Thursday, October 19, 2017

INW Best XI - Week 8: Defense Fuels Top Women's Sides

Many of the top teams in the area grabbed victories last week behind the effort of either stifling defensive performances in which their opponents were lucky if they had opportunities to get a shot on target or players that were offensive threats at the other end.

A number of Spokane area players have Western Washington and Concordia on top of the GNAC with unbeaten 8-0-0 and 7-0-1 records. The Vikings rolled to a pair of easy wins and the Cavaliers kept pace with a pair of shutout victories as well, including a narrow 1-0 decision against mid-table Northwest Nazarene. The defense for the Cavs, led by Katie Greene (Spokane, WA), allowed just one shot on goal in the two matches.

On the men's side, Rocky Mountain pulled within one point of the league leader Southern Oregon in the CCC thanks to a victory over previously unbeaten Corban that was propelled by Chasen Lashure. Down one on the road against the Warriors Lashure tied the match up before the break, and in the second half he scored again to push the lead to two en route to a big 4-1 result.

For games through Sunday, October 15

WOMEN

G - Emily Busselman (Richland, WA / CC Spokane) - Eastern Washington :: Led Eastern Washington to a pair of shutout victories in back-to-back games against the second-place sides in the Big Sky, blanking Portland State 3-0 and registering a career high seven saves in a narrow 1-0 win against Montana.

G - Daniele Ortiz - Northwest Nazarene :: Made four saves in a narrow 1-0 loss at Concordia in a match decided by a penalty and made three saves in a 1-0 win against Western Oregon. (Sunnyvale, CA)

D - Riley Couch (Sandpoint, ID) - CC Spokane :: set up three goals with corner kicks in 4-1 and 2-1 wins against Yakima Valley and Wenatchee Valley.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK :: D - Katie Greene (Spokane, WA) - Concordia :: The freshman led a defense that posted a pair of shutouts, blanking Northwest Nazarene in a 1-0 win in which they did not allow a shot on goal (four shots total) and topped MSU-Billings 3-0 on the road with only one shot on goal allowed (five total).

M - Darby Doyle (Spokane, WA) - Western Washington :: Scored a goal in each game as the Vikings posted a pair of shutout wins to remain perfect at 8-0-0.

M - Claire Neder (Spokane, WA) - Seattle Pacific :: Set up the game-winner in a 3-2 overtime victory against Central Washington and set up the opening goal in a 6-0 win at Saint Martin's.

F - Cheris Brown (Spokane, WA) - CC Spokane :: Hat-trick in comeback win, 4-1, versus Yakima Valley.

F - Riley Martinson (Spokane, WA) - Embry-Riddle AU :: Scored three goals and registered two assists in a pair of 5-0 victories.

F - Eme McLaughlin (Great Falls, MT) - Providence :: Set up the equalizer late and then scored the overtime winner in the 2-1 victory over Carroll, the first in program history.

F - Alli Rigby (Rexburg, ID) - Southern Virginia :: Scored the equalizer and set up the game-winner in a 2-1 victory for Southern Virginia at the University of Mary-Washington

F - Raimee Sherle (Meridian, ID) - Boise State :: Tallied a goal and assist in the Broncos' 3-1 win at Wyoming and scored both goals in a 2-2 draw at Colorado State.

MEN

D - Jackson Moore (Spokane, WA) - Pacific Lutheran :: Set up the overtime winner in a 1-0 victory against George Fox and helped lead the Lutes to two shutout wins.

M - Marco Kummerle - Rocky Mountain :: Scored the game-winner in a 4-1 win at Corban and tallied the equalizer and set up the winner in a 2-1 victory at Northwest Christian. (Pliezhausen, Germany)

M - Missael Lopez (Tieton, WA) - Walla Walla CC :: Tallied a goal and an assist in a 2-0 victory at Blue Mountain, and also tallied a goal and assist in a 2-1 win at Treasure Valley.

M - Edwin Quiroz - Northwest Nazarene :: Goal and assist in the opening 150 seconds of the match in a 3-1 win against MSU-Billings. (Lancaster, CA)

F - Austin Betschart - Whitman :: Set up the equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Willamette and scored the second goal in a 2-0 victory at Linfield. (Tigard, OR)

F - Moi Diaz - Whitworth :: Two goals in a 3-0 victory at Linfield and set up the opening goal in a 2-1 win at Willamette. (McMinnville, OR)

F - Israel Gonzalez (Grandview, WA) - Columbia Basin :: Tallied a hat-trick in an 8-0 victory at Treasure Valley. He also scored a goal in a 4-0 win at Blue Mountain.

F - Conner Kinnune (Newman Lake, WA) - North Idaho :: Tallied a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win against Wenatchee Valley.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK :: F - Chasen Lashure - Rocky Mountain :: Scored twice, including the equalizer, in 4-1 victory at previously unbeaten Corban. (Redondo Beach, CA)

F - Cade Roske (Pocatello, ID) - North Idaho :: Tallied a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win against Wenatchee Valley.

F - Julian Wells - Eastern Oregon :: Scored the first three goals for the Mountaineers in a 4-0 victory at Warner Pacific. (Temecula, 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. 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) Wed-Fri during the college season.

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