By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- A strong finish to the season in which the Bearcats went 9-1-2 in their last 12 games, has earned the Willamette University men's soccer team at #7 ranking in the final regular season NCAA Division III West Region Poll released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Willamette, under the guidance of fourth-year Head Coach Lloyd Fobi, concluded the season with a 13-5-2 overall record, including a 10-2-2 (32 points) mark for second place in the Northwest Conference.

The Bearcats defeated archrival Linfield College 4-1 in the final game of the season on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Sparks Field. A total of seven Bearcats contributed a goal or an assist in the victory.

Willamette's goals against the Wildcats were scored by Andrew Woods (Sr., MF, Eugene, OR/Marist Catholic HS), Fabian Guerrero (So., F, Salem, OR/South Salem HS), Noah Walin (So., MF, Makawao, HI/Seabury Hall) and Jesse Thompson (Jr., F, Santa Ynez, CA/Santa Ynez HS).

Trinity University (Texas) held the #1 ranking in the West Region with a record of 22-1-0 against NCAA Division III opponents. Whitworth University, which went 10-1-3 in the NWC to win the conference title, was ranked #2 with a 14-1-3 record in Division III. Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) was listed at #3 with a 14-4-2 record.

Colorado College owned the #4 ranking at 15-4-2, while University of Texas-Dallas was #5 at 11-5-3. Hardin-Simmons University (Texas0, which defeated UT-Dallas 2-0 during the week, moved from #10 up to #6 at 8-4-2. Willamette was #7 with a 12-5-2 record in Division III.

Completing the Top 10 were University of California-Santa Cruz at #8, University of Redlands (Calif.) at #9 and University of Puget Sound at #10. UC-Santa Cruz was 9-4-1, Redlands was 13-9-0 and Puget Sound was 12-5-2. The Loggers went 10-3-1 (31 points) in the NWC to take third place in the conference.

Willamette's 13 wins were the most since the Bearcats finished the 1991 season at 13-6-2. The Bearcats set a school record with 10 conference victories. Over the past three seasons, Willamette has earned a 33-18-7 (.629) record.