By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season last weekend and moved down to #13 in the newest NCAA Division III Coaches Poll released by the United Soccer Coaches. Willamette remained #1 in Region X of NCAA Division III. A week ago, the Bearcats were listed at #7 in the national poll. Willamette fell to Whitman College, 3-1, on Saturday, Oct. 15, but defeated Whitworth University, 1-0, on Sunday, Oct. 16 to end the week at 10-1-2 on the season, 8-1-0 in the Northwest Conference.

The Bearcats lead the NWC with 24 points, while Pacific Lutheran University is in second place at 7-2-0 with 21 points. Three points are awarded for each win and one point is earned for each tie. Willamette has outscored its opponents 38-15 so far this season, led by Pierce Gallaway (Sr., M, Carmel, CA/Carmel HS) with nine goals and Jett Starr (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) with six goals.

In this week's NCAA Division III National Poll, the University of Chicago (Ill.) stayed at #1 with an undefeated record of 14-0-0. Messiah University (Pa.) was ranked #2 with a 13-0-1 record, while Kenyon College (Ohio) was #3 with a 12-0-1 record. Stevens Institute of Technology (N.J.) followed at #4 with a 12-0-2 mark. Johns Hopkins University (Md.) was ranked #5 at 11-0-3.

North Park University (Ill.) held the #6 ranking at 11-1-1 and Middlebury College (Vt.) was #7 with a 9-1-2 record. Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) was next at #8 with a 10-0-4 mark. Calvin University (Mich.) was listed at #9 with a 12-1-2 record, while Montclair State University (N.J.) was #10 at 11-1-3. Willamette was the top Region X team at #13. The only other team in the Top 25 from Region X was Pacific Lutheran at #20 with a 12-2-0 record. Region X teams that received votes in the national poll were Occidental College (Calif.), Chapman University (Calif.), and Mary Hardin-Baylor University (Texas).

Willamette kept the top ranking in Region X and Pacific Lutheran remained at #2. The top six stayed the same from last week, including Occidental at #3 with a 9-2-2 record, Chapman at #4 with a 7-1-4 mark, University of St. Thomas (Texas) at #5 with a 9-1-3 record, and Mary Hardin-Baylor holding the #6 spot with a 9-1-2 record. Colorado College moved up one position to #7 at 6-2-4 on the season. University of the Ozarks (Ark.) slipped one spot to #8 with an 8-2-4 record.

The Bearcats will play at George Fox University on Friday, Oct. 20. Game time in Newberg, Oregon, is slated for 7 p.m. (PDT). Willamette will take on Pacific University at Sparks Field in Salem, Oregon, on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 2:30 p.m. The game against Pacific will be Senior Day for the Bearcats.