BIG SKY: Montana edges Eastern Washington to finish unbeaten; Idaho State advances to playoffs

The Big Sky Tournament is set, and kicks off Thursday in Missoula - Details below

The Grizzlies were looking to finish an unbeaten season in the Big Sky and Eastern Washington was playing for postseason positioning in a contest that could have gone either way a week ahead of the Big Sky Conference tournament. In the end, a second half goal for Montana proved to be the difference as the Grizzlies prevailed 1-0 in Cheney.

INW 2013 College Preview - Big Sky Conference at a Glance

INWsoccernews rounds out its series of conference previews with the Big Sky Conference, which currently features three teams in the region and is kicking off conference play this weekend. A year ago, the conference was a wide-open race with plenty of parity. Judging by the preseason conference poll, the coaches expect that to be the case again.

Gore and Ellsworth lead debut Best XI for first week of college play

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.

With a limited number of games on the men’s side, the list for the first week (plus a little more) is combined for men and women.

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.

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.

MSUB reaches GNAC Final; Montana, Idaho State to meet for Big Sky title

Shot from Richter (left) led to MSU-Billings winner from Mancilla (right) in GNAC semifinal

Montana State University-Billings upset second-seeded Seattle Pacific in the semifinals of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Thursday evening while Idaho State and Montana advanced from their respective semifinals Friday afternoon.

College Recap - Big Sky: Idaho State, Montana share title with Portland State

Idaho State and Montana advanced to Big Sky tournament, could face each other for title | Photos: Gerald Barnhart

The conference campaign wrapped up with two of the three INW teams, Idaho State and Montana, earning a share of the Big Sky Conference regular season championship along with Portland State at 6-2-1. The Bengals of ISU, picked to finish seventh in the preseason coaches poll, finished atop the tiebreaker scenarios to earn the right to host the postseason tournament in Pocatello November 2-4.

Weber State finished fourth to round out the field, holding off contender Northern Colorado with a draw in their head-to-head showdown for the final spot Saturday.

IT'S OFFICIAL: Idaho Vandal soccer headed to Big Sky in 2014-15

In an announcement that has been expected for a few months, the University of Idaho confirmed Friday that it has officially accepted an invitation from and will join the Big Sky Conference for non-football athletics, beginning with the 2014-15 season.

INW Collegiate Recap: Eastern Washington, Montana in hunt in wide open conference

A rough weekend on the road for Northern Colorado, who narrowly fell in Montana and finished scoreless at Eastern Washington, opened the door for Portland State and Sacramento State, who each posted a big win and a scoreless draw on the road to create a group of three at the top of the conference table with one loss on the season. The conference, though, is still wide open as Northern Arizona still only has one loss, and four others have only suffered two defeats. 

Eastern Washington rebounds for 2-1 win against Idaho State

Bengals celebrate record-setting goal, but Black's strike proved to be the winner | Photos: Gerald Barnhart (gallery)

In a showdown of two teams coming off close-fought, but disappointing results in their Big Sky Conference openers Friday, Eastern Washington University bounced back well in the game and on the weekend with a come-from-behind victory against visiting Idaho State University. A goal and assist from Cassie Black cancelled out a Bengal lead on a strike from Amanda Ellsworth less than a minute in.

Conference Play Preview - Big Sky Conference

INW teams Montana, Idaho State and Eastern Washington head into conference play Sept 21 with the Grizzlies and Bengals squaring off in the opener and the Eagles playing host to Weber State. Two days later Idaho State visits EWU and Montana hosts Weber State.

Around the Rankings

A number of Inland Northwest teams highlight the national rankings for the various collegiate divisions. Here is a look around at the three main polls/rankings from the NSCAA, Soccer America and Top Drawer Soccer, which incorporates its projection of the tournament fields into its ranking.

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.

INW Best XI for Week 2 - Women

INW WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK

F - Rachel Strawn – Idaho State – The senior striker scored more goals in a 4-0 victory against Minot State giver her five on the season after coming into the campaign with six total in her first three years with the Bengals. The Utah native scored the opening, and game-winning, goal 12 minutes into the match and put the game out of reach with her second in the 64th to increase the lead to three.

Idaho State, Corban to stream soccer online

Soccer fans around the Northwest will be able to watch more soccer online per a pair of announcements from Idaho State University (Big Sky Conference) and Corban University (Cascade Collegiate Conference). Both schools will be streaming matches online free to the public.

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.

Idaho Vandals announce 2012 schedule

The University of Idaho will start both schedules this fall on the road in Texas. They kick off the overall campaign with a showdown with Texas Tech and later in the slate kick off their Western Athletic Conference schedule on the road with a two-match trip to play Texas State and the University of Texas-San Antonio.

Texas Tech is coming off one of its most successful seasons in the history of the program, finishing fourth in the powerhouse Big 12 Conference. The match against the Vandals is also the Red Raiders' season-opening contest, and is arguably one of the lighter matches on a schedule that includes nine teams that reached the 2011 NCAA tournament. The game is part of a two-match homestand that concludes with reigning Mountain West regular season and tournament champion New Mexico.

WAC semifinalists a year ago, the Vandals will play three home contests against South Dakota, Gonzaga and North Dakota State after returning home and will face local Big Sky Conference schools Idaho State and Montana at the Boise State University tournament.

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.