Setting the Scene: The two-time reigning Northwest Conference Champion Pacific Lutheran University men's soccer squad looks to add another trophy this fall, opening up conference play today against Oregon rival George Fox University.
Series History: The Lutes enjoy a 52-9-1 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to the 1990 campaign. PLU has won the last 29 meetings, winning 3-0 in Newberg and 4-0 in Tacoma last year.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran (1-3) looks to continue its momentum after closing a difficult non-league slate with a win. The Lutes opened the year in Minnesota, falling to a pair of NCAA Tournament teams in Saint Olaf College (4-1) and 19th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College (2-0).
Ty Brunner gave the Lutes an early lead in the home opener on Sept. 5, but visiting Wheaton College (Ill.) scored two quick goals early in the second half to steal the game 2-1.
PLU answered two days later, getting a late goal from Mike Murega in a 2-1 victory over the University of California-Santa Cruz.
PLU's four goals have all come from a different player with six total Lutes registering a point so far this year. Ty Brunner leads the team in points (three) with a goal and an assist through the opening four games.
Chris Jamrok has been the primary keeper so far, making 12 saves this season.
About the Bruins: George Fox (2-1-3, 0-0-2 NWC) already has a pair of conference games under its belt, securing 1-1 ties against both Willamette University and Pacific University.
Against Willamette, Carson Tapia scored in the 35th minute but the Bearcats equalized in the 84th minute to salvage the draw. Against Pacific, it was the Bruins that utilized a late goal with Isaac Williams tying the match in the 83rd minute.
George Fox lost its lone non-conference game against a Division III foe, falling 5-1 to Whittier College (Calif.). The Bruins earned wins over NAIA opponents Bushnell University (5-1) and Corbin University (1-0) while earning a 1-1 tie with Oregon Institute of Technology.
Seven players have scored this year for the Bruins with Eugene Peltier leading the way with three goals and one assist. Isaac Williams has a pair of scores while Alec Buongervino, Wilson Fresh, and Carson Tapia all have a pair of assists.
Chase Nelson has seen the most minutes in goal, making 16 saves with a 1.48 goals against average.
Home Sweet Home
The Lutes have been a tough squad to play at home since the 2017 season, owning a 54-11-8 record at East Field during that stretch. That includes a 16-1-2 record over the past two seasons and a 26-2-2 mark since the 2022 campaign.
Highlights from Luteville
NWC Coaches' Poll
This August, the Lutes were picked to defend their crown according to the annual NWC Coaches' Poll. PLU earned 64 points in the poll, owning a 14-point buffer on in-state rival Whitworth University.
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:
Sept. 21 vs. Lewis & Clark at 2:45 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