By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- After defeating Northwest Conference rival Linfield University 4-1 on Sunday, Oct. 9, the Willamette University men's soccer team improved to 9-0-2 on the season and remained #7 in this week's NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Coaches Poll released by the United Soccer Coaches on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Willamette also remained #1 in Region X of NCAA Division III for the fourth consecutive week. The Bearcats lead the NWC with a 7-0-0 record (21 points).

Willamette has won or tied 13 consecutive games, including the final two games of the 2021 fall season. The Bearcats have outscored their opponents this season, 36-12, including three shutouts.

Five of the top seven teams in this week's NCAA Division III Poll stayed the same, led by the University of Chicago (Ill.) at #1 with a 12-0-0 record. Messiah University (Pa.) was #2 at 11-0-1. Kenyon College (Ohio) moved up one spot to #3 at 10-0-1, and Stevens Institute of Technology (N.J.) fell one spot to #4 at 9-0-2. Johns Hopkins University (Md.) remained #5 with a 9-0-3 record, while North Park University (Ill.) held at #6 with a 10-1-0 mark. Willamette followed at #7.

Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) advanced two spots this week from #10 up to #8 with an 8-0-3 record. Hamilton College (N.Y) slipped one position into #9 in the poll at 8-0-3, and Calvin University (Mich.) advanced one spot to #10 at 10-1-0.

The Bearcats kept the #1 ranking in Region X, while NWC opponent Pacific Lutheran University moved from #3 into the #2 ranking at 10-2-0. Occidental College (Calif.) also gained a spot and is now #3 at 8-2-1. Chapman University (Calif.) held the #4 spot at 6-1-4, while the University of St. Thomas (Texas) was #5 at 7-1-3. Chapman rose two spots while UST slipped three spots from a week ago. Rounding out the Top 8 were the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) at #6 with a 7-1-2 mark, the University of the Ozarks (Ark.) at #7 with an 8-1-3 record, and Colorado College at #8 with a 5-2-3 record.

Willamette will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 15 when the Bearcats host Whitman College at Sparks Field at 2:30 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will remain at home to take on Whitworth University on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 2:30 p.m.