WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Whitman College men’s and women’s soccer teams will say good-bye to 10 seniors Friday as the Missionaries host their final home games of the season.
Whitworth College provides the Northwest Conference competition in both games, which take place at the Whitman Athletic Fields. The women’s game starts at 4 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 6:30 p.m.
The Whitman women, who play a final road game Saturday afternoon at Lewis & Clark in Portland, are 7-4-3 in the NWC headed into this weekend. By winning their last two games, the Missionaries could finish as high as second in the final conference standings.
The Whitworth women come to town Friday with a 6-7-2 NWC record, good enough for fifth place, one spot ahead of Lewis & Clark and its 5-8-2 record. In games earlier this season, Whitman battled Whitworth to a 0-0 overtime tie in Spokane and downed Lewis & Clark 4-2 in Walla Walla.
Meanwhile, the Whitman men need a win on Friday, their season-ending game, to finish at the .500 mark in the NWC with a 7-7 record. Beating their Whitworth counterparts won’t be easy, however. The Pirates are 12-0-1 in the NWC and have already clinched the conference title.
Two Whitman seniors, defender Ryan Porter (Redmond, Wash. / Inglemoor HS) and midfielder Peter Randall (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Pine Creek HS), conclude their college careers Friday. Both have been key players for the Missionaries the past three seasons.
A senior team captain, Porter has "developed into one of our best defenders," Whitman coach Mike Washington said. "He uses his size to be very dominant in the air. He also has done a good job as a leader and captain. Players respect his leadership and understand his expectations."
Porter, who has yet to score from his defensive position this season, had two goals and one assist last fall as a junior. He also had one assist as a sophomore, after getting his seeing his first varsity action as a freshman.
Randall, who transferred to Whitman after playing his freshman season at Minnesota’s Macalester College, has six assists this season, the second-highest total on the team and all but one of which has come in one-goal games. He started his senior campaign with both assists in a 2-1 overtime victory over Northwest University. He also assisted this fall on game-winning goals against Willamette and Pacific, and his play drew the game-winning penalty kick in an earlier game against Pacific. All told, Randall is tied for the team lead in goals created with seven, four of which were game winners.
Randall had two assists during his junior season, much of which he missed due to injury. He had one goal and three assists as a sophomore.
Randall is the "original soccer junkie," Washington said. "He loves to play and is always ready to challenge people in games and practices. He uses his speed to both dribble and cross the ball. He’s been a valuable contributor with his assists."
On the women’s side of the Whitman soccer ledger, coach Scott Shields is losing eight seniors. "This is by far the deepest and most talented class I’ve had in my 12 seasons as coach," Shields said. "The seniors cover every single position on the field. They will be deeply missed."
The seniors are Mckenzie Hoffman, Hillary Chisholm, Kara Mackenzie, Lauren DeYoung, Anne Owen, Emily Marshall, Jennifer Telfer, and Danielle Phillips-Dorset. Hoffman, Chisholm and Mackenzie added a unique touch in that all three had older brothers or sisters who played varsity soccer at Whitman before them.
Mckenzie Hoffman (Sammamish, Wash. / Eastlake HS) made an immediate impact in her first college season, earning All-NWC Second Team honors while leading Whitman in scoring with eight goals and one assist. She added eight goals and two assists as a sophomore, when she garnered All-NWC Honorable Mention recognition. Headed to her final weekend, Hoffman has career totals of 23 goals and 14 assists.
"Hoffman has been a cornerstone of our attack since her first year," Shields said. "She’s not a flashy forward; she just knows how to be in the right place to set up a goal or finish one. She has great composure and is a quality goal scorer."
Hillary Chisholm (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho / Lake City HS) came to Whitman as a midfielder but made the transition into a premiere defender. "Her ability and poise with the ball allowed us to try stronger defensive tactics, using her ability to both defend and get forward on the attack," Shields said. "She is a very versatile player, and she reads the game better than most players."
In three years as a starter, Chisholm has three goals and three assists. She contributed a game-winning goal and a game-winning assist so far this season, duplicating a feat she accomplished during her sophomore season. In Chisholm’s three seasons as a defensive starter, Whitman has also shut out 14 opponents. She earned Academic All-District honors as both a junior and senior.
Kara Mackenzie (Spokane, Wash. / Lewis & Clark HS) has been a fixture in the Whitman midfield for four seasons. Last Sunday, she nailed the game-winning shot in overtime as the Missionaries knocked off a nationally-ranked opponent. Her career numbers include six goals and three assists.
"Mackenzie has grown as a player each year, and she’s been key to our transition game this season," Shields said. "Her ability to possess and distribute the ball has made our attack stronger this season. Her defending ability in the back has also helped us stop key opposing players."
Anne Owen (Bozeman, Mont. / Taft School, Watertown, Conn.) has been a constant as a goalkeeper the past four seasons. She posted shutouts in her first three college games and has collected a total of 13 shutouts during her career. She has 236 career saves.
"Owen has really helped this program grow and develop during her four years," Shields said. "Her leadership and athleticism have been inspirational for the team. Her positive attitude and work ethic always drove other players to be better."
Lauren DeYoung (Portland, Ore. / Jesuit HS) has been another fixture in the midfield for the Missionaries. Her career numbers include 11 goals and three assists. She booted four goals in her first three college games and has remained a focus of opposing defenses ever since.
"Even though DeYoung hasn’t scored as much since her first season, her high level of skill and athleticism has always a threat to other teams," Shields said. "She was constantly marked by teams trying to stop her attacking ability. She then used her role to set up teammates and break down defenses."
Emily Marshall (Bellevue, Wash. / Newport HS), also a midfielder, has four assists thus far this season, pushing her career total to 15. She also has four goals.
"Marshall is a total team player and workhorse," Shields said. "Every season we saw her coming early and staying late to practice specialty plays. She’s played a key role in taking most of our corner kicks and set pieces. Her dedication to helping the team and to overall training will be missed."
Jennifer Telfer (Bellingham, Wash. / Squalicum HS), who missed much of her first two seasons due to health problems, has bounced back to contribute seven goals and four assists the past two years.
"Telfer is our best midfielder when it comes to first-touch distribution and winning balls in the air," Shields said. "She missed her first year with a broken toe, missed most of her sophomore season due to illness, and finally got the opportunity to play out her junior and senior seasons. She is one of the best in the conference at her position."
Danielle Phillips-Dorset (Peru, Vt. / Williston Northampton School, Easthampton, Mass.) has served as a back-up goalkeeper the past two seasons. She was on the Whitman swim team as a sophomore.
"Danielle has been just a fantastic addition to the team," Shields said. "Her maturity and love for the team and the game have made her a very special teammate and player."