Spokane and Walla Walla, the top two on the men's side, battled to a scoreless stalemate Wednesday, but third place North Idaho was unable to take advantage of their dropped points, falling on the road to Wenatchee Valley. With the results, Spokane maintained its five point margin over the Warriors and nine points over the Cardinals, who visit their local rival Saturday.
On the women's side, the Cardinals registered an easy road win at Wenatchee Valley in advance of their first-place showdown with Spokane on Saturday. Both teams head into the contest a perfect 7-0-0. Walla Walla, meanwhile, lost ground on the leaders, playing to a draw with fourth-place Treasure Valley on Tuesday.
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Spokane 0 :: 0 Walla Walla
The Warriors were looking to use home field to gain some ground on the division leaders, but the two sides were locked in a stalemate that neither could solve. Jorge Llerenas (Pasco, WA) needed to make four saves to earn the point for Walla Walla while Kevin Alvarez only needed to make one stop at the other end for Spokane. It was the first time in divisional play the Bigfoot were kept off the board and only the second for Walla Walla - both against Spokane.
North Idaho 1 :: 2 Wenatchee Valley
Lenin Guzman (Connell, WA) put the Knights on the board in the 28th and they held onto the advantage for 40 minutes before they added some needed insurance. Cristian Talavera (Brewster, WA) finished off a ball from Dylan Avey (Wenatchee, WA) in the 68th for what proved to be the winner with Garrett Harrison (Coeur d'Alene, ID) scoring in the 76th via Alec Maldonado (Coeur d'Alene, ID).
Columbia Basin 0 :: 1 Treasure Valley
The Chukars picked up their second victory of the season, getting the winner from Hadir Saad (Twin Falls, ID) in the 40th minute. Flavio Betancourt (Pendleton, OR) made five saves to record the shutout. Saad's goal snapped the team's three-game scoreless streak.
Coming Up...
Saturday, October 8
Wenatchee Valley @ Treasure Valley 2:15
Walla Walla @ Columbia Basin 4:00
North Idaho @ Spokane 7:15
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Tuesday, October 4
Treasure Valley 1 :: 1 Walla Walla
Jessica Garcia (Eltopia, WA) put the Warriors in front 12 minutes into the contest, but the division's third place side was unable to put the match away and found themselves slipping further back of NIC when the visitors tallied in the 79th. Madison Wells (Nampa, ID) struck to give the Chukars the draw.
Wednesday, October 5
North Idaho 3 :: 1 Wenatchee Valley
The Cardinals won with ease, scoring all three goals in the opening 15 minutes and keeping the host Knights off the board until Katie Michkiosky (Wenatchee, WA) spoiled the shutout in the 78th minute. Emily Aspden found Jessica Scott (Post Falls, ID) for the opening goal five minutes in and Aliea Son (Pocatello, ID) doubled the lead four minutes later on a ball from Megan Lowery (Hayden, ID). Son then turned provider, connecting with Aspden of the third strike.
Yakima Valley 1 :: 0 Columbia Basin
Mayra Fuentes (Wapato, WA) scored five minutes before the break on a ball from Katie Balauro (Deer Park, WA) to give the Yaks the lead and Addy Eckstrom (Yakima, WA) would finish with four saves to convert the lead into a victory, moving YVCC into the middle of the table with their third win. The goal ended a three game scoreless run for the Yaks since Fuentes' last goal.
Blue Mountain 0 :: 12 Spokane
Facing nine-player Timberwolves side, the Bigfoot strolled to an easy victory in what looked more like a non-contact scrimmage than the usual NWAC East contest. Jenna Sullens (Spokane, WA) scored the first goal two minutes in and the final goal in the 74th to finish with a hat-trick. Maddy Boyd (Spokane, WA) and Stephanie Overland (Moses Lake, WA) each had a pair of goals with Boyd also chipping in two assists. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Schmidt was credited with the shutout, though hardly even touched the ball let alone make a save.
Coming Up...
Saturday, October 8
Walla Walla @ Yakima Valley 10:00
Wenatchee Valley @ Treasure Valley 12:00
North Idaho @ Spokane 5:00
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ELSEWHERE ##############
Fredy Ruiz (Quincy, WA) scored the lone goal for Skagit Valley men in a 7-1 loss to Peninsula... Brianna Huggans (Missoula, MT) tallied an assist on Bellevue's final goal in a 3-1 win over Green River... Maddy Parton (Leavenworth, WA) scored one of Peninsula's goals and Cicely Warnick (Pullman, WA) saw some time in goal in a 14-0 win against Skagit Valley.
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