The defending Big Sky champion Eastern Washington was stymied for a scoreless draw in their Big Sky opener by Sacramento State, but they were not alone as the Hornets did the same to regular season Big Sky champion Idaho two days later. The Eagles, though, bounced back with a big 4-0 win against Northern Arizona, which was coming off a win against the Vandals.
After a thrilling win against a ranked opponent and a drubbing of a vastly short-handed side last week, the Vandals were unable to find the form that led them to a pair of regular season titles the last two years. Idaho came up short against Northern Arizona and then suffered that stalemate with Sacramento State.
DI action around the rest of the region was highlighted by the Gonzaga women earning another victory as their hot start continues and their counterparts on the men's side earning a draw against 20th-ranked Air Force and a win on the weekend.
BIG SKY ROUND-UP ####
Friday, September 22
Sacramento State 0-0 Eastern Washington
In a scoreless stalemate Emily Busselman (Richland, WA / CC Spokane) made four saves for the Eagles and the defender M'Kenna Hayes two other stops in overtime to keep the match deadlocked against a Hornets side that also went on to play to the same result Sunday at Idaho. Two of her saves came back-to-back in the 17th minute on attempts from Caitlin Prothe (Spokane, WA).
Idaho State 0-2 North Dakota
The Bengals were unable to overcome two early goals from the hosts as Katie Moller converted a first-minute penalty and tallied again in the 10th for the win despite being outshot 25-10.
Northern Arizona 2-1 OT Idaho
Taylor Brust headed home the opening goal on a ball from Ashlee Workman in the 39th minute for a halftime Vandal lead, but Adrian Nixt set up a Paige Maling goal two minutes into the second half for NAU. The two reversed roles in overtime with Nixt scoring three minutes in for the win.
Southern Utah 0-2 Portland State
Weber State 0-1 Northern Colorado
Sunday, September 24
Northern Arizona 0-4 Eastern Washington
In the rematch of the Big Sky Final from a year ago that went to penalties tied 1-1 before Eastern advanced to the NCAA tourney, the results were much different. Chloe Williams (Spokane, WA) scored 20 minutes into the contest and Savannah Hoekstra (Spokane, WA) found Delaney Romero (Yakima, WA / Walla Walla CC) in the 39th to double the advantage. The Eagles locked up the win in the second half via the duo of Aimie Inthoulay and Devan Talley, who combined for both goals. Inthoulay scored the first on a ball from Talley in the 57th. With her back to goal in the 79th, she returned the favor when she booted the ball backwards over her head and Talley nodded it home. The defense, meanwhile, was even better than Friday, allowing just one shot on goal that Emily Busselman needed to save.
The shutout prowess continues to be the story for the Griz, who stretched a shutout streak to 286 minutes (two-plus games) and the defense allowed just three shots, none on goal. The winning tally came by was a free kick that resulted from a foul on Ashlee Pedersen (Spokane, WA) in the 79th minute. A lofted free kick from Janessa Fowler was knocked in by Allie Lucas (Billings, MT) at the six with a looping shot that skied over the keeper and dropped into the side netting.
Idaho State 2-1 OT Northern Colorado
Michaela Didericksen and Kathryn Leachman combined to set up Makena Bambei in the 67th minute to break the deadlock. The hosts answered, though, with just over two minutes left to send it to overtime where Didericksen put away the rebound of her own saved shot in the 104th minute.
Sacramento State 0-0 Idaho
The Vandals limited the Hornets to five shots on goal - two from Caitlin Prothe - as Makayla Presgrave (Saint Maries, ID) made five stops for the shutout.
Weber State 0-1 North Dakota
Next Week...
Friday, September 29
Idaho @ Southern Utah
North Dakota @ Sacramento State
Montana @ Idaho State
Portland State @ Weber State
Northern Colorado @ Northern Arizona
Sunday, October 1
Southern Utah @ Eastern Washington
Montana @ Weber State
Portland State @ Idaho State
Northern Colorado @ Sacramento State
North Dakota @ Northern Arizona
OTHER DI RESULTS ####
WOMEN - GONZAGA
9/24 - Seattle 1-2 OT Gonzaga (non-league)
The Zags continue to roll in their best campaign since 2012, closing out their non-conference slate with a thriller. Red-hot India Jencks did not score on the day, but did set up Madeline Gotta's opening tally just 64 seconds into the match. The visitors pulled even in the 40th and the two sides went scoreless in the second half. Callie Best (Spokane, WA) struck for the game-winner on a fantastic individual effort, dribbling through the back line and rounding the keeper in the 102nd minute to give the Bulldogs a 8-1-1 non-conference mark.
Next Week...
9/29 - Gonzaga @ Pacific
10/1 - Gonzaga @ Saint Mary's
WOMEN - WASHINGTON STATE
9/21 - #2 Stanford 2-1 Washington State
The nations number two Cardinal visited Pullman and grabbed early control with goals in the 24th and 34th minutes. Maddy Haro converted a penalty a minute later after a foul was committed on a corner, but that was all the scoring that would come as the two played to a stalemate in the second half.
Next Week...
9/28 - Colorado @ Washington State
10/1 - Utah @ Washington State
WOMEN - BOISE STATE
9/22 - Boise State 2-1 Fresno State
Baylee Blaser (Boise, ID) converted a penalty for the Broncos in the 18th minute after Raimee Sherle (Meridian, ID) was fouled. The Bulldogs answered in the 33rd, but Sherle finished what she started with a goal in the 79th for the win, shaking off a defender and sending a shot in off the post.
9/24 - Boise State 1-2 San Jose State
After a scoreless first half, the hosts scored back-to-back in the 57th and 58th minutes. Aubree Chatterton (Boise, ID) scored with a long shot from about 25 yards, but the 88th minute tally came too late for a rally.
Next Week...
9/29 - New Mexico @ Boise State
10/1 - San Diego State @ Boise State
MEN - GONZAGA
9/22 - #20 Air Force 0-0 Gonzaga (non-league)
The Bulldogs battled the 20th-ranked Falcons to a scoreless stalemate with Ben Willis making five saves in the shutout effort.
9/24 - Utah Valley 1-2 Gonzaga (non-league)
Christo Michaelson headed in the opener off a cross from Joe Corner in the 24th minute, but the visitors answered just before the break. Michaelson, though, turned provider in the second half, finding the head of defender Sam Olson on a free kick in the 71st.
Next Week...
9/30 - Denver @ Gonzaga
NOTES ####
Blake Bodily (Eagle, ID) set up the opening goal and the third in a 4-0 win for Washington against Utah Valley... Larkin Russell (Spokane, WA) tallied off a free kick in the 62nd minute to equalize for Portland in a 1-1 draw at Seattle... Kelsey Turnbow (Spokane, WA) scored the equalizer for Santa Clara in a 2-1 win over UC Irvine... Christina Edwards (Bend, OR) scored the game-winner for Arizona State in a 2-1 win against Oregon State... Havana Johnson (Coeur d'Alene, ID) scored the lone goal in the 81st for McNeese State in a 1-0 win at Central Arkansas.
