With two games remaining, it appears that only two races are left in the NWAC East. On the men's side of things Saturday, a victory over the Warriors pulled North Idaho even with Walla Walla in the table for the race for second. With NIC picking up a win, Wenatchee Valley needed to keep pace, but the Knights falling at Columbia Basin put a serious dent in their chances at claiming a playoff spot sitting four points back with two games left.
On the women's side, the remaining race is for the division championship as Walla Walla were edged by the Cardinals in Coeur d'Alene. The result left the Warriors locked in as the third seed. North Idaho is still two points back of Spokane, which posted a big win over Treasure Valley in their home finale with a trip across the border for a first place showdown on tap for Wednesday.
WOMEN ##############
Treasure Valley 0-4 Spokane
Erica Simpson (Post Falls, ID) continues to be on fire since returning from injury, but she risked it all diving in to beat the keeper to the ball in similar fashion to how she was hurt originally, putting Spokane on the board 16 minutes in. The tally was the difference until the midway point of the second half when she found the back of the net again on a ball from Maddy Boyd (Spokane, WA). Three minutes later she returned the favor, feeding Boyd for the third. With six minutes left Cali Moscrip (Lewiston, ID) surprised the keeper with a lengthy 40-yard effort that sailed over her reach. Molly Webster registered her sixth shutout.
Walla Walla 0-1 North Idaho
Looking to make a move for second, the Warriors were locked in a stalemate with the Cardinals but came up short with Madeline Roberts (Post Falls, ID) breaking through for the deciding tally in the 58th to lock up a finish no worse than second. Tiegan Horton (Dalton Gardens, ID) got the shutout, but Paige Kubista )Nampa, ID) made seven stops to keep things close for Walla Walla.
Wenatchee Valley 1-0 Yakima Valley
Gabriella Flores (Quincy, WA) scored 11 minutes in and thats all the Knights needed as AdriAnna Simmons (Ephrata, WA) made four saves for the clean sheet.
Blue Mountain 0-5 Columbia Basin - (Updated, story only)
After Diamond Franco scored the opener in the eighth minute, Madison Gatherum scored of the next four. She tallied in the 18th and 25th to push the lead to three. Starcia Deponte, who set up the third, scored in the 34th and Gatherum capped the scoring five minutes into the second half. Emily Trumbull made one save in the shutout.
Remaining Regular Season Schedule...
Wednesday, October 26
Spokane @ North Idaho 1:00
Walla Walla @ Columbia Basin 1:00
Wenatchee Valley @ Blue Mountain 2:00
Yakima Valley @ Treasure Valley 2:00
Saturday, October 29
Yakima Valley @ Blue Mountain 12:00
Wenatchee Valley @ North Idaho 12:00
Spokane @ Walla Walla 12:00
Columbia Basin @ Treasure Valley 12:00
MEN ##############
Treasure Valley 0-4 Spokane
The Bigfoot had the better of possession but were unable to get on the board until the second half. Centerback Dominic Welch (Spokane, WA) put broke the seal with a header on a short corner set piece. Division leading scorer Jonny Cortez (Moses Lake, WA) took over from there. He scored from a narrow angle in the 60th minute and then broke behind the defense in the 72nd to net the third. Jose Gonzalez finished things off in the 90th with Kevin Alvarez registering his seventh shutout in divisional play.
Walla Walla 1-2 North Idaho
The visiting Warriors jumped in front 15 minutes in when Emilio Meraz-Rodriguez (Pasco, WA) found Missael Lopez (Tieton, WA) for his seventh goal in divisional play. The Cardinals, though, evened things up six minutes before the break thanks to Irvin Angulo (Caldwell, ID) and got a late winner as well when Gunnar Skindlov (Coeur d'Alene, ID) hit Jose Perez (Weiser, ID).
Wenatchee Valley 0-3 Columbia Basin
Jesus Delgado (Yakima, WA) scored three minutes before the break and eight minutes into the second half Jorge Marin (Cowiche, WA) found Alan Pena (Kennewick, WA) to double the advantage. Marin capped the contest with a minute remaining on a ball from Delgado. Max Herrera (Sunnyside, WA) registered the shutout.
Remaining Regular Season Schedule...
Wednesday, October 26
Walla Walla @ Columbia Basin 3:15
Spokane @ North Idaho 3:15
Wenatchee Valley @ Treasure Valley 4:15
Saturday, October 29
Spokane @ Walla Walla 2:15
Columbia Basin @ Treasure Valley 2:15
Wenatchee Valley @ North Idaho 2:15
STATS ##############
ELSEWHERE ##############
Taylor Simmons (Yakima, WA) scored the game-winner for Shoreline in a 3-1 win against Edmonds... Samuel Rodriguez (Yakima, WA) scored the opening goal for Edmonds in a 4-1 victory over Shoreline... Zachary Gudakov (Boise, ID) posted five saves in a 1-0 shutout for Everett against Whatcom.
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