SPOKANE, Wash. -- Two-time defending Northwest Conference champion Whitworth College is picking up in 2006 exactly where the Pirates left off 2005, according to a pair of NCAA Division III preseason men's soccer polls. Whitworth is ranked third in both the NSCAA/adidas poll and the new D3kicks.com poll.

The Pirates finished last season ranked third in the final NSCAA/adidas poll after advancing to its first NCAA Division III final four.

NSCAA/adidas preseason poll / d3kicks.com preseason poll.

The Pirates return seven starters from 2005, when the team finished 19-2-1 overall and 13-0-1 in the Northwest Conference on the way to the NCAA final four. The Bucs have also been picked to defend their NWC title for the second year in a row.

NWC preseason coaches poll.

Whitworth will open the 2006 season with a home exhibition match against North Idaho College on September 1st. The Pirates' official opener is September 5th at California Lutheran University.