Setting the Scene: It's Homecoming Weekend in Luteville! This begin on Friday night with men's soccer facing off against University of Puget Sound and volleyball hosting George Fox University. Football hosts Lewis & Clark College on Saturday with women's soccer facing George Fox and swimming hosting its alumni meet. The weekend concludes on Sunday with women's rowing hosting the American Lake Fall Classic and both soccer programs playing Lewis & Clark.

Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace on Wednesday through the department's partnership with Opendorse. Learn more about the deal here: LINK. But don't stay on the sidelines, get involved and connect with PLU student-athletes on the Luteville Marketplace: LINK
 
The Luteville Marketplace is the first dedicated NIL marketplace in Division III on the Opendorse platform that directly connects student-athletes with fans, supporters, and business partners in an easy to use website. 

Tickets, Tickets Tickets: The Lutes have made it easier for fans to attend home sporting events, signing a deal with HomeTown Ticketing to be the department's official electronic ticket provider. Lute fans can now purchase tickets online at GoLutes.com/tickets or on the HomeTown Ticketing mobile app available on iOS and Android devices. Learn More: LINK

Download the PLU Athletics App: Stay connected to your favorite teams by downloading the official mobile app of the Pacific Lutheran University athletic department powered by SIDEARM Sports, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. 
 
To download the app to your smartphone or tablet, visit the Apple App Store (DOWNLOAD LINK) or Google Play (DOWNLOAD LINK) and search for "PLU Athletics."

Bjug Day: PLU's Bjug Day of Giving returns Oct. 18-19. Let's come together again as a community to give to what we love! Your gift of any size, even $5, will help us reach this year's goal of 2,022 Lutes for PLU and PLU students. Once again, you get to choose where you want your donation to go and have it matched! Learn More: LINK
 
FRIDAY:
VB hosts George Fox at Olson Gymnasium (7 p.m.)
MSOC hosts Puget Sound at East Field (7 p.m.)
SATURDAY:
MG & WG at NWC Fall Classic in Salem, Ore. (Creekside GC)
SWIM hosts Alumni Meet at PLU Pool (9 a.m.)
WSOC hosts George Fox at East Field (12 p.m.)
FB hosts Lewis & Clark at Sparks Stadium (1 p.m.)
SUNDAY:
MG & WG at NWC Fall Classic in Salem, Ore. (Creekside GC)
WROW at American Lake Fall Classic in Lakewood, Wash. (11 a.m.)
WSOC hosts Lewis & Clark at East Field (12 p.m.)
MSOC hosts Lewis & Clark at East Field (2:30 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY:
WSOC at Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. (4 p.m.)
 
Football: The Lutes (2-2, 1-0 NWC) sit atop the NWC standings after earning a dramatic 13-12 win over previously undefeated George Fox to open conference play. 
 
Jordan Etter played the role of hero in the fourth quarter, coming off the bench and connecting with John Walker on a 27-yard touchdown pass on fourth and 16 for the go-ahead touchdown. The Bruins attempted to answer on the ensuing possession but a stop on a fourth and one gave the Lutes the win. 
 
The defense was the star of the show with Jared Elwin picking off two passes, including a 39-yard pick six in the third quarter. Elwin's efforts earned him a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week.

Hilinski's Hope: PLU football is partnering with Hilinski's Hope to raise awareness of mental health issues. Learn more: LINK

Dive Deeper: Learn more about Saturday's star Jordan Etter and his unique journey to the spotlight: LINK
 
Women's Soccer: Pacific Lutheran (8-1-1, 5-1 NWC) won a pair of games in eastern Washington to extend its winning streak to three games and force a tie atop the conference standings.
 
PLU began the weekend with a 4-2 win over Whitman College before blanking Whitworth University 2-0 the following day. Julia Causbie was named the NWC Offensive Player of the Week, scoring three goals over the weekend, including two against the Pirates while keeper Shaylin Cesar was the NWC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this fall.
 
Men's Cross Country: The Lutes squared off against some of the nation's best on Saturday, placing 14th at the NCAA Pre-Nationals meet in East Lansing, Michigan. Leading the pack for PLU was Ryan Stracke, placing 53rd in 25 minutes, 52.2 seconds for the 8,000-meter race while Owen Ladinig was three spots back in 25:53. 
 
The Lutes, ranked sixth in the West Region, finished four points ahead of Trine University, the seventh ranked squad in the Great Lakes Region. 
 
PLU takes the weekend off from competition and will return in two weeks for the Lewis & Clark Invitational. 
 
Men's Soccer: Pacific Lutheran (9-2, 4-2 NWC) returns from Oregon with six points after picking up road wins at the expense of George Fox and Pacific University last weekend. It was the Robby Guyer show on Saturday, scoring twice in a 2-0 win over the Bruins before Trevor Thompson scored twice in the opening 10 minutes in a 4-2 rout of Pacific.
 
Thompson finished the weekend with two goals and two assists, securing NWC Offensive Player of the Week accolades for the second straight week while Sammy Tafolla was named the NWC Defensive Player of the Week after headlining a stout defense that allowed just three shots on goal all weekend.
 
Women's Cross Country: The Lutes sit eighth in this week's West Region rankings on the strength of a strong showing on Saturday ate the Pre-Nationals meet in East Lansing, Michigan. 
 
PLU placed 22nd overall with Sarah Paquet making a big splash, finishing the 6,000-meter race in 22:32.7 to place 16thoverall.
 
The women will team up with the men this weekend and run the football game ball from campus to Sparks Stadium in Puyallup ahead of the homecoming game that kicks off at 1 p.m.
 
Volleyball: PLU (8-7, 3-4 NWC) saw its three match win streak come to a halt on Wednesday, falling 3-2 to arch-rival University of Puget Sound. Prior to that, the Lutes ripped off three in a row with a 3-0 win over Lewis & Clark, and 3-2 wins over both Pacific and Willamette University.
 
Elle Thomas was three kills off matching a career-high, finishing with 17 while Olivia Evaro had a double-double with 46 assists and 13 digs.
 
Women's Rowing: The six-time defending NWC Champion Lutes hit the water for the first time on Sunday, racing at the American Lake Fall Classic. PLU will mix it up against crews from Pacific, Seattle Pacific University, and University of Portland on a 5,000-meter course. Learn more about the powerhouse Lutes tomorrow in their fall season preview on GoLutes.com.
 
Women's Golf: The Lutes gear up for the last competition of the fall and the first conference major of the year, the NWC Fall Classic.
 
PLU has been idle since playing against a Division II heavy field at the Bishop Invitational two weekends ago. Emily Fisher led the Lutes at the event, shooting a 176 (86-90) to power the squad to a ninth-place finish. 
 
Men's Golf: Pacific Lutheran had the week off in preparation for the NWC Fall Classic. The Lutes last competed at the Bishop Invitational, placing 13th overall and finishing eight strokes ahead of Division II Chaminade University.
 
Josh Cross paved the way, shooting a 153 (79-74).
 
Swimming: The Lutes host their Alumni Meet on Saturday morning, a springboard to the true season opener— The NWC Sprints hosted by PLU on Oct. 28.
 
Men's Tennis: The Lutes competed at the ITA Northwest Regional last weekend in Portland. Dillon Wells made his Lute debut, winning a pair of matches to advance to the semifinals of the B Consolation Draw in singles play.