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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

At A Glance

Area college men’s soccer:

Gonzaga

Head coach: Einor Thorarinsson (third year)

Record at Gonzaga: 14-16-3

1996 record: 11-6-1 (4-2 WCC third place)

Assistant coach: David Chattergy

Players to watch: Sr. F Jeff McAllister; Jr. GK Josh Fouts; Sr. MF Chris LaRochelle; Sr. D Brett Houck; Sr. F Ken Thompson.

Key newcomers: Jr. D Andy Bruno; So. F Brett Fink; Fr. MF Jason Kuska.

Corner kicks:Bruno and Fink, two players Thorarinsson considers key newcomers, played for the Spokane Shadow this summer.

Fink of Coeur d’Alene and Bruno also are products of the Community Colleges of Spokane … Fink isn’t the team’s only Idaho connection. Mike Thompson and Dan Clark are Lake City grads and Ken Thompson is from CdA High. … No WCC teams were ranked in Soccer America’s preseason Top 25 poll. … Gonzaga travels to No. 6 Washington on Oct. 31. Last year, the Huskies defeated GU 1-0.

Outlook: This will be Thorarinsson’s third year and one that could put the Bulldogs in the conference’s elite. WCC preseason favorite Portland plays host to Gonzaga the last match of the season on Nov. 7.

Whitworth College

Head coach: Sean Bushey (third year)

Record at Whitworth: 18-15-4

1996 record: 8-9-2 (7-5-2 NCIC fourth place)

Assistant coach: Stuart Saunders

Players to watch: Sr. F Craig Ito; Jr. D Matt Leonard; So. F Jace Jones; So. MF Kenny Krestian; Sr. GK Matt Yeoman.

Key newcomers: Fr. MF Jon Guenther; Fr. F Philip Arthur; Jr. D Aaron Grubb.

Corner kicks:: Despite the loss of All-American honorable mention mid-fielder Rio Three Stars, the Bucs return most of their ‘96 team and welcome the addition of MF Guenther. The 1997 LC grad was named All-Greater Spokane League three consecutive years. … Of the 21 goals scored and 56 total points put up by Whitworth last year, 18 goals and 45 points of its offense return.

Outlook: NCIC defending champion Pacific (18-4, 11-3) should be strong again. But those expected to be in the chase are George Fox (11-10-1, 8-5-1), Puget Sound (11-8-2, 7-5-2), Linfield (8-11, 7-7) and the Pirates.

Community of Colleges of Spokane

Head coach: Cor Vandermeer (13th year)

Record at CCS: 128-58-22

1996 record: 19-3-1 (NWAACC champions)

Assistant coaches: Jim Martinson, Rick Harrison.

Players to watch: So. F Paul Johnson; So. M Mladn Blagojevic; So. M Shaun Noggle.

Key newcomers: Fr. D Nathan Statton; So. GK Ehren Lawhead.

Corner kicks: CCS opens on the road at Southwest Oregon CC on Sept. 13. Its home opener against South Puget Sound CC is Sept. 17. Lawhead, a Whitworth transfer, sophomore Patrick Luby, who comes here from Pierce Community College, and Dave Hill, a freshman from Coeur d’Alene High School, are fighting it out for the No. 1 keeper job. … The Sasquatch return seven veterans.

Outlooks: The defending NWAACC champs are looking at Bellevue as their No. 1 challengers. Last year, CCS won three times, the final victory for the NWAACC crown.