Two Northwest NAIA Conferences have coordinated, in conjunction with sponsor Red Lion, a special event that will be hosted in Spokane pitting schools from the Cascade and Frontier Conferences against one another in a coordinated non-conference schedule for four sports. The 14 participating schools are all from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
As part of the challenge, seven different schools will meet at Dwight Merkel Sports Complex over the course of two weekends in separate men’s and women’s schedules. The University of Great Falls (Frontier) will be in Spokane for both the men’s and women’s soccer events.
Joining UGF for the Red Lions Challenge men’s soccer event August 23-25 are Rocky Mountain College (Frontier) and the Cascade Conference’s Northwest Christian University and Warner Pacific College. On the women’s side they are joined by Carroll College (Frontier), Eastern Oregon University (Cascade) and Corban University (Cascade).
“We are very excited about the Challenge,” said Cascade Conference Commissioner Rob Cashell in a press announcement. “It is an opportunity to get outstanding NAIA non-conference competition for both of our conferences with reasonable travel and a great location.”
The lesser known schools that live in the shadows of the Pac-12 giants could gain some needed exposure in Spokane over the course of the five-week long groundbreaking event.
"As far as I am aware this is the first of its kind between the two NAIA conferences. I have been involved in the Frontier and Cascade for over 20 years and do not recall anything like this," Cashell told Inland NW Soccer News.
Men’s Soccer Schedule
Thursday, 8/23: NCU v UGF, 5:00 pm
Friday, 8/24: RMC v NCU, 5:00 pm
Friday, 8/24: UGF v WPC, 7:30 pm
Saturday, 8/25: WPC v RMC, 5:00 pm
Women’s Soccer Schedule
Saturday, 9/7: CRB v CC, 5:00 pm
Saturday, 9/7: EOU v UGF, 7:30 pm
Sunday, 9/8: UGF v CRB, 5:00 pm
Sunday, 9/8: CC v EOU, 7:30 pm
All Sports Events
Volleyball: Aug 23-25 (The Hub)
Men’s Soccer: Aug 23-25 (Dwight Merkel Sports Complex)
Women’s Soccer: Sept 7-8 (Dwight Merkel Sports Complex)
Men’s / Women’s Cross Country: Sept 22 (Plantes Ferry Park)
Men’s / Women’s Basketball: Nov 9-10 & 16-17 (Spokane Falls CC)
Red Lion Challenge –Participating Schools
Cascade Conference
Eastern Oregon University
Northwest University (Wash.)
Corban University (Ore.)
Evergreen State (Wash.)
Northwest Christian (Ore.)
Warner Pacific (Ore.)
College of Idaho
Frontier Conference
Carroll College (Mont.)
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
University of Great Falls (Mont.)
Montana Western
Montana Tech
Montana Northern
Scenic West Athletic Conference
North Idaho College (volleyball scrimmages only)
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