Eastern & Central Washington teams reach 6 finals, win 3 titles at USCS Regionals

Two dozen teams from six clubs in the greater-Spokane region traveled to Seattle for the US Club Soccer Northwest Regional Tournament June 23-26 along with eight other entries from Central and Eastern Washington - a total of 32 teams. Half of the entries advanced from group play, highlighted by the Spokane Shadow coming home with three championships.

Overall, the Shadow finished with Vancouver United as the clubs with the second-most championships won. Redmond-based Washington Crossfire finished with four titles, leading a group of Puget Sound area clubs that won 12 in total. Northwest Nationals (Lynnwood) and Eastside FC (Bellevue) won two each with Washington Rush (Everett), Washington Premier (Puyallup), Seattle United and Whatcom FC (Bellingham) each winning one.

Vancouver United (WA) led the collection of Portland-area clubs, a region that spans to Eugene as well as over into Washington. In addition to Vancouver United’s three titles, fellow Vancouver-based teams Salmon Creek SC, Santos FC and Pacific FC won championships. FC Portland and Eugene Metro FC won championships representing Oregon.

The Shadow won three of the seven titles claimed outside of the I-5 corridor. The other four to win were the Idaho Thunder (Post Falls), Missoula Strikers (MT), La Roca FC (Kaysville, UT) and Cook Inlet SC (Anchorage, AK).

The good and bad news is the report I was planning to do on all the Inland Northwest teams from Washington ended up being quite lengthy. For those interested in a particular region, check out the three sections I split the round-up into via the following links.

REGIONAL RECAPS

Spokane Shadow send 16 teams; win three championships [+]
Three advance to playoff rounds from Spokane quintet [+]
Three clubs do well for Tri-Cities, Central Washington [+]

RELATED RECAPS

Five clubs find success for Idaho at USCS Regionals in Seattle [+]
Missoula Strikers, Magic City lead Montana contingent at USCS Regionals in Seattle [+]
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Shining brighter and further in Spokane

A few days before the home opener at Joe Albi Stadium, Head Coach Jason Quintero shared a positive view for the upcoming season for a Spokane Shine squad and club that continue to evolve. The team plays host to an unbeaten Issaquah SC side Friday evening at 7:05 pm ET.

“I know they have not been scored on, and I want to change that,” was the first thing Quintero said of the upcoming opponent. “They got some decent players, just looking at their roster and where those players have been - and what level they play at - I know they are going to have a decent team.

The first-year Issaquah club comes into the match with a 2-0-0 record with a 3-0 win over Eugene Metro FC and a 2-0 result against Portland Rain SC – both at home. This will be the team’s first trip away from home, giving Spokane the opportunity to perhaps take utilize a similar advantage their opponents had last week when they opened on the road themselves in Eugene and Bend versus the same Metro FC side as well as the Oregon Rush. 

Timbers U-23s add Spokane’s Hamer

Gonzaga University sophomore Nick Hamer is looking to get a jump start on a professional career, joining the USL Premier Development League side Portland Timbers U-23s on Friday. The Mead High School product saw immediate action with the development side of the MLS club.

Hamer started all 15 matches last season for Gonzaga, recording two goals and two assists. As a freshman, he was named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team after being one of only two Bulldog players to start all 19 matches.

Whitworth Soccer Classic set for June 9-10; Women’s Open Division added

The Whitworth University soccer program announced that it is holding its second annual 8v8 soccer tournament June 9-10 on the school’s campus. It was also announced that a Women’s Open Division was added to the event.

Registration is open until May 26. The entry fee is $300 per team. The link to register via the school’s site is available via the tournament site.  

The tournament will feature group play on Saturday, June 9 to determine seeding for the knockout stage on Sunday. Each team is guaranteed four games.

Whitecaps Women add second Spokane product

The Vancouver Whitecaps announced Spokane native Marissa Mykines as one of its four newest additions to the roster for 2012. The Mead High School product joins fellow Spokane Shadow alum Alison Fenter (Shadle Park HS) on the squad.

Whitecaps Women add two more WSU Cougars

The Vancouver Whitecaps W-League side announced that the club has brought in two more players from Washington State University, adding Alison Fenter, a native of Spokane, and Brandi Vega. They join second-year W-League player Nicole Sunderland.

Montana wins Gonzaga 7-v-7 tournament in penalties

Photo Galleries:  GU-v-Idaho-White  -  CWU-v-Idaho-Black  -  WallaWalla-Gold-v-Montana-Maroon  -  EWU-v-Montana-White

The University of Montana and tournament host Gonzaga University women’s soccer programs dominated the weekend’s 7-v-7 event held Saturday on the GU campus. Montana would prevail in the championship game, 4-3 in a penalty kick tiebreaker, after a 3-3 draw against the defending two-time champion Zags, wrapping up the 12-team competition.

The tournament featured teams from Central Washington University (and CWU alumni), Eastern Washington University, the University of Idaho (2), the University of Montana (2), Spokane Community College and Walla Walla University (2) along with the host and their alumni team. The stronger programs were in Groups A and B with the top five (one wild card) and the winner of Group C advancing to the knockout phase.

Northwest women’s soccer comes to Gonzaga Saturday

The Gonzaga University women’s soccer program hosts its third-annual 7-v-7 Tournament Saturday on campus, bringing together a number of schools from the region in the 12-team competition. Joining the Gonzaga and GU alumni teams at the tournament will be teams from Central Washington University (and CWU alumni), Eastern Washington University, the University of Idaho (2), the University of Montana (2), Spokane Community College and Walla Walla University (2).

The tournament splits the various squads into three groups of four, playing 40-minute matches on the stadium field (split in two) and the adjacent practice field. The action kicks off first thing in the morning at 9 am with schools from three different states in action as Gonzaga faces the Maroon Montana Grizzlies, the Black Idaho Vandals play the Eastern Eagles and an all-Washington showdown of Spokane CC and Walla Walla.

Gonzaga blanks Seattle University 2-0

Photo Gallery [+]

A cool little rain gave way early Sunday morning on the campus of Gonzaga University for the women’s side to play its second spring friendly in as many days, downing visiting Seattle University with a pair of goals in the first of the three-period contest.

The Redhawks, who fell 5-0 Friday evening against the W-League Seattle Sounders Women featuring five US National Team players, had the initial pressure in the first four minutes of the contest with Gonzaga coming back at them for the next few minutes. The game then settled into a fairly even back-and-forth flow for the rest of the way.

Gonzaga edges EWU in spring friendly

Photo Gallery [+]

On a cool Saturday morning, Gonzaga University and nearby Eastern Washington University squared off in a spring season women’s soccer exhibition that finished 1-0 in favor of the hosts in downtown Spokane. Though the match was a friendly, the competition was quite physical as both sides showed they meant business in preparing for the fall.

The three-period contest was dominated, for the most part, by Gonzaga, who limited Eastern’s opportunities to score to very few. Meanwhile, the Zags were regularly in the offensive third but could not find the finishing to make the score reflect the chances on goal.

Gonzaga had plenty of attack early with back to back chances in the ninth minute come close and the ensuing corner sent over the goal. Two minutes later midfielder Kasey Rubosky sent a nice ball from the left behind the defense to Kenzie Lubeck, creating a one-on-one with the keeper. Lubeck, however, would be stuffed by the charging netminder, who made several nice stops in the contest.

MAJOR SPOKANE MERGER: Shadow and SSC to merge

 The Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club and Spokane Soccer Club (SSC) Elite Youth Soccer Club announced Friday their intention to merge into a new club known as Spokane Soccer Club Shadow. Both Shadow Technical Director Sean Bushey and SSC Elite Director of Coaching Abbas Faridnia will remain in similar positions within the new club.

“Our Spokane soccer players deserve to compete against the very best our state, region and, eventually, our nation has to offer,” said Shadow Technical Director Sean Bushéy in an announcement released by both clubs. “We cannot do that if we do not find ways to work together. Our clubs have found a way!” 

"While others have chosen to blaze a path for a few coaches, we have chosen to bring two clubs together because we know it is best for players at all levels, coaches and the community as a whole." added SSC Elite Director of Coaching Abbas Faridnia. "Our competition lies at a higher level.  Our players deserve this chance to represent Spokane and the outlying cities from which they reside, including north Idaho, Pullman and Moses Lake.”

More on this story coming soon...

Seattle U’s INW trio face Sounders Women Friday

The Seattle Sounders Women continue their preseason slate Friday evening at the Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila, Wash. with a friendly versus local Seattle University, which features three Inland Northwest players from Boise, Pasco and Spokane.

Junior M/F Carlee Norquist (Boise, Idaho), sophomore M/F Shawna Anderson (Pasco, Wash.) and redshirt sophomore midfielder Ashley Fritts (Spokane, Wash.) will be going up against the W-League team featuring five US Women’s National Team players.

The match-up will create a Tri-Cities showdown between Anderson and Richland native Hope Solo, the star goalkeeper from the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Solo faced only a few challenges in their opening friendly versus Seattle Pacific University, leaving late in the contest with a shutout performance and three saves.

Solo and Sounders Women soar in win over SPU Falcons

The Seattle Sounders Women got off to the new-look start in fine fashion with a 5-0 victory over Seattle Pacific University in a preseason friendly. It was the first action with four of the team's five US Women's National Team stars in the lineup, including Richland native Hope Solo, who posted 83 shutout minutes before being switched out.

Spokane native Megan Lindsay had very limited opportunities on the night as the Sounders dominated possession. The Gonzaga Prep grad in the first half had a shot on goal and set up another in two of the very few moments that Solo was challenged.

Kennewick's Rodriguez returns to Spokane Shine

The Spokane Shine announced the return of Kennewick, Wash. native Julissa Rodriguez for the 2012 Women’s Premier Soccer League campaign, joining fellow New Mexico Highland University teammate Alyssa Saucedo on the roster.

The Cowgirls senior striker concluded her collegiate career in fine fashion last fall being named to her third NCAA Division II All-America team and receiving her second consecutive Division II Central Region Player of the Year award. The RMAC Pre-Season Player of the Year did not disappoint during the 2011 campaign with 16 goals and a total of 40 points, finishing as NMHU's all-time leading scorer with 32 goals in just two years.

“Julissa will be staying in Spokane versus trying to commute from the Tri-Cites as she did last summer,” said Spokane Shine Head Coach Jason Quintero. “She is in form and really enjoying her soccer which could be huge for us.”  

Spokane’s Megan Lindsay to test Richland’s Hope Solo Monday in first friendly for Sounders Women, US National Team stars

Lindsay in action for Seattle Pacific University (photo: SPU)

It is only a friendly Monday evening, but Spokane native Megan Lindsay (Gonzaga Prep High School) will lead Seattle Pacific University against the Seattle Sounders Women in an exhibition at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash. The game is the first of the university’s spring campaign and will be the first match for the new-look Sounders Women, who have signed five US Women’s National Team players for the 2012 campaign.

The striker is one of four juniors on the squad that will be called upon face the Sounders, pitting her up against Richland native Hope Solo, the starting goalkeeper for the Olympic-bound US National Team and star from last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

"I'm really excited to test Hope Solo and see how she is in person,” said Lindsay about the upcoming contest. “She did really awesome in the World Cup, making fantastic saves. There are balls that she gets to that most goalkeepers wouldn't even think of diving for, and she saves them. She's super-good at PKs. I'm actually in awe of how great of a goalkeeper she is.”

Spring soccer well under way for Vandals

The University of Idaho Women are off to a busy start to a spring campaign that features five friendlies against regional colleges and wraps up with the Gonzaga Tournament April 21.

Players honored at Gonzaga Women’s banquet

In addition to honoring the team’s departing seniors, Gonzaga University recognized several players on the team for their contributions in 2011, including Spokane Valley junior Morgan Manchester and Boise freshman Katey Pennington.