PioSports

Football

The Pioneer football team enjoyed one of its best seasons in recent memory, setting new school records and breaking two NCAA Division III records. In their 68-64 victory against the Puget Sound Loggers, the Pioneers broke a 48-year-old school record for the most points scored in a single game. The final point tally set a new NCAA Division III record for the most total points in a game. The two squads together scored 14 touchdowns, which is also a new NCAA record. With the victory over the Loggers, the Pioneers picked up their first conference road win since the 2002 season. Following the Puget Sound victory, the Pioneers stood at 4-2 in the season for the first time since 1995. The last part of Lewis & Clark’s schedule proved to be the toughest as the Pioneers faced back-to-back games against nationally ranked opponents Pacific Lutheran (No. 21), Willamette (No. 34), and Linfield (No. 12). The Pioneers kept things interesting for Pacific Lutheran and Willamette during the first half of both games, but were eventually defeated by both squads. In the season final against Linfield, Lewis & Clark fell to the NCAA Tournament–bound Wildcats. 4-5 overall record and 2-4 conference record, Lewis & Clark ended the season with a putting them in fifth place in the conference, their best finish in recent history.

Cross Country

For the first time in Lewis & Clark history, the women’s cross country team won a Northwest Conference Championship. (The only other Pioneer cross country team to win conference championship was the men’s team back in 1965.) Two runners, sophomores Emily Thomas and Illana Livstrom, qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championship. Both Livstrom and Thomas—along with team- mates sophomore Heather Spurling and junior Corinne Innes—earned All-West Region honors for their finishes at the West Regional Championship on November 13. Two runners from the men’s team, seniors Richie LeDonne and Lars Steier, also earned All-West Region honors. 

Volleyball 

The volleyball team, dealing with the challenges of a rebuilding year, finished the season in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Northwest Conference. The Pioneers concluded the season with a 10-16 overall record and a 6-10 conference record, with seniors Kat Fiedler and Lou Ohki earning spots on the NWC All-Conference Honor- able Mention list. Women’s Soccer Women’s soccer started the season with a new coach at the helm and 13 new players on the squad. Led by coach Jim Tursi, the Pioneers finished the season with a 3-13-4 overall record and a 1-13-2 conference record. The Pioneers suffered growing pains throughout the season as the team adjusted to a new system of play that Tursi brought with him from his 14 winning seasons at Willamette. Despite their win-loss record, the Pioneers showed tremendous growth and promise for the 2011 season.