SPOKANE, Wash.- Whitworth University is nationally ranked for the first time this season, making its debut at 15th in the NSCAA/adidas® NCAA Men's Division III National Poll of September 2, 2008.

Click here for the entire poll.

The Pirates are 2-0 after winning the Northwest Capital Management Classic at home last week with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Cal State East Bay and a 4-0 win over four-time defending MIAC champion Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.).

Whitworth will now travel to California to take on Cal Lutheran (1-0), one of the favorites in the SCIAC, at UCSC on Saturday at noon. The Pirates will then play UC Santa Cruz (1-1), a 2007 NCAA Division III Tournament participant, on Saturday at 11:30 am.

Whitworth is hoping to repeat as Northwest Conference champions in 2008 and claim its fourth conference title in the last five years.