Conference Play Preview – Cascade Collegiate Conference - NAIA

The College of Idaho is the lone INW team in the CCC for men while C of I’s women’s program is joined by Eastern Oregon. The Coyotes men’s team kicks off the Cascade campaign Friday on the road against Evergreen in Olympia, Wash. followed by their second match against Northwest University in nearby Kirkland Saturday. 

The Lady Yotes begin their conference slate on the road September 28 against Northwest Christian in Eugene, Ore. followed by a visit to Salem to play Corban the next day.

Frontier’s Montana duo dominate in Red Lion Challenge

Delgadillo thrilled again for Argos; Gore scored Rocky Mountain season opener | photos: Gerald Barnhart

On the second night of the Red Lion Challenge action at the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex in Spokane, Wash., it was all Montana as the Frontier Conference’s Rocky Mountain College and University of Great Falls dominated in victories against the Cascade Collegiate Conference’s Northwest Christian, 4-0, and Warner Pacific, 3-1, in a double header.

Great Falls edges gritty Northwest Christian in Red Lion Challenge opener

Northwest Christian nearly stunned nationally-ranked Great Falls | Photos: Gerald Barnhart (full gallery)

Northwest Christian University (Salem, Ore.) was picked to finished last in their eight-team Cascade Collegiate Conference preseason poll, but don’t tell that to nationally ranked University of Great Falls, who were stymied much of the night at the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex in Spokane, Wash. before claiming a 1-0 victory.

Ironically, in a second half in which they dominated possession, it was a counter that provided the lone goal for the side from Montana as Manuel Espinoza played a ball out of midfield that caught the defense out of position and allowed Danny Delgadillo to beat one remaining defender and the keeper before putting the ball into the empty net in the 54th minute.

Soccer kicks off Red Lion Challenge in Spokane Thursday

Dwight Merkel Sports Complex hosts Red Lion Challenge soccer events Aug 23-25, Sept 7-8

The Cascade Collegiate Conference and Frontier Conference of the NAIA begin the men’s soccer element of their four-sport Red Lion Challenge Thursday evening in Spokane at the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex.

The debut of the event will feature the CCC’s Northwest Christian University (Eugene, OR) playing Frontier’s 21st-ranked University of Great Falls (MT) at 5:00 pm PT. It continues Friday with a doubleheader that starts at 5:00 pm with NCU playing Rocky Mountain College (Billings, MT) followed by UGF facing Warner Pacific College (Portland). The event wraps up Saturday with WPC versus RMC at 5:00 pm.