In recognition of a perfect 4-0 start to the year, the Linfield women’s soccer team has been granted a place in the D3soccer.com Women’s Top 25 Poll, released Wednesday. In a program first for the Wildcats, the club is tied for 23rd, receiving a total of 63 points.

The ‘Cats opened the year with a dramatic, come-from-behind 2-1 victory over then-ranked Cal Lutheran, and followed up with three consecutive shutouts over Warner Pacific, Trinity Lutheran and Northwest Christian.

Linfield has outscored its opponents 15-1 through four games, with 10 different players finding the back of the net. Emily Fellows (Jr., Portland, Ore.) leads all players with six goals, while Tegan Grunwald (Soph., Philomath, Ore.) is the club’s assist leader with two.

Defensively, the ‘Cats have not allowed a goal in 290 minutes, and have surrendered just 14 shots on target so far this year.

The Wildcats are slotted fourth in the West by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, and continue to receive votes in that organization’s national poll. Linfield is the highest ranked team from the Northwest Conference of any compilation rankings.

Over the past three complete seasons (2009-2011) under head coach Dominic Doty, the ‘Cats amassed a 37-18-5 record and finished fourth, third and second, respectively, in the league. Last year, the club set a program record for wins (14) and was just one victory away from achieving its first conference title.

NEXT: Linfield opens NWC action with back-to-back home matches against Pacific and George Fox. Both matches, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, begin at noon.