Setting the Scene: The first-place PLU is red hot, riding a six game win streak and a 13 match (10-0-3) unbeaten run. The Lutes put that on the line today, welcoming Oregon rival Pacific to East Field.
Series History: The Lutes and Boxers have met 72 times since the 1980 campaign with PLU enjoying a 54-14-5 edge in the all-time series. PLU is unbeaten (10-0-1) in the last 11 meetings with Pacific, a streak stretching back to the 2017 season. PLU swept the series by a combined 9-3 margin last fall but the two teams battled to a 1-1 stalemate earlier this season back on Oct. 1.
About the Lutes: 15th-ranked and NWC-leading Pacific Lutheran (11-1-4, 10-0-2 NWC) has been on a tear, outscoring its last six opponents by a combined 26-5 scoreline. That includes a 7-0 thumping of George Fox and a 2-0 win over Linfield last weekend.
Against the Bruins, five different Lutes scored goals, including Trevor Thompson and Craig Johnson both netting a pair of scores. PLU's defense was equally dialed in, allowing just two shots and only one on frame.
The following day against Linfield, Robby Guyer scored in the 13th minute and Dane Helle scored in the 52nd, powering PLU to the 2-0 victory.
The high-octane Lutes rank fourth nationally in scoring offense (3.62), points per game (10.0), and assists per game (2.75), while sitting sixth in D3 in goal differential (+44).
Craig Johnson sits fifth in the nation in total points (42), seventh in game-winning goals (five), and 10th in total goals (17).
All-Star Attaways: The Lutes swept the NWC Player of the Week awards this week with Craig Johnson earning Offensive Player of the Week and Cole Dobson nabbing Defensive Player of the Week.
It's the third consecutive week and fourth time this fall the Lutes have won NWC Defensive Player of the Week with Alex White securing the honor on Oct. 9 & 16 and Alvin Kamau earning the accolade on Sept. 18.
About the Boxers: Pacific (3-7-6, 3-6-3 NWC) heads to Tacoma looking to return to the win column after coming up winless and goalless (0-2-1) in it's last three matches.
Pacific topped Lewis & Clark 1-0 back on Oct. 14 before dropping a 2-0 decision to George Fox the following day. Pacific and Whitman battled to a scoreless draw on Oct. 21 before the Boxers fell 1-0 to Whitworth the following day.
Conor Barres scored in the 84th minute for the Boxers in the win over the Pios. Since then, the Boxers have gone 276 minutes without finding the back of the net.
Aidan Heflin is Pacific's top scorer with four of the team's 14 goals this season. Heflin also leads the team in assists (three) and points (11). Tait Kuchenbrod has three goals and an assist this year while Evan Bleyer is the only other player with more than one goal with two goals and an assist in 2023.
Zach Aderinto started 15 games in goal for the Boxers, making 66 saves on the year with a 1.19 goals against average.
Home Cooking: East Field has been a daunting place for opponents to play since the 2015 season with the Lutes holding a 55-15-7 advantage in games played on campus. That includes a 28-7-3 mark over the past three seasons. Last fall the Lutes were 10-1 on the home turf.
NWC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Summer Lutes
PLU men's soccer student-athlete Elijah Singleton had a busy summer serving as an intern in a lab at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Learn more about his daily routine in the video below.
Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace last fall through the department's partnership with Opendorse. 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.
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.
Featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details and more, the new PLU Athletics app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Next Home Match:
Oct. 29 vs. Lewis & Clark at 2:30 p.m.
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu