Sunday, November 25, 2012

Tournament Updates: INW players lead Concordia in title quests


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

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   

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 Tournament – SCHEDULE  |  BRACKET 

NAIA – Women

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.

NAIA Tournament – SCHEDULE  |  BRACKET

#INWsoccernews