In the women's ranks last week defensive play seemed to be the theme of the week as a number of teams won close contests or saw a balanced attack with numbers spread out or defenders playing a role. One such team was Walla Walla CC, which picked up a big win on the road against Yakima Valley College in a battle of contenders for the NWAC East. Defender Victoria Higley not only helped the Warriors blank a YVC side that won their previous meeting, but provided a goal and an assist in the attack to earn the Player of the Week nod.
On the men's side forward Carlos Solorio led Eastern Oregon to a pair of 2-2 draws on the road against fellow mid-table opponents to remain in good position to make a run for the postseason, sitting sixth for an eight-team tourney. He was involved in both goals in their draw at Evergreen State and on another in their tie at Northwest University.
For games through Sunday, October 7
WOMEN
D - Kasey Ames (Spokane, WA) - Concordia :: Scored the opening goal in a 3-0 win at Western Oregon and helped lead the Cavaliers to a 1-1 draw against Simon Fraser.
D - Kelly Dopke - Idaho :: Scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 shutout performance against Eastern Washington. (Arcadia, CA)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK :: D - Victoria Higley (Twin Falls, ID) - Walla Walla CC :: Tallied a goal and an assist to lock up the Warriors 3-0 win at Yakima, avenging their loss earlier in the season.
D - Macie Nelson (Boise, ID) - Boise State :: The freshman defender scored the deciding goal in a rare 1-0 victory at San Diego.
D - McKenna Payne - Carroll :: Scored the equalizer in a 2-1 victory at Rocky Mountain and set up the team's second goal in a 2-2 draw at College of Idaho. (Winchester, CA)
D - Ariana Pumpelly - Gonzaga :: Led the defense in a pair of shutouts, downing Pacific 1-0 and contributing a fantastic goal in a 3-0 win against Saint Mary's. (Tualatin, OR)
M - Danielle Chang - Columbia Basin :: Scored on a free kick in a 3-1 win at Yakima Valley and tallied the opening goal in a 1-1 draw at Wenatchee Valley. (Kaneohe, HI)
M - Lura Morton (Moscow, ID) - Puget Sound :: Scored the deciding goal for a 1-0 win against Pacific Lutheran and helped lead the Loggers in a scoreless draw against Linfield.
M - Madi Taylor (Lewiston, ID / Treasure Valley CC) - Northwest Nazarene :: Tallied a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win at Saint Martin's. NNU also defeated Central Washington 1-0.
M - KK Wallace - Central Washington :: Excellent pair of games in midfield as they fell narrowly 1-0 to Northwest Nazarene in overtime and scored the equalizer in the 1-1 draw against 18th-ranked Western Washington. (Snoqualmie, WA)
F - Sofia Ellington (Bend, OR) - Whitman :: Two goals in a 3-0 victory against Lewis & Clark Saturday. She rallied the Blues from two deficits on Sunday in 4-3 overtime win, setting up both goals to erase a two goal hole in the first half and scoring the equalizer on a penalty in the second half against George Fox.
MEN
G - Rhodin Ludvig - MSU Billings :: Made nine saves for the Yellowjackets in a 1-1 draw against Western Washington, who outshot them 26-6 in the match and got their only goal via a penalty. He also made two stops in a 2-0 win against Concordia. (Hoganas, Sweden)
D - Tulio Melo - Rocky Mountain :: Scored the game-winner for the Battlin Bears in a 2-1 decision over Carroll. (Minas Gerais, Brazil)
M - Dana Kowachek (Missoula, MT) - MSU Billings :: Scored both goals in a 2-0 win against Concordia.
M - Mikias Repsold (Spokane, WA) - Northwest University :: Tallied a goal and assist in a 4-2 win against Walla Walla University.
M - Joe Thompson - Whitman :: The freshman scored the overtime winner for a 2-1 victory at rival Whitworth. (Canby, OR)
M/F - Jose Porras - Carroll - Tallied a goal and assist in 2-1 win at College of Idaho. He also scored their goal in a 2-1 loss at Rocky Mountain. (Las Alturas, Guatemala)
F - Arturo Bahena - CC Spokane :: Scored the opening goal in a 2-2 draw at Treasure Valley and set up the opening goal in a 3-1 win at Blue Mountain. (Las Vegas, NV)
F - Beau Chandler (Coeur d'Alene, ID) - North Idaho :: Scored the first two goals in a 3-0 win at Treasure Valley.
F - Martin Guerrero (Nampa, ID) - Treasure Valley :: Scored twice in a surprise 2-2 draw against Spokane.
F - Emilio Meraz-Rodriguez (Pasco, WA) - Evergreen State :: Scored the first three goals and set up the fourth in a 4-0 victory against Walla Walla University. He also tallied an assist on the late equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Eastern Oregon.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK :: F - Carlos Solorio - Eastern Oregon :: Set up the equalizer and scored the go-ahead goal in a 2-2 draw at Evergreen State. He also had an assist on the opening goal in a 2-2 draw at Northwest University. (Los Angeles, CA)
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.
###
