The difference this time is that the Pirates have almost everyone back. In 2001, when Whitworth won a Northwest Conference title and advanced into the NCAA tournament, the team was a senior dominated outfit that had to regroup in 2002. When the Pirates once again won an NWC championship in 2004 and reached the second round of the NCAA’s, they did so with only one senior on the roster. Everyone is back and anxious for another shot. But before they can look ahead, the team must focus on competing against one of the toughest soccer conferences at the NCAA Division III level.

"The one thing I know is that last year’s team is the clear favorite to win last year’s conference championship," said Pirate head coach Sean Bushey, who is 98-58-17 after nine years as the Whitworth men’s soccer coach. "This year is a different team competing against different teams."

Niko Varlamos

But Bushey is also not hiding the fact that his 2005 squad returns the NWC 2004 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, as well as nine overall starters.

"Our philosophy is always to be as good as we possibly can," said Bushey. "We will aim to do so again by continuing to work and play a style that gives us the best chance of succeeding both within conference play and outside of it."

That style includes an offense that led the NWC in goals per game (2.75) and was second in goals allowed (1.10). Leading that attack last year was 2004 Defensive Player of the Year Todd Sabrowski (Sr., D, Oregon City, Ore.), who led the NWC in assists (12) and finished second in total points (8 goals, 12 assists, 28 points), and Offensive Player of the Year Niko Varlamos (Jr., F, Edmonds, Wash.), who led the conference in goals (13) and points (13 goals, 7 assists, 33 points).

Whitworth lost two players from 2004 -- Brad Suhm (Second Team All-NWC midfielder), who graduated; and Austin Washington (Honorable Mention All-NWC defender), who transferred.

Whitworth’s offensive attack should be very strong again. Joining Varlamos as the other returning starting forward is Jonathan Carlson (Sr., F., Camas, Wash.), a three year starter who posted eight goals and five assists

Ali Seyedali

while earning Second Team All-NWC honors last year. Backing up the two will be Chris Johnson (Sr., F, Spokane, Wash.), who added four goals and three assists off of the bench last season, and Curtis Flournoy (So., F, Mesa, Ariz.), who scored two goals in five games.

Other than the loss of Suhm, the Pirates look very strong again in the midfield, where they return three other starters. Ali Seyedali (Jr., MF, Redmond, Wash.), a Second Team All-NWC selection, had a goal and five assists. Sean Lambrecht (Jr., MF, Sammamish, Wash.) finished with six goals and four assists, and scored both goals in Whitworth’s 2-1 win over Colorado College in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Skye Henderson (So., MF, Spokane, Wash.) made great strides as a freshman, starting 13 matches and adding five goals and three assists. Most likely moving into the fourth starting position is Evan Hendrickson (Sr., MF, Auburn, Wash.), who started four matches last season while playing in all 20 games. He had a goal and four assists.

Tucker Hopp (Jr., MF, Seattle, Wash.) will challenge for midfield playing time, along with sophomores Kenshiro Uki (MF, Aiea, Hawaii) and Brent Murakami (MF, Mililani, Hawaii), who each scored a goal last year. Newcomer Jordan Lister (Fr., MF, Kalispell, Mont.) was the 2004 Gatorade Player of the Year in Montana.

Todd Sabrowski

Led by Sabrowski, the Pirates’ back line of defense will be strong again as well. Trevor Osborne (Sr., D, Des Moines, Wash.) returns to start for the third straight season, as does Adam Loeffler (Jr., D, Seattle, Wash.). Several players will battle for the final starting spot, and all will provide solid experience on the field, including Brett Kagawa (Jr., D, Mililani, Hawaii), Ben Dixon (So., D, Missoula, Mont.), Matt Friesen (So., D, Newberg, Ore.) and Charlie Bone (So., D, Newberg, Ore.).

Kevin Bostock (Jr., GK, Kalispell, Mont.) was named the First Team All-NWC keeper last year after posting five shutouts and a 1.04 goals against average. However, Bostock will miss the first three weeks of 2005 after knee surgery. Two newcomers, freshman Scott Barnum (Fall City, Wash.), a highly respected player out of Eastside Catholic High School, and transfer Lance Beck (Jr., Spokane, Wash.) will battle to carry the responsibility until Bostock’s return.

Whitworth opens the season against perennial Southern California power University of Redlands on September 3rd at the Linfield College tournament before taking on Corban College (formerly Western Baptist). The Pirates then host St. Thomas (Minn.) and NAIA power Simon Fraser at the Whitworth Invitational the following week.

The Northwest Conference schedule will be as tough as ever. While Whitworth is a strong favorite in the 2005 NWC Coaches Poll, Puget Sound, Linfield and Pacific Lutheran all picked up a first place vote.