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.

Gonzaga blanked by Montana and Washington in doubleheader

Montana and Washington picked up shutout wins in Spokane Friday (Photos: Gerald Barnhart)

It was a tough day at home for the Gonzaga soccer program as the women fell 2-0 to the visiting Montana Grizzlies in the afternoon contest and the cross-state foe Washington Huskies, ranked 4 and 6 in the national polls, rolled to a 4-0 victory in the second half of the doubleheader.

Megan Lindsay in Finland; Erin Craig headed to Sweden

Erin Craig and Megan Lindsay continuing their careers abroad (photos: Gerald Barnhart, Wilson Tsoi/GoalWA.net)

A pair of recent college graduates are embarking on summer seasons abroad. Spokane native Megan Lindsay departed over the weekend for her second year across the Atlantic, this time heading to Finland. In April, Great Falls native Erin Craig will be joining a club in Sweden for her first experience playing overseas.

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.

Gonzaga sweeps seven-a-side events; Central Washington women surprise

Gonzaga played host to schools from around the region | Photos: Gerald Barnhart - Galleries: Women -- Men

Gonzaga University Soccer played host to a pair of seven-a-side events over the weekend against teams from around the region. In the eight-team women’s event, Gonzaga came out on top for the third time in four years, reclaiming the crown after losing to Montana a year ago. On the men’s side, Gonzaga dominated in the three-school, six-team event – being held for just the second time after a year’s hiatus – with its two sides sweeping the competition for an all GU final.

Gonzaga Soccer hosts small-sided college tournaments this weekend

Schools from around the region once again will gather at Gonzaga University for spring events

Gonzaga Soccer plays host to a pair of small-sided tournaments this weekend with eight women's teams representing five schools playing in a seven-a-side event Saturday and six representing three schools in the men's five-a-side Sunday.

Chasing a challenge: Spokane’s Megan Lindsay discusses post-collegiate future

Megan Lindsay finished as one of SPU's all-time best scorers | photos: Wilson Tsoi / GoalWA.net

It is free agency week for the new pro National Women’s Soccer League and the league’s supplemental draft will quickly follow, but don’t expect Spokane native and Seattle Pacific University All-American standout striker Megan Lindsay to be among those signing on the dotted line. Despite a desire to play in the league, the city’s record high school scoring leader is looking for new adventures.

“I would be interested in play for any team in the NWSL, but my real hope is to play for a team overseas,” Lindsay, who recently wrapped up her collegiate career at Seattle Pacific. “I would especially love playing for the Seattle Reign and representing my amazing city, and I also was looking to play for the Boston Breakers, and even Chicago for a while.

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.

Montana roars past Eastern Washington 4-0

Wheeler (L) created the first of two scored by Craig (middle, R) | Photos: Gerald Barnhart

Erin Craig led a dominant performance from the Montana Grizzlies Friday afternoon as the visitors rolled to a 4-0 victory against the Eagles, who were playing their home finale for the season at Eastern Washington University.

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. 

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.

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.

Montana Grizzlies announce 2012 schedule

The University of Montana Grizzlies have quite a schedule ahead of them in the final third of the calendar year. The defending Big Sky playoff champions will see much of the western United States with eight non-conference games away from home to open the 2012 season. And similar to last year, the Grizzlies will finish with four regular season contests on the road.

In his first year as head coach for the University of Montana, Mark Plakorus used a difficult schedule to forge a team strong enough to win the Big Sky Conference playoff tournament in Colorado, earning a trip to the NCAA tournament, where they fell to top-ranked and eventual champion Stanford, 3-0. The Grizzlies, who finished up the slate with four of five on the road in 2011, shocked many with as the fourth and final seed – earned with one victory on the road in that final stretch – when they won consecutive shootout tiebreakers against both top seed Northern Colorado and Weber State after identical 1-1 draws in the tournament.

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.