BIG SKY CONFERENCE – WOMEN
Semifinals – Friday :: INW Report [+]
#3 Montana 3 :: 2 # 2 Portland State
#4 Weber State (3) 1 :: PK :: 1 (4) #1 Idaho State
Championship - Sunday
#3 Montana (3) 0 :: PK :: 0 (4) #1 Idaho State
In a virtual repeat of Montana’s run to the Big Sky title a year ago, the Bengals went the distance in both tournament matches, advancing to the NCAA championship tournament via penalties. It would not be an easy task with the experienced Grizzlies on the other side, but the difference proved to be freshman goalkeeper Sheridan Hapsic, who made three saves in the shootout after making two the previous day against Weber State.
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| Anna Pingree, Idaho State |
Hapsic’s saves came at a crucial moment as they trailed 2-1 after three rounds following two misses by her teammates. She stoned the next three shots as the tiebreaker moved into sudden victory rounds, finishing with her stop of Mackenzie Akins in the sixth round after Allyson Stainbrook had converted for the Bengals. With essentially a full tiebreaker’s set of saves, it was no surprise the keeper was named Big Sky Tournament MVP.
The match was all about defense. The Grizzlies posted their seventh shutout in the last eight games, allowing only seven shots by the hosts in the contest, but Montana, however, was only able to put three of their 15 shots on frame before the match was decided at the spot.
The final was a showdown of the two most successful Big Sky programs as the two were tied with the most league titles at four apiece. Idaho State’s championship was the first since 2006 when their run of four championships in six seasons came to an end. – MORE | MORE
2012 Big Sky All-Tournament Team: MVP – Sheridan Hapsic, Idaho State... Allyson Stainbrook, Idaho State... Amanda Ellsworth, Idaho State... Vanessa Cabilan, Idaho State... Anna Pingree (Boise, ID), Idaho State... Erin Craig (Great Falls, MT), Montana... Mary Makris (Emigrant, MT), Montana... Mackenzie Akins, Montana... Lauren Costa (Missoula, MT), Montana... Amanda Howie, Portland State... Chansi Crompton, Weber State... Mackenzie Harrison, Weber State
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – WOMEN
WAC Conference Tournament (Logan, UT)
First Round - Thursday
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| Katie Baran, Idaho |
Katie Baran (Spokane, WA) gave the Vandals the advantage four minutes in when a cross from Chelsea Small was cleared directly to Baran, who put it into the top right corner. Texas State, however, found an equalizer in the final minute of the first half. Though the Vandals were outshot 15-5 in the second half, they put two balls off the crossbar only to see the missed chances haunt them when the Bobcats found the winner seven minutes into extra time. – MORE
#4 Louisiana Tech 1 :: 2 #5 Seattle-U
Stephanie Verdoia led the Redhawks onto the next round, scoring two minutes into the match only to see higher seeded Louisiana Tech answer back less than two minutes later. A Mary Hill free kick on the hour mark, however, allowed her to head in the winning tally. – MORE
Semifinals - Friday
#2 U-Denver 2 :: 0 #3 Texas State
#5 Seattle-U 1 :: 2 #1 Utah State
The Redhawks made it a difficult task for the top seed, keeping them off the board for nearly 65 minutes before falling behind. Julia Besagno, however, put things on level terms in the 83rd minute from the spot when Melissa Busque was taken down in the box. But with just over a minute left the Aggies found the winner to avoid a potential upset. – MORE
Championship - Sunday
#2 U-Denver 0 :: 1 #1 Utah State
An own goal in the fourth minute was the difference in the championship
WAC All-Tournament Team: Lynsey Curry, Texas State... Emma Staley, Texas State... Stephanie Verdoia, Seattle U... Melissa Busque, Seattle U... Kalie Vaughn, Denver... Jessy Battelli, Denver... Kaitlin Bast, Denver... Jennifer Flynn, Utah State... Jackie Tillotson, Utah State... Ashlyn Mulford, Utah State... Taryn Rose, Utah State... MVP - Natalie Norris, Utah State
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE – WOMEN
MWC Conference Tournament (San Diego, CA)
First Round - Wednesday
#3 Boise State 0 :: 1 #6 Nevada
It was an eventful and unfortunate match for the Broncos, having beaten the same team the week before 1-0 in the home finale. This time though, things just did not go their way. They lost starting keeper Maddy McDevitt to injury seven minutes in after a collision with a Nevada player, prompting the insertion of Megan Blanchard, who posted the shutout last week. The defense did its job, though, limiting chances, but with the game deadlocked a breakaway and excellent finish from Daisha Jones Oglesby with five minutes left proved the difference. – MORE
#4 UNLV 3 :: 0 #5 Fresno State
Semifinals - Friday
#2 New Mexico 1 :: 0 Nevada
#1 San Diego State 3 :: 0 UNLV
Championship - Sunday
#2 New Mexico 0 :: 2 #1 San Diego State
The sixth-ranked Aztecs dominated with a goal in each half and a 16-6 advantage in shots en route to their second league title (2009).
MWC All-Tournament Team: MVP - Carli Johnson, Jr., MF, San Diego State... Chelsea Fricke, Jr., D, Nevada... Dana Moreno, Sr., GK, Nevada... Kelli Cornell, Sr., GK, New Mexico... Lauren Irwin, Sr., D, New Mexico... Rachel Montoya, Sr., MF, New Mexico... Rachel Boaz, So., GK, San Diego State... Kelsey Booth, So., MF, San Diego State... Megan Jurado, Sr., F, San Diego State... Caitlin Allen, Sr., D, UNLV... Jenn Wolfe, Jr., F, UNLV
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