Five area players on NWSL draft list; Spokane's Ramos on radar ahead of MLS SuperDraft

The National Women's Soccer League released its initial list of eligible player for its third annual draft to be held Friday, January 16 during the NSCAA Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Preceding the NWSL draft, Major League Soccer will conduct the first two rounds of the SuperDraft on Thursday.

Among the NWSL list are five players from the region, four combined from Boise State, Eastern Washington and Washington state along with Boise native Sofia Huerta. Additional players may join the list as registration for the draft is still open, closing on Wednesday. Whitworth University and Spokane Shadow standout Mike Ramos has grabbed the attention of several MLS clubs, and is expected to sign professionally for 2015 be it in the top flight or lower divisions.

Spring schedules under way for Idaho trio

Idaho State's spring schedule includes a lot of trips to the state of Utah | Photos: Gerald Barnhart

The three Division I universities in Idaho are in the midst of their schedule of spring friendlies and training, highlighted by the recent meeting between Boise State and Idaho State last weekend. The University of Idaho plays its first match March 23.

The reigning Big Sky champion ISU Bengals kicked things off February 23 at the BYU Indoor Tournament, posting a 0-0 draw against Utah Valley University and falling 2-1 against Dixie. Utah native Laura Benson prevented a scoreless trip to Provo with a goal five minutes from time.

Boise State to stay in Mountain West after all

Though it had previously committed to moving the Broncos into the Big East for football in 2013 and the Big West for all other sports, including the women’s soccer program, Boise State University announced today via news releases that the program has reversed course and will remain a member of the Mountain West Conference for all sports.

College Recap - Big Sky, WAC, MWC: Idaho State lone team to win conference tourney

While their state's other Division I compatriots, Idaho and Boise State, were knocked out of their conference tournaments in the WAC and MWC, Idaho State stayed true to it's top seed - despite a three-way tie for the title - in the Big Sky and came away with a league-high fifth championship to clinch a berth in the NCAA tournament, advancing via an outstanding goalkeeping performance by freshman Sheridan Hapsic in two penalty kick shootouts at home.

College Recap - WAC & MWC: Idaho and Boise State playoff bound

It came down to the final game in the WAC, but the Vandals snared the final berth in the conference tournament Sunday with a victory against New Mexico after a difficult loss Friday to one of the conference leaders. Seattle University, meanwhile, clinched their berth Friday before falling to the same Denver team on Sunday, entering the tournament with the fifth seed. Meanwhile in the MWC, San Diego State finished the conference campaign with a perfect 7-0-0 record with a victory while Boise State finished tied for second with New Mexico after a win over Nevada, but will be the third seed in the conference playoffs due to a loss to the Lobos during the season.

College Recap - MWC & WAC: Boise State playoff bound, Idaho near

It could be a good year for soccer in the state of Idaho. With Idaho State having won a share of the Big Sky tournament and Boise State heading to the Mountain West tournament (see below), the Idaho Vandals can make it three for three with a good set of results at home in their final weekend of the WAC. 

INW Collegiate Recap - MWC & WAC: Boise State wins two on the road; Vandals split

The two Idaho schools performed well, picking up wins in three of their four matches. Despite being on the road, Boise State crawled out of their winless hole to put themselves in the picture for the Mountain West playoffs in a wide open table. The Idaho Vandals, meanwhile, earned their first conference win against mid-table San Jose State before falling to league-leading Utah State in a pair of home contests.

INW Collegiate Recap: Idaho, Boise State fall in WAC & MWC play

Early into the conference campaign Utah State and Seattle are among the four unbeaten teams and sit atop the WAC table. The Idaho Vandals, however, are at the other end of things coming off a big loss in Seattle over the weekend, leaving them without a conference win through three games. Though the conference campaign is only two games in, Boise State finds itself at the bottom of the table along with Air Force, which has also lost both games. San Diego State, whom the Broncos nearly posted a positive result with this weekend, is the conferences only ranked side and at 11-1-1 overall shoulders above its peers, which include three other unbeaten in conference play.

Conference Play Preview – Mountain West Conference

The lone INW team, Boise State, kicks off the conference portion of their season September 28 on the road against New Mexico.  

Week 3 Collegiate INW Best XI – Women

For games through the Labor Day holiday September 3.

INWsoccernews.com WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK

M – Kasey Rubosky (Spokane, WA) – Gonzaga – Scored the two 1-0 game-winning goals in trip to Tennessee to play Austin Peay and Vanderbilt. In the opening game Friday against Austin Peay a long ball out of the back from a Cricket Harber free kick came to Emma Dolcetti, who headed back across the six to Rubusky in the ninth minute of the game. The team went on to outshoot the hosts 14-8. Rubosky got a little lucky for the second winner Sunday, scoring again in the first half by sending her shot off a Tori Lee free kick in off the back of a defender.

Montana finishes best at Boise State's Bronco Invitational

The University of Montana made it a sweep of Idaho sides at the Bronco Invitational in Boise, posting a 3-2 overtime victory against the University of Idaho Sunday in which the Grizzlies equalized twice after falling behind. In the other half of the Bronco Invitational, the Idaho State Bengals were unable to get a sweep of their two state rivals, falling 3-2 in overtime to the hosts.

MSU-Billings win over ranked side leads Montana & Idaho Friday INW college recap

Fifth career shutout for Hoon as Montana ends three-game losing streak | Photo: Gerald Barnhart

It was all good news on Friday for the state of Montana, starting with an upset victory over a nationally ranked school by MSU-Billings. The University of Montana picked up a road win over Bronco Invitational host Boise State as well and Rocky Mountain College's two teams swept with a pair of 2-1 wins against Trinity Lutheran. In a battle for state pride, Idaho State blanked Idaho.

Gonzaga takes two 2-1, downing Boise State and Seattle U Sunday

Gonzaga had plenty to celebrate despite a pair of tough matches | photos: Gerald Barnhart

In a pair of hard-fought, even contests the Gonzaga men’s and women’s soccer teams picked up a pair of wins Sunday afternoon at home by the same 2-1 scoreline via different but dramatic circumstances. The lady Zags topped Boise State in the opening contest with goals from Jessica Bennett and Heather Johnson while the men’s side rallied from an early deficit with back-to-back second half goals from Lars Ludwigs and Conner Bevans.

Conference moves continue; Boise State joins Big West

Hours before their match against Washington State, the Boise State Broncos soccer team was part of an announcement from the university stating that the majority of non-football sports are switching back to the Big West Conference beginning next year.

Boise's Saur bags three in Carroll's win; Idaho schools sweep

Gonzaga outshot Washington State, but it was the Cougars who were able to convert Sunday afternoon in Pullman as they posted a 3-0 victory to open their season. Goalkeeper Susan Brown was unable to beat Micaela Castain to the ball 15 yards out in the 24th minute, allowing the striker to put the ball past the attempted block of defender Morgan Manchester (Spokane Valley, WA). It was the only goal of the half as Kasey Rubosky (Spokane, WA) was able to make a sliding clearance off the goal-line early in the half after Jocelyn Jeffers had beaten Brown.

INW schools go four for five; Breen scores in Vandals loss

Opening weekend of the collegiate season in the Inland Northwest kicked off in earnest Friday with five official matches. Gonzaga, Boise State, Idaho State and Montana earned victories while the University of Idaho fell. Washington State got the better of Eastern Washington in an exhibition and Rocky Mountain College also earned an exhibition win.

Gonzaga Women announce 2012 schedule

Gonzaga University announced the 2012 schedule for the women’s soccer team, unveiling a slate that will see them play most of the region’s major universities in the preseason and six 2011 NCAA tournament participants in total.

After kicking off the season at home against the Summit League’s University of South Dakota (1-15-3 overall in 2011), the Bulldogs will play face Washington State, Idaho, Boise State, Washington , Seattle, Oregon State and Oregon along with a trip to Tennessee in the middle to play Austin Peay (9-8-1 overall) and Vanderbilt (8-11-0).

Idaho State wraps up spring slate with success

The Idaho State University Bengals traveled to Boise over the weekend for the final friendlies of the spring season.

They played to a pair of draws, getting a 1-1 result Saturday against a Washington State University program that finished fourth in the Pac-12 a year ago and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament. The following day they drew 2-2 with host Boise State despite holding a two-goal advantage with 20 minutes remaining.

Boise State busy hosts in April

The Broncos will play host to six games this spring. The ladies will kick things off April 14 against Northwest Nazarene and conclude the busy slate two weeks later with the Alumnae Game April 28.