On the opening day of East play for the four sides in action Friday Spokane picked up a pair of shutout victories against Blue Mountain while on the other side of the border the North Idaho women rallied for a victory against Treasure Valley and the men played to a stalemate.
WOMEN
Blue Mountain 0-7 Spokane :: Cheris Brown (Spokane, WA) scored back-to-back goals in the ninth and 10th minutes to get things rolling for the Bigfoot. Molly Thies then scored in the 14th. Back on her home pitch for the first time since 2012, Gaby Kennedy set up Megan Wilkinson in the 34th to push the lead to four and the final goal of the first half in the 42nd when she connected with Sabrina Castaneda. In the second half Kennedy then scored her first NWAC goal in six years in the 47th. Julia Adair capped the contest in the 85th to finish with a goal and assist. Micky Ramirez and Brianna Krygier combined for the shutout without making a save.
Treasure Valley 1-4 North Idaho :: The Chukars took the early lead 15 minutes into the match when Elexus Nochebuena (Blackfoot, ID) found Brenda Trejo (Ontario, OR), and they took the advantage into the break. An own goal, though, put things level just two minutes into the second half. Sophia Schnepf (Rathdrum, ID) put the Cardinals in front in the 72nd minute and tallied a second goal with five minutes remaining on the other side of a tally from Ashley Camacho in the 76th.
Coming Up...
Saturday - Treasure Valley @ Spokane
Saturday - Blue Mountain @ North Idaho
Saturday - Wenatchee Valley @ Walla Walla
Saturday - Yakima Valley @ Columbia Basin
MEN
Treasure Valley 1-1 North Idaho :: The two sides battled to a draw in a close-fought affair. The visitors got on the board first when Martin Guerrero (Nampa, ID) converted a penalty in the 25th minute, and held onto the advantage until the second half. Just over four minutes after intermission the Cardinals evened things up when Noah Dreves (Spokane, WA) set up Mac Stultz (Sandpoint, ID) for the finish from inside the box. Luis Hernandez (Nampa, ID) started and made three saves for the Cardinals with Isaiah Damschen (Spokane, WA) going untested in the second half.
Blue Mountain 0-2 Spokane :: Just 63 seconds into the contest Christian Bahena along the left endline delivered a cross into the six that Diego Esquivel (Post Falls, ID) deflected to goal. Dakota Curtis (Redmond, OR) did well to drop down and make the save, but the ball deflected off the far post and Jacob Avila crashed in and buried the rebound into the roof for the lead. The Bigfoot controlled much of the contest, but were unable to put the Timberwolves, who earned a few chances of their own, away until Alex Nana ripped a shot in from about 30 yards when a corner popped out to him in the 83rd minute. Caleb Garbuio made just one save for the hosts in the shutout.
Coming Up...
Saturday - Treasure Valley @ Spokane
Saturday - Blue Mountain @ North Idaho
Saturday - Wenatchee Valley @ Walla Walla
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