The 25th year of Whitworth College men’s soccer is shaping up to be another in a long line of outstanding seasons. The Pirates have a chance to do what no Northwest Conference school has done since 1990 – win three NWC titles in a row. The last school to accomplish that feat? Whitworth.

With seven starters returning from a team that finished 19-2-1 overall and won the league with a record of 13-0-1, there is certainly room for optimism.

However, despite the history of success (both recent and traditional), Whitworth head coach Sean Bushey keeps his team focused only on what is ahead.

"Our approach will be as it always is," said Bushey. "We are focused on competing for this coming year’s conference title."

Yet, Bushey, who is 117-60-18 in ten years as Pirate coach, is not one to downplay the significance of past accomplishments either.

"Winning the title the past two seasons should help us to believe that we have the capabilities to do it again, but it also tells us that we will have our work cut out for us," he said.

Leading the way toward the goal of another NWC title is one of the strongest senior classes Whitworth has put on the field in its 25 years of men’s soccer.

Niko Varlamos (F, Edmonds, Wash. - King’s) is likely to retire as the all-time leading scorer in Whitworth history. Ali Seyedali (MF, Redmond, Wash. - Lake Washington) was named Second Team NSCAA All-American last fall. Kevin Bostock (GK, Whitefish, Mont. - Whitefish HS) will leave his name all over the record book after four seasons of starting in goal. Chris Johnson (F, Spokane, Wash. - St. George’s) was the Pirates’ fourth leading scorer last fall. Tucker Hopp (MF, Seattle, Wash. - University Prep), Adam Loeffler (D, Seattle, Wash. - Evergreen), and Sean Lambrecht (MF, Sammamish, Wash. - Skyline) have all been key contributors to the past two NWC titles.

"With such a big senior class, leadership will be expected from each player," said Bushey.

Whitworth will have to make due without Todd Sabrowski, Jon Carlson, Evan Hendrickson and Trevor Osborne, all of whom graduated after last fall’s tournament run. Sabrowski was a two-time NWC Player of the Year and second all-time in points at Whitworth, while Carlson is third all-time in assists. Hendrickson was a key cog in the midfield and Osborne was a wall on the defensive end.

"We graduated excellent players - both on and off the field - from last year’s team, but thankfully, it was a small class," said Bushey. "Despite their loss, our philosophy will not change—we want to get a number of players into attack and we want to defend as a group."

Whitworth will definitely be able to score goals again. The Pirates led the NWC in goals scored at over three per match last fall. The forwards will be Varlamos, who scored 13 goals last year and has 32 in his career, and Johnson, who added nine goals a year ago. Curtis Flournoy (Jr., Gilbert, Ariz. - Highland) and Jordan Lister (So, Kalispell, Mont. - Flathead) have experience coming off the bench and combined for four goals and four assists last year. Freshman Elly Bulega (Tacoma, Wash. - Bellarmine Prep) could make an immediate impact up front.

The Pirates are experienced and deep in the midfield as well. Seyedali led the NWC in assists last season with 13 and has 24 in his career. Skye Henderson (Jr., Spokane, Wash. - Lewis & Clark) looks ready to break through with a big year after totaling 5 goals and 2 assists in 2005. Hopp and Lambrecht will continue to see much playing time. Matt Friesen (Jr., Newberg, Ore. - Newberg), Brent Murakami (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii - Mililani) and Kenshiro Uki (Jr., Aiea, Hawaii - Pearl City) performed well off of the bench last season. Transfer Ryan Powers (Jr., Newberg, Ore. - Willamette) started all 18 matches for the conference-foe Bearcats last season. Incoming freshmen Brent Zahn (Eagle River, Alaska - Chugiak) and James Lugacik (Edmonds, Wash. - Edmonds-Woodway) will push for time also.

On defense, Whitworth must replace two starters (Sabrowski and Osborne). But Leoffler returns, as does Ben Dixon (Jr., Missoula, Mont. - Sentinel). Caleb Barnhill (So., Sultan, Wash. - Sultan) and Charlie Bone (Jr., Newberg, Ore. - Newberg) have experience in the program and could move into starting roles. Incoming freshmen Bryan Olson (Missoula, Mont. - Sentinel), Nathan McDonald (Boise, Idaho - Centennial) and Dan Cubero (Boise, Idaho - Centennial) all could vie for playing time as well.

Bostock will guard the goal in his fourth year as a starter. He has a 0.94 goals against average in 52 career matches. Scott Barnum (So., Fall City, Wash. - Eastside Catholic) gained valuable experience in nine matches last fall. Lance Beck (Jr., Spokane, Wash. - Mt. Spokane) played in one match. Derek Casanovas (Fr., Eagle River, Alaska - Chugiak) gives the Bucs great depth.

After opening with a scrimmage against North Idaho College on September 1st, the Pirates will begin the regular season with a pair of tough matches against Cal Lutheran and Redlands in Southern California. A trip to British Columbia for matches against NAIA powers Simon Fraser and Concordia-Portland follows.

While the Pirates have been picked by NWC coaches as a strong favorite to win again this season, gaining six first place votes in the preseason poll, Whitworth can expect stiff challenges from Linfield, Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran. George Fox, Pacific, Whitman and Willamette all figure to be much improved this year as well.