The Linfield men's and women's soccer teams take on the Pacific Boxers in a home-and-home series this week. The Boxers are the home team on Wednesday. Sunday's matches are at the Linfield Soccer and Lacrosse Complex.
 
The Wildcats women and the Boxers women are both 1-0 in the regular season. Wednesday's match is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sunday's match will begin at 2 p.m., following a Linfield women's lacrosse match earlier in the day.
 
Both men's teams look for their first wins of the spring season. The men are scheduled to play immediately after the women's matches. The tentative start times for the men's matches are 7 p.m. on Wednesday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.
 
COVERAGE
Fans are not permitted to attend any Northwest Conference event this season. Pacific will provide a video webcast for the matches on Wednesday. Live statistics and a webcast produced by the Linfield Sports Network are available for Sunday's home matches with Mason Lommen on the call.
 
THE WILDCATS WOMEN
Linfield won its first match of the season on Sunday against George Fox, overcoming a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1. Seniors Natalie Amara and Kristen Burke scored the goals, with Michayla Sponsel and Laney Green assisting.
 
Madi Reimer and Alyssa Bakkensen split time in the goal crease. Reimer did not face a shot in the first half while Bakkensen collected two saves and allowed one goal in the second half.
 
The Wildcats are 28-20-4 against the Boxers all-time, including victories in four straight matches. A win on Wednesday will tie the longest winning streak over the Boxers in recorded history.
 
THE BOXERS WOMEN
Pacific defeated Willamette in double overtime on a goal by Katelyn Volchok. Emma Gusman and Karla Herrera-Zarate had the other two goals. The Boxers fired off 18 shots, including 11 on goal.
 
Like the Wildcats, the Boxers also had two goalkeepers each play one half. In the first half, Kali Harber made two saves and allowed no goals. Catherine Corlett had a save in the final 57 minutes.
 
The Boxers went 3-14-2 in 2019 and compiled an NWC record of 1-13-2. Linfield was 9-9-2, with a conference record of 8-6-2.
 
THE LINFIELD MEN
The Wildcats also took on the Bruins in the season opener, falling 1-0. Seamus Miller and Cesar Cruz-Espindola each had two shots on goal in the first match coached by new Wildcats skipper Andrew Duvall. Julian Inches made one save in goal for the Wildcats.
 
Linfield and Pacific are scheduled to play each other three times in the spring of 2021. After this week, the two teams meet next in McMinnville on March 28.
 
THE PACIFIC MEN
Pacific started its season against Willamette on Sunday. The Boxers fell 6-0 to the Bearcats in Salem, Oregon. Mitch Takara had the only shot for the Boxers.
 
Pacific holds the all-time head-to-head advantage, 20-27-5. Three of the last four matches have ended as ties.
 
Last season, the Boxers went 3-12-4 with a conference record of 2-7-4. The Wildcats were 3-9-2 in NWC play and 5-12-2 overall. Pacific won 2-0 at Forest Grove while the meeting in McMinnville was a 1-1 standoff.
 
UP NEXT
A road trip to Newberg lies ahead for the Wildcats. Both the men's and the women's teams take on the Bruins on Sunday, March 14.