Sy Bean

Women's Soccer Seeks Eighth-Straight Title in 2024 Run

By Chase Fisk | Assistant Director of Sports Communication

The Pacific Lutheran University Women's Soccer team has been a mainstay atop the Northwest Conference standings for the past seven seasons. Winning the conference trophy isn't the only end goal for Seth Spidahl's Lutes, it's making a run in the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

The Lutes have reached the national tournament in six of the past seven postseasons (2020 postseason was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

A difficult preseason schedule is the norm in Luteville, as in 2023 the Lutes went 2-1-1 in non-conference to start the season. Highlighted by a major 2-0 victory in Newport, Va. over the No.4-ranked Virginia Wesleyan University. During the regular season, the Lutes held a 15-5-1 overall record and a 13-3 record in Northwest Conference play.

We have an exciting non conference schedule that will have us compete against three Preseason Top 25 teams. This will be awesome preparation for our NWC journey. We are always looking for challenges, and we want to play big time games on a national scale...mission accomplished with this schedule for Fall 2024.

PLU Women's Soccer Head Coach, Seth Spidahl

Every year, every season is different but our vision is ALWAYS the same - we want to be another GREAT PLU Women's soccer team. We don't play the comparison game - our goal is to get this current group to be the best version of themselves as players, teammates, and a team for the Fall 2024 season.

PLU Women's Soccer Head Coach, Seth Spidahl

The Lutes graduated a total of 12 seniors from the 2023 squad. Most notably, Ella Merte and and Alyssa Leong. Merte, a four-year starter for the Lutes, All-American, and two-time NWC Defensive Player of the Year. The Auburn, Wash. native led a defense ranked No.30 in the nation in shutouts with eight. Leong, a three-time All-NWC honoree, played a crucial role in the offense where she ranked No.8 in the country in assists with 12. Leong totaled nine goals and 30 points for the Lutes in 2023.

“I am very grateful and thankful to have had the opportunity to coach them and for all they did for the program. But, good players are going to graduate and our vision doesn't change. It's now time for our next set of players to step up and make an impact.”

2024 Roster

Senior Kayden Hulquist enters her fourth season as a defensive staple for the Lutes. Hulquist has played over 20 games a season in the black and gold and started 19 of 21 contests in 2023. The Boise, Idaho native looks to continue to improve and help fill in for the loss of Merte on the defensive side of the ball.

#31 Kayden Hulquist

#9 Lily Dose

Senior Lily Dose will remain a force for the Lutes back line in 2024. The Shelton, Wash. native returns for her fifth season after playing over 20 games in each of the past three seasons. Dose earned Second Team All-Region honors by United Soccer Coaches in 2023 and has been an All-Northwest Conference honoree three times.

Senior forward Hannah Cecil strives to match her stellar 2023 season where she led the Lutes in goals with 17 and ranked No.29 in the country in goals scored. The Bothell, Wash. native held an impressive 1.58 shots on-target with a 0.89 goals per game average. With three First Team All-Conference honors, a First Team All-Region selection, and NWC Offensive Player of the Year award under her belt, Cecil will be one to watch out for on the pitch this season.

#11 Hannah Cecil

#1 Abby Winkler

Junior Goalkeeper Abby Winkler will find herself as the starting goalkeeper for the Lutes once again in 2024, after recording nine shutouts in 2023. The Portland, Ore. native recorded 1,751 minutes played in goal while holding a conference-best 0.617 Goals Against Average.

With a strong defensive unit, Winkler had to make just 66 saves in the 2023 campaign paired with a 0.846 Save Percentage.

Spidahl rounded out the Lutes roster by welcoming 13 new faces to Luteville in 2024.

On defense, the Lutes added Paige Almanza, Anna Chaffee, Taylor Christensen, and Bella Hanna. Almanza, reigning from Bow, Wash. dons the black and gold after starting her college career at Clackamas CC. Fellow transfer Bella Hanna returns to the 253 where she played high school soccer for Lakes High School. Hanna played 18 matches for fellow NWC foe Linfield in 2023.

At midfield, Kamryn Ayano, Hailey Glenn, Kaitlyn Lemus, Kylee Maytrychit, Keara Saks, and Taylor Yoshimura join the Lutes for 2024. Ayano and Lemus found a home in Luteville after attending the Lutes Winter ID Camp following the 2023 season. Yoshimura hails from Pearl City, Hawaii and will find herself splitting time between midfield and forward for the Lutes.

Joining Yoshimura at forward, Tia Schwetz comes to Luteville from Henry M. Jackson High School and also competed for Snohomish United in her prep days.

Two goalkeepers join the squad in Zoey Heckinger and Mia Speir. Local standout Heckinger comes to PLU from Auburn Mountainview High School meanwhile Speir travels across the state from Spokane, Wash.

2023 Season Statistics

Spidahl's Lutes are poised to defend their conference dynasty once again in 2024 as they shoot for their eighth-consecutive conference title.

"Our "DNA" this year is: Goals, Saves, Impenetrable Block, Ingenuity, and Gold Medal Grit." said Spidahl.

The first challenge for the Lutes comes on the east coast, as they take on the No.17 ranked Johns Hopkins Bluejays on Friday, August 30th, at 4 p.m. eastern time. As far as ranked opponents, the Lutes will face No.25 McDaniel College the following day before hosting No.16 Case Western Reserve at East Field on September 7th at 6 p.m.

"Our Theme this year is "Wolves Only". There is a strategic makeup to a pack of wolves - they all rely on each other to survive. Every wolf in the pack has a role and responsibility to the "pack's" success. A lone wolf will not last long. As a team, we are still in the process of figuring out these roles but I'm delighted with where we are at this point in time with individual growth, and most importantly team growth."

The Northwest Conference schedule kicks off on September 21st against the Willamette Bearcats at home at 2:45 p.m.

Overall, I'm happy with the progress we've made in preseason. The team has been working hard on the field, staying connected off the field, and improving every day. Our preseason scrimmages against D2 opponents give me a lot of hope that we can have a successful season.

PLU Women's Soccer Head Coach, Seth Spidahl

Lutes' Opening 10 Matches of 2024