In the NWAC, the North Idaho College men advanced to the championship game with a dramatic overtime victory, but came up empty against a Highline side that had a fantastic championship weekend. On the women's side, CC Spokane came up short in their attempt to rally from a stunning two-goal deficit against Everett, who went on to deny Peninsula a third consecutive title in the championship game.
The CCC determined its two entrants into the NAIA national championship tournament with a pair of games at Northwest University, but championship Saturday was a heartbreaking day for the Eagles. The top-seeded women were edged at home by a pair of players from eastern Washington that guided reigning NAIA champion Concordia to a third consecutive conference title. Meanwhile, on the men's side the second-seeded Eagles were beaten in overtime by Corban University. Three players from Idaho factored in the scoring for the Warriors, including a pair of defenders.
Another Idaho native factored in another title elsewhere in the NAIA. Goalkeeper Tanner Horton helped lead McPherson College to the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championship after an 8-0-1 KCAC season.
Corban and Concordia learned their NAIA tournament opponents Monday along with the Rocky Mountain College and Westminster College of the Frontier Conference, who won the Unaffiliated Group tournament a week prior.
November 10-16 | Upcoming games PT
CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE - WOMEN
CCC TOURNAMENT
Previous Rounds [+]
[2] Concordia 1-0 Northwest University [1]
Patty Hughes (Kalispell, MT) had a great game in goal for the Eagles with seven saves as they were outshot 14-5 by the reigning national champions, but one play was all the Cavaliers needed to return to the NAIA tournament. Senior striker Erin Huising (Pasco, WA) put freshman midfielder Martha Heaps (Spokane, WA) behind the defense with a through ball just over two minutes into the second half, allowing her to send a low effort past Hughes for the win. It was the third consecutive time the Cavaliers topped Northwest in the conference title game.
CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE - MEN
Tuesday, November 11
[3] Evergreen State College 0-2 Northwest University [2]
Jacob Weaver (Spokane, WA) guided the Eagles to the championship game, scoring from about 18 yards in the 66th minute and finding Kyle Zimmerman for some insurance in the 79th minute.
[4] Corban 2-0 Concordia [1]
Up a goal since the 43rd, Derik Chaney (Helena, MT) locked the game up with 30 seconds left when a Cavalier defender's attempt to send the ball upfield was mishit, allowing Chaney to go on a breakaway and score from about 14 yards.
[4] Corban 2-1 (OT) Northwest University [2]
The hosts took the lead in the sixth minute of the contest, but a pair of Idaho natives put the Warriors back even in the 38th when a loose ball in the box went from defender Daniel Fredrickson (Boise, ID) to Eliseo Santana (Idaho Falls, ID) for the equalizer. The two battled to a stalemate in the second half, taking the game to extra time where a cross from defender James Williamson (Coeur d'Alene, ID) was put away on the first touch from Arsinio Walker for the title six minutes in.
FRONTIER CONFERENCE - MEN
Last Week: Idle
FRONTIER CONFERENCE - WOMEN
Last Week: Idle
NAIA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT - MEN
Rocky Mountain drew ninth-seeded University of Texas at Brownsville, the only unbeaten team (20-0-0) in the tournament and Corban will face the second-seeded team in the tournament, Ashford University in Iowa. After the opening round, the 16 remaining sides gather in Florida for the championship event, beginning December 1 with quarterfinals Monday and Tuesday and wrapping up with the championship game on Saturday.
First Round - Saturday, November 22 - Games of note
Rocky Mountain College @ Univ of Texas-Brownsville [9] TBD
Corban University @ Ashford University [2] TBD
McPherson College @ Grand View University [3] TBD
Quarterfinal-Championship -- December 1-6 (@ Delray Beach, FL)
Full Bracket [+]
NAIA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT - WOMEN
In the women's tournament, Concordia was seeded fourth in the tournament while their Frontier Conference counterparts Westminster College will face Northwood, seeded 15th, in Florida. The remaining 16 teams after of the opening round will gather in Alabama for the championship event, which kicks off Monday, December 1.
First Round - Saturday, November 22 - Games of note
Menlo College (CA) @ Concordia University [4] 3:00
Westminster College @ Northwood University [15] TBD
Quarterfinal-Championship -- December 1-6 (@ Orange Beach, AL)
Full Bracket [+]
NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS - MEN
Semifinals - Saturday, November 15
[N1] Edmonds CC 0-1 (OT) North Idaho College [E1]
In a defensive stalemate, the Cardinals only needed one save from Mitchell Markovetz in the victory while his counterpart made three at the other end. Defender Brady Ulen again provided heroics, scoring nine minutes into extra time to send North Idaho onto the championship.
[N2] Skagit Valley College 1-4 Highline College [W1]
The Thunderbirds broke through for the opening goal in the 44th minute of the contest. The Cardinals answered in the 74th, but Highline ran off three unanswered for the win, reclaiming the lead two minutes later and pushing the game out of reach with goals in the 84th and 87th.
Sunday, November 16
Championship -[E1] North Idaho College 0-3 Highline College [W1]
The weekend belonged to the Thunderbirds as they posted another three-goal victory. They scored 14 minutes into the contest and doubled the lead in the 36th. They added a third in the 77th as their keeper made six stops for the shutout. Markovetz was peppered on the day with Highline finishing with 11 shots on target.
All-Star Game - South/East 1-0 North/West
Alex Opland of CC Spokane's trio of selections provided the lone goal in the draw for the team representing the East and South divisions.
NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS - WOMEN
Previous Rounds [+]
[N1] Everett CC 3-2 CC Spokane [E1]
The Sasquatch took the initial lead through defender Sydni Thomas 19 minutes into the contest, but Everett pulled even at the half-hour mark and then got two goals from Lauren Allison in the 56th and 62nd to grab a commanding lead. Sarah Melvin found Serena Robertson in the 88th minute, but it proved too late for a full rally from Spokane, who gave up three goals in a game for the first time this season.
[S1] Lane CC 1-2 (OT) Peninsula College [W1]
The Pirates returned to the final for the fourth consecutive year. They scored the opening goal just before the hour mark but the Titans forced the game into overtime with the equalizer in the 73rd. Peninsula advanced though with the winning strike in the 103rd minute.
Sunday, November 16
Championship - [N1] Everett CC 1-0 Peninsula College [W1]
The Trojans denied a third consecutive title for the Pirates, netting the deciding goal in the 80th minute of the contest courtesy of Alma Manao.
All-Star Game - South/East 5-1 North/West
After a disappointing end to the season the day before, the Sasquatch contingent led their All-Star squad to a dominant performance, tallying three goals and three assists among them. Lexi Miller and Sarah Melvin each had a goal and assist with Rashelle Fisher scoring and Thomas rounding out the scoring stats with an assist.
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