SPOKANE, Wash.- Whitworth University men's soccer will host Pacific (Ore.) University and Linfield College this weekend to open the 2007 Northwest Conference schedule. The regionally-ranked Pirates are looking to keep the momentum of a two-match winning streak going through the first league games.

Scott Barnum

NWC Player of the Week: Scott Barnum (So., GK, Fall City, Wash.) allowed one goal in 181 minutes of play last week, leading the Pirates to a pair of wins, including a victory over NAIA #15 Simon Fraser. He made five important saves in two one-goal victories, earning mention as this week's Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

Rebounding Well: After dropping a 2-1 decision at nationally-ranked Trinity (Texas) to open the season, Whitworth is 2-0-1 since with one goal allowed. Last week the Pirates defeated NAIA #15 Simon Fraser in overtime on Skye Henderson's (Sr., MF, Spokane, Wash.) header just over a minute into the extra period. On Sunday, Matt Friesen's (Sr., F, Newberg, Ore.) penalty kick early in the second half was the difference in a 1-0 win over previously unbeaten Cal Lutheran.

Regionally Ranked: Whitworth appears in the top 10 of both major regional rankings this week. The Pirates are ranked 8th in the region by D3kicks.com and 9th in the NCAA West Region poll.

Coming Up: The Pirates will host Pacific on Saturday and Linfield on Sunday, both at 2:30 p.m. following women's matches against the same schools.

Pacific is 2-1 this season. Last weekend the Boxers lost 2-0 at NCAA DII Western Washington, but then won 2-1 at NAIA Northwest University the following night. The two teams split last fall, with Pacific winning 1-0 in Forest Grove early in the year and Whitworth taking a 4-0 victory at home later in the season.

Linfield is 4-0 and ranked 17th in the nation by D3kicks.com. The Wildcats won a pair of NCAA West Region contests last week, defeating Pomona-Pitzer 1-0 and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 2-1 in overtime. Both games were played at UPS. Last fall Whitworth and Linfield played to an entertaining 3-3 draw in McMinnville before Whitworth pulled out a dramatic 1-0 win in Spokane.