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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's soccer team has moved up one spot into the #9 ranking in this week's NCAA Division III West Region Poll released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Willamette is 12-4-1 overall, including 9-1-1 in the Northwest Conference.

The Bearcats went 2-0 during the week with a pair of road wins. Willamette defeated Pacific Lutheran University, 3-2, on Saturday, Oct. 25 and downed University of Puget Sound, 1-0, on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Trinity University (Texas) retained the #1 ranking in the West Region with an NCAA Division III record of 17-1. Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) advanced from #3 up into the #2 spot with a 10-3-2 record. Whitworth University also lifted one position and is now #3 at 12-1-2. Colorado College fell from #2 to #4 despite two shutout wins to reach 13-3-2.

University of Texas-Dallas jumped from #9 into the #5 spot with a 9-4-2 record after defeating the previous #6 team, Hardin-Simmons University (Texas), 1-0. University of California-Santa Cruz moved up a spot to #6 with an 8-3-1 record.

After losing to the Bearcats, Puget Sound dropped from #5 to #7 in the Region. The Loggers are 10-4-2 against Division III teams. Occidental College (Calif.) held at #8 with an 11-5-1 record. Willamette is #9 with a 10-4-1 record in Division III. Hardin-Simmons slipped to #10 at 5-3-2.

In the NSCAA National Rankings for NCAA Division III, Trinity is listed at #2, Pomona-Pitzer is #16 and Whitworth is #22. The Bearcats will take on the Pirates on Saturday, Nov. 1 in Northwest Conference action at Sparks Field. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. (PDT). Willamette will play Whitman College at Sparks Field on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 1:30 p.m.