Thanksgiving has come on gone and only a handful of players
from around the region are thankful for still being alive for a national
championship as both Concordia sides face a four-game week for the
NAIA championships in Alabama.
TOURNAMENT UPDATES
Division I – Women
The run for the Santa Clara women and Boise’s Sofia Huerta
came to an end at the hand of Stanford, which previously also knocked out Idaho
State and went on to defeat Denver of the WAC to reach the Elite Eight. The Final
Four-bound Cardinal won the November 16 contest, 2-1, on a pair of Courtney
Verloo strikes in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Huerta led the
Broncos with four shots, but the team’s attempt at a rally was limited to a
Dani Weatherholt tally in the 77th.
Division II – Women
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| Jamie Arthurs, WWU |
Western Washington’s run of dominance and extra time
tournament fortune came to a close in the Third Round. After prevailing, 2-1 in
overtime, in the first two games on the road in California, the Vikings were
unable to replicate the feat a third consecutive time against second-seeded UC
San Diego. Jamie Arthurs (Richland, WA) had four saves in the contest, but was
unable keep the nation’s fifth-ranked Tritons off the board in the extra
session November 16.
After falling behind in the 20th minute, the
Vikings found an equalizer eight minutes later through Catherine Miles on an
assist from Kristin Maris, but a scoreless second half was spoiled by the
winning strike coming just 51 seconds into overtime. The Vikings also feature
Boise’s Ruth Peredo and Katie Stauffer.
NAIA – Men
Rocky Mountain College saw its season come to an end with a
1-0 loss at home versus Jamestown College (ND), whom they had defeated twice
earlier in the season 3-1 on the road and 2-1 in overtime at home. The third time proved to be the charm for the
24th ranked Jimmies, who used a 27th minute goal and an
outstanding goalkeeping performance to register the upset November 17. –
MORE
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| Tanner French, Concordia |
The Cavaliers of Concordia, however, won their tournament
opener at home against Embry-Riddle (AZ), 3-1. Led in part
by Sandpoint’s
Tanner French, who played the entire 90, the hosts started things off well with
a 40-yard Radcliffe McDougald free kick that found the head of Jordan Green
five yards out from the far post for the opener in the 24th minute.
The two sides remained in a stalemate until Jared Brace and Michael Chamberlain
combined to set up Septi Daniu to make it a two-goal advantage in the 71st.
McDougald and Gerrit Hamann would partner 10 minutes later, allowing
Chamberlain to put the match out of reach for the visitors, who spoiled the
shutout in the 86th. – MORE
Concordia moves on to Montgomery, Ala., where they will have
to win four games well away from home to win the national title. It will kick
off with the most difficult of tasks, facing defending champion and top see
Lindsey Wilson in the Second Round contest Monday at 4:00 pm CST. The Quarterfinal contest would be Wednesday
against either Hastings (Neb.) or Southern Poly (Ga.) with the Semifinal and
Final set for Saturday and Sunday for the event.
NAIA – Women
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| Ashley Ames, Concordia |
The route to Alabama was not quite as easy for the lady
Cavaliers, who needed overtime to defeat visiting Cal State San Marcos.
Deadlocked through all of regulation despite Concordia dominating in shots
14-2, the Cavaliers would not find the back of the net until the 18th
shot of the contest in the 102nd minute.
A little bit of fortune led to the Ashley Ames (Liberty
Lake, WA) winner as a long ball sent into the box pinballed a bit before
finding her feet for a quick one-timed effort from 12 yards for the win. Tori
Talbutt (Boise, ID) needed to make only one save in the shutout as the defense
did not allow a shot after the conclusion of the first half. Also seeing action in the opening game of the
NAIA tournament were Samantha Johnson (Hailey, ID), Kaylynn Winwood (Nampa,
ID), Hayley Hayes (Meridian, ID), Erin Huisingh (Pasco, WA), Becca Long
(Meridian, ID) and McKayla Madison (Bend, OR). – MORE
Seeded eighth, the lady Cavaliers were a bit more fortunate
in their bracket position for the week in Orange Beach, Ala. They face
Cumberland (Tenn.) in the Second Round contest Tuesday, but would have to turn
around and play 24 hours later against either 16-seed Northwood (Fla.) or, more
likely, top seed Lee (Tenn.), the reigning four-time champions, in the
Quarterfinals. The Semifinal and Final are Saturday and Sunday.
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