HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Pacific Lutheran University men's soccer squad heads into the 2026 season with high expectations after being picked to finish second in the annual Northwest Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll released on Friday.

The Lutes (13-4-3, 12-1-3 NWC) racked up 58 points in the poll to grab the No. 2 position, claiming two of the nine first place votes. Reigning league champion Whitman College (14-1-7, 13-0-3 NWC) occupies the top spot with 63 points and the remaining seven first place endorsements.

Crosstown nemesis University of Puget Sound (7-7-5, 6-6-4 NWC) is third with 43 points with Willamette University (7-6-7, 7-3-6 NWC) in fourth with 42 points. Whitworth University (7-5-5, 7-4-5 NWC) is fifth with 39 points followed by George Fox University (5-9-6, 3-8-5) in sixth with 27 points. Pacific University (4-10-5, 4-8-4 NWC) is seventh with 23 points followed by Linfield University (2-14-4, 2-10-4 NWC) in eighth (20 points) and Lewis & Clark College (0-17-3, 0-14-2 NWC) in ninth (nine points). 

The Lutes placed second in the NWC standings in 2025, finishing one game behind the league champion Blues. The Lutes open up the 2026 campaign at home on Sept. 4 against Chapman University before opening conference play two weeks later, hosting Pacific on Sept. 19.