will lead the way for the Lutes.  Dane Helle led the league with 12 points in 14 matches while Archie Caldwell added 11.  Helle scored five goals to lead the team in a shortened spring campaign, while Caldwell and Brandt Kelly scored four each.  Kelly started just once as a freshman, but played in all 14 matches and was active when in the game, ripping 16 shots. 
 
A First Team All-NWC selection and Third Team All-Region pick in his first season as a Lute, Keeton Heggerness scored three goals and added three assists last spring after he exploded for 15 goals in the fall of 2019. 
 
"We have the ability to score a lot of goals," said Yorke.  "We will continue to be aggressive going toward the net."
 
Another Lute with All-Region credentials is Ryan Griffith who has started all 55 games in his career.  Griffith was named to the All-NWC team after both his freshman and sophomore seasons and is an anchor on the back line.  He will be joined by familiar faces Alex White, Cole Dobson and Ryan Klee, who all have a bevy of experience.  White played the most minutes on the team last spring, while Dobson started every match as a freshman.  Klee has also started 20 matches, including 18 in 2019.  Jared Simrago will also be an important element of the defense after starting seven times in his first campaign at PLU. 
 
Returning Senior Rainier Schlekewey is back patrolling the midfield after an all-conference campaign in 2019.  He has been a starter and leader for the Lutes for the past three seasons.  Returning starters Craig Johnson and Keegan Dolan are also back for PLU in the middle. 
 
In goal, Lucas Hempen and Nicholas Gaston split time last spring as they both registered over 630 minutes in their inaugural seasons.  Gaston allowed just five goals and made 23 saves, while Hempen allowed nine and had 21 stops. 
 
"We have great depth all the way around," said Yorke.  "That's a blessing for us.  The hard part is that we have a lot of guys that have the ability to play and it's very competitive.  Everyone's come in pretty fit and as a group we look good."
 
PLU opens the regular season on Wednesday when they host The Evergreen State College at 7:00 p.m. The league slate kicks off on September 18 when the Lutes head to George Fox University.