Wednesday, November 1, 2017

INW HS Best XI - Week 9: Crosby Leading Fifth-Seed Titans on Playoff Run

The University Titans entered the 4A postseason as the fifth seed out of the Greater Spokane League, but after three playoff wins in one week led by Kelsey Crosby, they are headed to the state tournament. She scored game-winners in the first two games and tallied a huge equalizer in the third before being fouled for a penalty that was the state-clinching winner.

For games through Saturday, October 28


G - Taylor Cannon (Medical Lake, Sr) - Made several great saves to keep the Cardinals in the contest for a scoreless draw at Lakeside before going to a shootout in which she made one step but saw the hosts win.

G - Grace Wilbur (Kamiakin, Sr) - Registered the shutout against North Central in a 3-0 win.


G - Payton Williams (Lakeside, So) - After a scoreless stalemate, she made three saves in the tiebreaker shootout for playoff victory against Medical Lake.


PLAYER OF THE WEEK :: M/F - Kelsey Crosby (University, Jr) - Tallied an assist on late equalizer and scored overtime game-winner in 3-2 upset victory at Gonzaga Prep in the opening round. Also scored the deciding goal in a 1-0 win over top seed Chiawana in the second round. She finished her third game of the week with the second equalizer against Mead and was fouled in the box, setting up the game-winning penalty converted by her sister Gracen with two minutes left for a 3-2 upset win against Mead.

M/F - Chelsea Koker (West Valley, Jr) - Scored a pair of go-ahead goals in the first half for the Eagles, who outlasted Clarkston 4-3 in an upset road win in the second round. She also set up the opening goal in a 3-0 upset win at Cheney in the opening round.

F - Makayla Geiger (Medical Lake, Sr) - Scored all three goals in the opening round 3-0 win against Colville.

F - Abby McConnell (West Valley, Sr) - Set up the opener and scored what proved to be the game-winning goal for the Eagles in a 4-3 upset win on the road at Clarkston and scored the second and third goals in another upset win, 3-0, at Cheney.

F - Mackinzie Packwood (Clarkston, Sr) - Scored the initial equalizer in a game that went to a shootout in which they topped the league champion East Valley 3-2 in the tiebreaker in the season finale. In the playoff opener she tallied a goal and assist and in the second round she tallied twice only to see the Bantams come up short in a 4-3 loss.

F - Makena Rietz (Walla Walla, Sr) - Scored four goals in a 5-1 opening round win against Pasco.

F - Jessie Thomas (Deer Park, Jr) - Scored the opening goal for the Stags and set up the game-winning strike in a 2-1 overtime win against Freeman.

F - Summer Yates (Chiawana, Sr) - Upon her return from national team camp, she set up the opener and converted a penalty for the second goal in the 2-1 win over Hanford.


About INWsn Best XI: Each week INWsoccernews will release a list of the week’s best performances for players in the GSL, MCC, GNL and NEA leagues. The list is extremely flexible and has no defined formation, despite featuring 11 players. The list is issued (typically) every Monday/Tuesday during the high school season.