McMINNVILLE, Ore. – The first win in Northwest Conference play is the hardest to pick up, but the Linfield women's soccer team is looking to gain some momentum as they host Pacific Lutheran at noon on Saturday before heading to Newberg to play at George Fox on Sunday, also at noon. 
 
THE RECORDS
Entering the week, Linfield is 1-4-1 overall and 0-2-0 in Northwest Conference play. Pacific Lutheran, ranked No. 19 in the latest United Soccer Coaches national rankings, is 6-0-0 with a 2-0-0 conference mark. George Fox is 4-2-0 and 2-0-0 in NWC play. The Lutes were picked to win it all in the Northwest Conference Preseason Coaches Poll while the Wildcats were picked third. Both teams received four first-place votes. The Bruins were picked seventh in the poll.
 
LINFIELD AT A GLANCE
The Wildcats are averaging 0.83 goals and 11.2 shots per game. Junior forward Laney Green is the team's leading scorer with two goals. Green is second in the Northwest Conference with 2.83 shots per game and is tied for first with 1.50 shots on goal per game. Defenders Ashley Guldager, Maddie Serafini and Megan Sweeney have started all six matches on the back line. Senior Alyssa Bakkensen has played every minute in goal and leads the NWC with 7.67 saves per game. 
 
PACIFIC LUTHERAN AT A GLANCE
The Lutes lead the Northwest Conference with 2.83 goals, 2.33 assists, eight points and 19.50 shots per game. Freshman Hannah Cecil leads the team with three goals while sophomore Alyssa Leong has two goals on the season and is tied for the NWC lead with 1.50 shots on goal per game. Freshman Eva Wirth is 6-0-0 in goal with three shutouts, a .923 save percentage and a 0.18 goals against average.
 
GEORGE FOX AT A GLANCE
The Bruins are coming off back-to-back wins over Lewis & Clark and Pacific to start Northwest Conference play. They are averaging 1.33 goals per game and rank second in the NWC with 14.83 shots per game. Junior Maggie Phillips leads the team with two goals and is first in the conference with 3.33 shots per game. Freshman Bella Salazar is 3-2-0 in goal with three shutouts and ranks seventh in the NWC with a 1.00 goals against average. 
 
HISTORY
Linfield and Pacific Lutheran have met 51 times with the Lutes leading the series with a 25-23-3 record. The Wildcats are 15-10-2 against the Lutes at home, but the Lutes are 6-1-3 in the last 10 matchups. The teams split their season series in 2019 with the Lutes winning 1-0 in Tacoma and the 'Cats winning 2-1 in McMinnville.
 
Linfield and George Fox split their 53 meetings with both owning 23-23-7 records. The Wildcats are 8-14-6 in Newberg but are 23-22-7 in Northwest Conference play. The teams split their season series in 2021 with the 'Cats winning 2-1 in McMinnville and the Bruins winning 1-0 in Newberg.