SPOKANE, Wash. - Whitworth University opens Northwest Conference play this week, hoping to improve on the best start since 2003. The Pirates begin league matches ranked nationally in both major NCAA Division III polls.

Emily Rohde

Rohde is NWC Player of the Week: Emily Rohde (Fr., F, Lake Oswego, Ore. - Lake Oswego) scored three goals in her third collegiate match to lead the Pirates’ to last Saturday's 7-0 win over St. Martin’s. The hat trick earned Rohde mention as the Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week. She is the Pirates' first NWC Offensive Player of the Week since Nov. 9, 2003.

Rising in the Rankings: With a 3-0 start and a win over nationally-ranked Trinity (Texas), Whitworth has risen in the national rankings as well. The Pirates are rated 18th by D3kicks.com and 22nd in the NSCAA poll. Whitworth is also ranked 2nd in the West Region by D3kicks and 4th in the NCAA West Region poll.

Plundering Opponents: Whitworth has been strong, both offensively and defensively, so far this fall. The Pirates have outscored opponents 15-1. Rohde has five of those goals. Whitworth's defense has not only limited the goals, but also the shots, with a 31-11 shots on goal advantage so far this year.

Coming Up Next: Whitworth will play Pacific (Ore.) on Saturday and Linfield on Sunday, both at Noon with men's matches following. Pacific is 2-1-1 so far this season with a 1-0 win at Northwest University and a 1-1 tie at NCAA DII Western Oregon over the weekend. Last year the Pirates won a pair of close encounters with the Boxers, taking a 1-0 overtime decision in Forest Grove and a 2-1 victory at home.

Linfield is 1-1-1 and ranked 10th in the west by the NCAA poll and 12th in the west by D3kicks.com. The Wildcats also tied Western Oregon (0-0) last weekend before hammering La Verne 7-0 at home. Whitworth won both meetings last fall, 3-0 in McMinnville and 2-1 in Spokane.

Head Coach: Sean Bushey is 93-82-15 in his 11th year leading the Whitworth women. During that time he has also served as the Pirate men's coach.