Wildcat men's soccer welcomes new faces in 2025

Linfield Wildcat men's soccer returns to action this week, kicking off the 2025 season on the road in the Twin Cities with aspirations of climbing the ranks in the Northwest Conference. Set to face a pair of schools in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on the road this weekend, the Wildcats welcome back key pieces in their top starters on the defensive side of the ball, while welcoming new minutes for fresh faces across the pitch.

Three Wildcat goal scorers from the 2024 season put a bow on their careers, accounting for seven of the team's 21 total goals last season. Sid Kosaris competed in 17 games and led the ‘Cats in shots (49), and shots on goal (22) a year ago, including finishing with the seventh-most shots taken in the Northwest Conference. Cameron Gaines joined Kosaris as Linfield midfielders to move on from the team, each scoring three goals for the team in 2024. Defender Keegan Brooks made 12 starts, adding one goal and an assist from the ’Cats back line. Along with the graduates, midfielder E.J. Sablan transferred to Division II West Liberty after leading the Wildcats in scoring last season, notching seven goals on 43 shots in 18 starts. Sablan spread the wealth, adding four assists over three matches last season. 

Finishing in eighth in the Northwest Conference last season with a 2-12-2 record in conference play, Linfield men's soccer looks to turn the page on the history books and climb the mountain to the top of the conference standings in 2025. 

15 new faces come onto the scene for Coach Duvall's Wildcats, with a pair coming in with prior collegiate soccer experience. Don Moss and Beau Perez come to McMinnville from Guam, joining two fellow Father Dueñas Memorial graduates already on the team. Oliver Blanchard hails from north of the country border, representing Vancouver, British Columbia, while Joe Hetherington arrives from Sevenoaks, England.

Transfers Davidson Kathman and Hayden Sciera look to make an immediate impact for the ‘Cats, as Kathman spent one season at Hawaii Pacific, and Sciera competed two seasons on the South Puget Sound men’s soccer team.

The new campaign begins in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota this weekend, as the 'Cats take on MIAC foes Macalester and Augsburg. Macalester comes off of a 12-6 record and a first-round loss in the MIAC tournament to Augsburg. Meanwhile, the Auggies 12-4-5 record in 2024 carried them to a MIAC semifinals loss to St. Olaf College. Both opponents are certain to be a strong test to begin the season for the Wildcats, a welcomed tune-up ahead of Northwest Conference play.

Returning home, the following week Linfield will play host to the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and the Knights of Warner Pacific to complete non-conference play. Pomona-Pitzer went 4-8-4 and 2-7-3 in conference play last season, this will mark the first time the Sagehens will face the ‘Cats in McMinnville. In the final non-conference matchup of the season, Linfield looks to avenge last season’s 3-1 match against the Knights. Warner Pacific had a strong 2024 season, going 13-6-1 and coming up short in the semifinals of the CCC men's soccer tournament. 

Finishing eighth in the Northwest Conference last season and picked eighth in the preseason coaches poll, the Wildcats next NWC journey begins on Friday September 12th in Forest Grove, Ore. at Pacific. From there, Linfield heads to Salem to face the Willamette Bearcats two days later, and hosts both Whitman and Whitworth the following weekend in the conference home opener.

Last season, the Wildcats took the fourth-most shots among teams in the Northwest Conference, while also making the second-most saves. Although the leading shot-takers from last season have moved on, Duvall will rely on Bozovic and Carroll to hold down the back line and lead the Wildcats as team captains this season.