- Central Washington wins in Regional debut
Central Washington University kicked things off on Thursday with their first-ever West Regionals match, topping league foe Seattle Pacific University 2-1 (more info below).
The rest of the tournaments are in full swing for area teams on Friday. Here's a rundown by division (times Pacific).
**Bookmark to return for updates.
NCAA Division I Women ####
Eastern Washington University: The Eagles kick off their first-ever appearance in the tournament on the road against USC, which is a two-seed in the bracket and ranked seventh in the nation. Match: Saturday, November 12 - 1:00 pm Stream Link [+]
Stanford: Featuring Averie Collins (Bozeman, MT), the Cardinal ranked second in the nation and as a one-seed play host to Houston Baptist. Match: Friday, November 11 - 7:00 pm.
Colorado: Featuring freshman Kennedy Yost (Pocatello, ID), the Buffalo play host to Oklahoma State in the opening round. Match: Saturday, November 12 - 11:00 am
Seattle University: The Redhawks travel to face UCLA, which is a four-seed and ranked 18. Match: Friday, November 11 - 7:00
NCAA Division II Women ####
Central Washington: In the Western Regionals the Wildcats were seeded fifth and has a pair of GNAC foes in their path in the West Regionals. First up was Seattle Pacific, who they fell 2-0 to in the league tournament semifinals after posting 1-0 and 1-1 results against the Falcons during the season. Whitney Lowe scored twice in the first round of the West Regionals, scoring from about nine yards out after a lengthy drive in the ninth minute and then heading the ball in after a missed clearance by the keeper in the 52nd minute. Seattle Pacific scored when a defensive error allowed Hannah Huesers to score on a breakaway in the 61st. MORE [+]
The Wildcats will now face Western Washington, which won their season meeting 4-1. Four different players scored for the Vikings with Abby Litka scoring the lone tally for the Wildcats in the middle. The Wildcats squad includes Karlee Goehner (Wenatchee, WA / Spokane, WA), Riley Steele (Yakima, WA) and Keilin Farrand (Ellensburg, WA). Next Match: Saturday, November 12 - 1:00 pm
Seattle Pacific: In the Western Regionals the Falcons were seeded fourth, but were knocked out, 2-1, by Central Washington (see more above). The squad included Asia Cayetano (Nampa, ID), Sierra Smith (Boise, ID) and Maddy Booster (Bend, OR). [Eliminated]
Western Washington: The Vikings, seeded number one, were ensured a second round match-up against a league foe. They will take on Central Washington, whom they defeated 4-1 during the regular season. Gabriela Pelogi and Liv Larson gave them a two goal lead in the first half. Abby Litka put the Wildcats on the board in the 50th before Mariah Roggow and Elise Aylward scored. Caitlyn Jobanek tallied a pair of assists. The squad includes Sandy Hanses (Yakima, WA), Sophia Kallas (Boise, ID), Colleen Lindsay (Spokane, WA) and Malia Maack (Spokane, WA). Match: Saturday, November 12 - 1:00 pm
Colorado School of Mines: Featuring Anna Deleray (Kalispell, MT), the Orediggers are the top seed in their portion of the bracket and await the winner of the first round match between Colorado State-Pueblo and Dallas Baptist. Match: Saturday, November 12 - 11:00 am.
Minnesota State-Mankato: Featuring Ryan Rydeen (Spokane, WA), the Mavericks are the second seed in their region and will host the winner of the first round match between Fort Hays State and Harding. Match: Sunday, November 13 - 11:00 am.
NCAA Division III Women ####
Pacific Lutheran: The Lutes, who ended the 14-year run at the top by Puget Sound, are on the road against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, which is hosting their two-round foursome. The Lutes squad features Justice Aragon (Pasco, WA), Sarah Burns (Kennewick, WA), Jordan Haggerty (Boise, ID), Brianna Hunting (Kennewick, WA) and Megan Zimmerman (Pasco, WA). Match: Saturday, November 12 - 1:30
NCAA Division II Men ####
Western Washington: Featuring Eleazar Galvan (Chelan, WA), Brady Ulen (Coeur d'Alene, ID / NIC / Shadow MFT) and Greydon Saunders (Spokane, WA / Snohomish, WA), the Vikings are the six-seed in the Western Regionals and are in San Diego where they will face Dixie State in the first round before a possible match-up against host UC-San Diego. Match: Friday, November 11 - 12:00
NCAA Division III Men ####
Whitworth: The NWC champion Pirates travel (again) to Texas for the opening two rounds. The open things against the host of the two-round foursome Trinity. Match: Saturday, November 12 - 3:00
Redlands: Featuring Ben Thompson (Spokane, WA), the Bulldogs travel to Indiana for the opening rounds. They kick things off against Washington-St Louis. Match: Saturday, November 12 - 4:30
NWAC Final Four Women ####
Spokane: The reigning league champion Bigfoot look for a repeat at the Starfire Complex. They open things up against Highline, the top team out of the West Division. The Sasquatch topped Highline in the opening game of the preseason, 2-0, on goals from Erica Simpson (Post Falls, ID) and Sydney Weiler (Spokane, WA) and a shutout from Molly Webster. They also faced both teams in the other half of the bracket. They posted a 1-1 draw and a 3-1 win against division foe North Idaho during the season and played North champion Peninsula to a 2-2 draw at home in their final game of the preseason.
North Idaho: The Cardinals, second out of the East, face perennial power and north champion Peninsula in the semifinals. The two did not play this year, but the Pirates played to a 2-2 draw at fellow East division side Spokane in the preseason before going a perfect 15-0-0 in their division.
Other Players: The Highline roster features Jenna Jensen (Spokane, WA) and Zoe Wolf (Billings, MT) and the Peninsula squad includes Cicely Warnick (Pullman, WA), Sarah Reiber (Yakima, WA) and Maddy Parton (Leavenworth, WA).
Friday, November 11
Semifinal 1: (E2) North Idaho v (N1) Peninsula 12:30
Semifinal 2: (W1) Highline v (E1) Spokane 3:00
Sunday, November 13
All-Star Game 10:00
FINAL 2:30
Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/c/NWACSportsNetwork
NWAC Final Four Men ####
Spokane: The Bigfoot, looking to claim a championship after a runners-up campaign a year ago, will be going up against the West, which saw all three teams advance to the semifinals. In the semifinal contest the Sasquatch will face West champion Highline in a rematch of their preseason opener. They fell in that match 2-0 as the offense struggled to find it scoring touch in the early stages of the campaign. Since opening preseason 0-2-2, they have gone 14-1-1. The Bigfoot have not played either Pierce or Tacoma of the other semifinal, but Pierce - third in the West - edged fellow East side North Idaho 1-0 in the opening round of the playoffs and Tacoma knocked East side Walla Walla out in penalties after a 1-1 draw before also eliminating powerhouse and defending champion Peninsula in penalties.
Other Players: Pierce features Daniel Angel (Yakima, WA).
Friday, November 11
Semifinal 1: (W3) Pierce v (W2) Tacoma 5:00
Semifinal 2: (W1) Highline v (E1) Spokane 8:00
Sunday, November 13
All-Star Game 12:00
FINAL 5:15
Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/c/NWACSportsNetwork
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