It had been a tough go of it in recent weeks for Washington State, which came into the conference campaign with an unbeaten record and a national ranking that continued with wins in their first three league games, including then 8th-ranked UCLA. But a five-game skid had them reeling before INWsn Player of the Week selection Morgan Weaver busted out a four-point night - goal and two assists - against California in a 4-2 win that ended the streak. Then, in their toughest contest of the year in which top-ranked Stanford was dominating, she made a brilliant individual play to deliver a historic draw and give the Cougs momentum back as they close out the season looking for a postseason invite.
Puget Sound had a stellar weekend in the Northwest Conference courtesy of Luke Murdock (Boise, ID). The INWsn Player of the Week choice scored twice for a road win against Willamette that cost the Bearcats the top spot in the league and then scored as the Loggers rallied from two down to defeat Linfield on the road.
For games through Sunday, October 28
WOMEN
G - Devan Murfitt (Bozeman, MT) - Carroll :: Seven saves in a 1-0 victory against Oregon Tech and then made another four saves in a 1-0 victory against Southern Oregon that went to the 108th minute before they found a goal.
G - Micky Ramirez - CC Spokane :: Made seven saves for the Bigfoot in a 1-0 win at second place North Idaho to win the NWAC East championship. (Benton City, WA)
G - Molly Webster - Whitworth :: Six saves in a 2-0 shutout win against Willamette and three more in a 2-0 win against Linfield. This is her third selection. (Gladstone, OR)
D - Maddy Haro - Washington State :: Tallied a goal and a program-record 12th assist of the season for the Cougars in a 4-2 win against California. Helped lead the defense in a 1-1 draw against top-ranked Stanford. (Corona, CA)
D - Mia Padon (Spokane, WA) - Army West Point :: Helped lead the defense in a narrow 1-0 overtime loss to Holy Cross and a 0-0 draw against American as they finished the season with just eight goals allowed in nine games en route to first postseason spot since 2014. This is her second selection.
M - Kirsten Girolami - Carroll :: Set up the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Oregon Tech and then scored the overtime game-winner for a 1-0 decision over Southern Oregon. (Calgary, Canada)
M - Katie Michkiosky (Wenatchee, WA) - Northwest University :: Scored the game-winner in a 2-1 victory at College of Idaho and tallied both goals in a 3-2 overtime loss at Rocky Mountain. This is her third selection.
F - Sessi Allott - Yakima Valley :: Rallied the Yaks to a 3-1 lead with a hat-trick and then set up the fourth goal in a 4-2 win against Wenatchee Valley to wrap up a program-best season. (Spanaway, WA)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK :: F - Morgan Weaver - Washington State :: Tallied a goal and two assists to lead the Cougars to a 4-2 victory against California. Also scored the equalizer on a great individual effort in which she stole the ball from a Cardinal defense that had not allowed a goal in the last six games to tie Stanford 1-1. This is her second selection. (University Place, WA)
F - Arielle Van Peursem - Whitworth :: Scored the opener and set up the second in a 2-0 victory against 7-2-3 Willamette and scored the second goal in a 2-0 win against 6-2-5 Linfield. (Bothell, WA)
F - Sophia Viviano - Gonzaga :: Scored the opening goal and the game-winner for the Zags in a 4-3 victory against Loyola Marymount. (Lake Forest, WA)
MEN
G - Dakota Curtis (Redmond, OR) - Blue Mountain :: Made five saves on the road at Treasure Valley in a 2-0 win that was the first of the season for the Timberwolves in divisional play.
D - Jadon Bachtold - Whitman :: Helped lead the Blues defense in a 4-0 win in which they allowed just two shots on goal and tallied a goal and assist in a 2-0 victory against Pacific in another contest in which they allowed only two shots on goal. This is his second selection. (Sisters, OR)
M - Bekir Cinac (Boise, ID) - College of Idaho :: Tallied twice in a 3-0 victory against Northwest to keep their postseason hopes alive. This is his second selection.
M - Paul Cuevas (Yakima, WA) - Skagit Valley :: Tallied three goals as they downed Edmonds 4-0. This is his third selection.
M - Marco Kummerle - Rocky Mountain :: Set up the second goal in a 2-0 victory against Evergreen State and added two more assists, including the equalizer, in a 3-1 win against Northwest. (Pliezhausen, Germany)
M - Creed McKinnon - North Idaho College :: Scored both goals to rally the Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over Spokane in the season finale. (Margaret River, Australia)
M/F - Jose Porras - Carroll :: Scored twice in a 4-0 victory against Oregon Tech. This is his second selection. (Las Alturas, Guatemala)
F - Jose Bautista - Whitworth :: Scored the game-winner for a 1-0 victory against Pacific and set up the opening goal for the Pirates in a 1-1 draw against George Fox. (McMinnville, OR)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK :: F - Luke Murdock (Boise, ID) - Puget Sound - Scored both goals for the Loggers in a 2-1 road victory at Willamette and netted the first goal via a penalty that started a three goal comeback win, 3-2, at Linfield.
F - Joe Sammartino (Boise, ID) - Pacific Lutheran :: Tallied a goal and assist in a 3-1 road win at Linfield and tallied the late equalizer for a 1-1 draw at Willamette on a penalty kick. This is his fourth selection.
F - Peter Stephens - Whitman :: Goal and assist in a 4-0 victory against George Fox. This is his second selection. (Newton, MA)
About INWsn Best XI: Each week INWsoccernews will release lists of the week’s best performances for men’s and women’s soccer in the region, recognizing players at schools in the region or those from the area that play elsewhere in the nation. The list is extremely flexible and has no defined formation, despite featuring 11 players (when number of results/games allow). The Best XI was launched with the start of the site's collegiate coverage in 2012, continued through 2014 and was re-launched in 2017 after a two-year absence. The list is issued (typically) Tue-Wed during the college season.
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