Defender Maddy Haro continues to be the consistent presence for the Cougars. In addition to leading the back line her ability to serve the ball has been a repeated threat for the opposition. In the Cougars' final week of non-league play she set up three goals for a pair of victories that helped push WSU up to #14 in the nation.
At the other end of the pitch, freshman Johan Espinoza played a key role for Wenatchee Valley last week in leading the Knights to a pair of wins in the NWAC East. Despite his team being outshot by visiting Spokane on Wednesday he gave he Knights the win with a pair of goals. Later in the week he scored twice more in leading them to a 3-0 victory at North Idaho College to even out their conference record to 2-2.
For games through Sunday, September 16
WOMEN
G - Hannah Simpson (Star, ID) - Treasure Valley :: Made seven saves for a scoreless draw against unbeaten Columbia Basin for their first point.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK :: D - Maddy Haro - Washington State :: Set up a pair of goals in a 3-1 win against Montana and tallied another assist in the Cougars 4-1 win against Cal Poly. This is the second selection to Best XI this year. (Corona, CA)
D - McKenna Stocker (Spokane, WA) - Concordia :: Helped lead the Cavaliers to a historic win as they handed Western Washington its first loss in GNAC play in four years.
M - Kalle Crouch (Spokane, WA) - CC Spokane :: Led Spokane defensively in a pair of wins, scoring the opening goal in a 2-1 win at Wenatchee Valley and guiding the Bigfoot to a 1-0 win against fellow unbeaten Yakima Valley. (Spokane, WA)
M - Ruby Kazemi (Missoula, MT) - Carleton College :: Scored the opening goal for the Knights in the ninth minute and then set up the second in the 34th in a 2-0 win against Hamline.
M - Katie Michkiosky (Wenatchee, WA) - Northwest :: Tallied a hat-trick for the Eagles in their 6-0 Cascade Conference opener at Northwest Christian. This is the second selection to Best XI this year.
M - Talya Vaira (Great Falls, MT) - Carroll :: Scored two goals in the final 76 seconds to bring the Saints even with Eastern Oregon in a 3-3 draw.
F - Rikki Myers - Northwest Nazarene :: Two goals and an assist for the Nighthawks in a 6-1 win against Saint Martin's to open league play. (Mill Creek, WA)
F - Mak Gomera-Stevens - Washington State :: Scored the first two goals for the Cougars in a 3-1 win against Montana. (Kapolei, HI)
F - Cassidy O'Dell - MSU Billings :: Goal and assist sparked comeback from three goal deficit in a 4-3 road win against Providence. This is the second selection to Best XI this year. (Lynwood, WA)
F - Courtney Handlen (Pocatello, ID) - Yakima Valley :: Scored twice in a 3-1 victory against North Idaho College.
MEN
G - Aidan Wright - Eastern Oregon :: Nine saves in 79 minutes of a 4-0 shutout win at Carroll. This is the second selection to Best XI this year. (Temecula, CA)
G - Dalton Mauzay (Cheney, WA) - MSU Billings :: The freshman made three saves for the shutout in his debut, a 1-0 win at Mary.
M - Andres Arroyo (Pasco, WA) - Walla Walla CC :: Scored two goals in the opening 13 minutes for 5-0 win at Treasure Valley. Also scored the opening goal in a 2-1 win against Blue Mountain.
M - Michael Ebel (LaGrande, OR) - Eastern Oregon :: Scored the 2-1 overtime game-winner at Providence with a bicycle kick and then tallied a goal in the Mountaineers' 4-0 win at Carroll.
M - Dana Kowachek (Missoula, MT) - MSU Billings :: Scored the game-winner in a 1-0 victory at Mary and set up the opening goal in a 2-1 win against Oklahoma Baptist.
M - Drew Wilson - Whitworth :: Scored a goal in each win, helping lead Whitworth to 4-0 and 2-1 road wins against George Fox and Pacific. (Seattle, WA)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK :: F - Johan Espinoza (Wenatchee, WA) - Wenatchee Valley :: Scored both goals to help lead the Knights past Spokane 2-0 despite being outshot and scored twice in a 3-0 win at North Idaho. This is the second selection to Best XI this year.
F - George Holloway - Providence :: Tallied two goals and two assists in an 8-0 victory against Walla Walla University. (Mansfield, England)
F - Reese Owens - Whitman :: Tallied a goal and set up the opener with a shot off the post in the 3-0 win at Pacific for the Blues in the Northwest Conference opener. (Seattle, WA)
F - Joe Sammartino (Boise, ID) - Pacific Lutheran :: Scored the equalizer in a 2-1 overtime loss at Chapman and tallied the lone goal in a 3-1 loss to Willamette. This is the second selection to Best XI this year.
F - Connor Young - Eastern Oregon :: Scored twice in a 4-0 victory at Carroll. (Salem, OR)
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) Wed-Fri during the college season.
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