Gonzaga’s Ching sees Dynamo dumped from Open Cup in upset; NW clubs, GU's Scott play tonight

Gonzaga University and former Spokane Shadow PDL striker Brian Ching was given the night off for the Houston Dynamo as the MLS side traveled to nearby San Antonio to face the expansion San Antonio Scorpions of the new North American Soccer League in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. It may have been a decision Ching, considering retirement after this season, and the club regret as San Antonio registered a surprising 1-0 victory to eliminate Houston from the tournament.

The Dynamo, however, were not alone as six other MLS teams saw their tournament campaign come to an unexpected end.

Timbers U-23s add Spokane’s Hamer

Gonzaga University sophomore Nick Hamer is looking to get a jump start on a professional career, joining the USL Premier Development League side Portland Timbers U-23s on Friday. The Mead High School product saw immediate action with the development side of the MLS club.

Hamer started all 15 matches last season for Gonzaga, recording two goals and two assists. As a freshman, he was named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team after being one of only two Bulldog players to start all 19 matches.

University of Idaho adds German goalkeeper to 2012 roster

The University of Idaho announced the final addition to it's 2012 roster, an up-and-coming German goalkeeper Marina Siegl.

WSU trio off to slow start with Whitecaps Women

It has been a difficult - some would say surprising - start for the W-League's Vancouver Whitecaps so far this season, going winless in their first two games. The three Washington State University products on the squad have seen action in the two one-goal losses.

Whitworth Soccer Classic set for June 9-10; Women’s Open Division added

The Whitworth University soccer program announced that it is holding its second annual 8v8 soccer tournament June 9-10 on the school’s campus. It was also announced that a Women’s Open Division was added to the event.

Registration is open until May 26. The entry fee is $300 per team. The link to register via the school’s site is available via the tournament site.  

The tournament will feature group play on Saturday, June 9 to determine seeding for the knockout stage on Sunday. Each team is guaranteed four games.

Five INW players near WPSL season with first-year Emerald City

The newly formed Women's Premier Soccer League team from the established youth club Emerald City FC recently announced a number of players joining the club for the summer, including five players from the Inland Northwest. Two players are arriving from the College of Idaho, one is from Eastern Washington University and another pair are former players from Washington State University.

Houston honors two former Spokane Shadow stars with stadium opener

They are calling it the ‘House that Ching Built.’ But when the Houston Dynamo play their long-awaited home opener at the new BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston Saturday afternoon (TV: 4:30 pm ET - NBC Sports Network) after seven games on the road, the club will be honoring two former standouts from the Premier Development League Spokane Shadow – forward Brian Ching and defender Craig Waibel.

The two players will be immortalized among the 16 pillars around the stadium honoring the club’s key players, and coach Dominic Kinnear, that have been a part of the team and the community since its arrival in 2005, relocating from San Jose (pillar photos).