Whitworth men sail past Willamette, put title repeat in reach

The senior Pirates did a lot of celebrating Sunday, starting from the pre-game ceremony where they were recognized for their time with the program - which boasts the best four-year win percentage in program history - and continuing into the match versus Willamette, a dominant 6-1 victory.

Muelheims guides Whitworth to big weekend sweep

Full INWsn match gallery [+] 

Two weeks ago, the perfect Pirates of Whitworth were handed their first blemish of the season on the road by George Fox with a 1-1 draw. They finished the first half of the Northwest Conference campaign 6-0-1 a week later. On Saturday they opened the second half of their league slate against the Bruins and made a huge statement with a thoroughly dominant performance that finished in a 6-0 scoreline. On Sunday they followed it up with a 3-0 win. Oh, and Karl Muelheims netted a hat-trick in both matches.

Whitworth men down local foe Whitman 2-0, conclude first half of campaign nearly perfect

Full gallery INWsn match photos [+] 

The Whitworth men finished the first half of their conference slate with a convincing victory against nearby rival Whitman Saturday afternoon, getting a 2-0 victory against the Missionaries in a game in which the Pirates controlled the possession by a vast margin and the visitors were allowed very few chances.

Whitworth women fall 1-0 to Puget Sound

Full INWsn photo gallery [+]

After a three-game win streak to move atop the Northwest Conference table, the Whitworth women dropped their second straight game by a 1-0 score Saturday against visiting Puget Sound.

Whitworth men top Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran to lead NWC

Full INWsn photo galleries  -  Saturday :: Sunday

In the midst of the early stages of the conference campaign, the Whitworth men faced a tough weekend at home playing host to the two other sides in the Northwest Conference that were also 2-0-0 after the first week of play. The Pirates dominated the contest Saturday in a 2-0 victory over Puget Sound and then blanked Pacific Lutheran in a tight 1-0 match Sunday against the Lutes, who were picked to finish second behind the Bucs by the conference coaches.

Whitman edges rival Whitworth 1-0 in NWC women's opener

Full INWsn photo gallery [+]

In a match where each side had the better of play for a half, it was the visiting Missionaries that were able to break the stalemate, tallying their first goal of the campaign via a Danielle Wieck penalty to record their first positive result of the season as the Northwest Conference opened play in the women's league Wednesday.

Whitworth women open with win under spotlight

Tiara Pajimola and Megan McCart tallied in Pirates' win  |  More photos coming soon 

Taking the field amidst controversy for their season opener, the Whitworth women put forth an outstanding effort against visiting Carleton College for a 2-0 victory that brought, at least momentarily, some smiles to the players on the squad as five of their friends and teammates were absent for a suspension handed down for a racially-insensitive incident that occurred earlier in the week and has brought unprecedented attention to the women's soccer program.

With the roster shaken up and three true freshman in the starting lineup, the Pirates came out and shut down a Knights squad that was 7-1-3 (11-4-4 overall) a year ago and was selected to finish second in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's preseason coaches poll. In a game that was primarily a midfield battle, the Whitworth defense allowed just one shot on goal that Andrea Stump needed to save.

Gonzaga, Whitworth men prepare for season with exhibition

Coming off their Division III Northwest Conference title last fall, the Whitworth Pirates scheduled a tough preseason exhibition against the DI Gonzaga Bulldogs. Gonzaga used a goal in the first few minutes of the match and a clincher with six minutes remaining to nab a 2-0 win Tuesday.

The exhibition test was also a big one for Gonzaga, which opens the season Friday with arguably their biggest test of the year as they travel to face 10th-ranked Washington.

"It can't start any higher than that; and they are gonna be loaded. They are a good team, and we have our hands full, obviously," Gonzaga head coach Einar Thorarinsson. "Our guys will be ready. They have been waiting for that game."

Back in Blue: 13 players set for Shadow return as others move on

Adam Talley (center) is back for the Shadow attack  -  Training Gallery [+]

The Spokane Shadow kicked off preseason training last week and have chosen a base group of 13 returning players to build off of for the 2015 Evergreen Premier League season. The reigning champions have lined up a number of returning players from local Whitworth University in addition to a handful of recent high school graduates returning from their first year of college.

Spokane's Ramos chosen by Toronto FC in MLS SuperDraft

Spokane native Mike Ramos capped a fantastic year in which he led the Spokane Shadow to the Evergreen Premier League title and Whitworth University to the Northwest Conference championship with his selection Tuesday in the third round of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

The striker was taken 50th overall, eighth in the third round, by Toronto FC in the four-round even that began with the first two rounds held at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia last Thursday and finished with the second half via teleconference call. Looking for talent up top, Ramos was the first of three strikers the club chose on the day. In the first two rounds they chose a goalkeeper, three defenders and another forward.

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.

INW DII-III College Recap – Week Nine: Whitworth men reclaim control; Central Washington stuns Vikings

Among the Division II action this week in the GNAC, the Central Washington and MSU-Billings women were unbeaten on the road with the Wildcats posting the biggest result, ending ranked Western Washington's amazing home win streak with a draw. Amidst the Division III Northwest Conference was Whitworth's pair of dramatic home wins in overtime that kept them in the heated three-way race for the league title.

Here is a rundown of the area schools and their conferences as well as how players from the Inland Northwest performed around the nation in the past week.

Wednesday Recap: Hosts unbeaten in Spokane vs Walla Walla x 3

Wednesday saw a tripleheader of Walla Walla visiting Spokane with the ladies of Whitman College facing Whitworth University followed by the CC Spokane ladies and men playing host to longtime rival Walla Walla CC. The Pirates grabbed a late 1-0 victory over the Missionaries early in the afternoon while the Bigfoot women downed the Warriors 2-0 to kick off the evening at The Falls with the Sasquatch men playing to a 2-2 draw in a battle for potential playoff position.

Women register upset as Whitworth splits versus Puget Sound

Tiara Pajimola scored for the ladies, but Sam Engle was unable to do the same for the men

It was a role reversal Sunday afternoon at Whitworth with the Lady Pirates claiming a victory, 1-0 over unbeaten Puget Sound, while the unbeaten Bucs fell 2-0 in their men's showdown of Northwest Conference contenders against the Loggers. Tiara Pajimola was the lone goal scorer for the hosts on the day.

Whitworth winless in home doubleheader Saturday with women's loss, men's draw

Whitworth came up short at home Saturday against the visitors | Photos: Gerald Barnhart

It was a tough home day Saturday for the Whitworth Pirates as both sides held the better of the play only to come out winless. First the ladies were unable to find an equalizer to overcome a one-goal deficit against Lewis & Clark. Then the men were unable to hold onto their one-goal advantage in a game they thoroughly dominated against Linfield.

Another comeback performance leads Whitworth over Corban

The Pirates prevailed in their third comeback performance in the last four games | Photos: Gerald Barnhart

In a preseason contest against the reigning Cascade Collegiate Conference (NAIA) champion Corban University, the Whitworth men were trailing after the first half but rallied to pull even in the second and found a fantastic winner in overtime for the 2-1 victory to remain perfect on the year at 4-0-0.

Rylan Berriman's upper corner strike from about 20 yards on a run across the top of the area was a thing of beauty in the seventh minute of extra time, capping a nice series of play from the Pirates, who were continually peppering Corban with shots narrowly off the mark for the latter part of the game.

Visiting non-league opponents sweep Whitworth, Whitman women Saturday

Visitors come out on top in series of tight encounters (Photos: Gerald Barnhart)

In the second day of hosting the College of St Benedict and UC Santa Cruz, host Whitworth and league compatriot Whitman each came up one goal short on Saturday, respectively. The CSB Blazers edged the Pirates 1-0 on a second half goal and the Banana Slugs rallied from an early deficit to top the short-handed Missionaries 2-1.

Pirates prevail 2-0 as Whitworth, Whitman men close out NWC campaigns

Saturday was about more than the final score for the regional foes | Photos: Gerald Barnhart 

Local foes Whitworth and Whitman met Saturday afternoon in Spokane with the host Pirates coming away 2-0 victors on goals from Matt Bray and Will Wren. It was the Northwest Conference finale for the two programs, though, first-year Whitworth coach Morgan Cathey is hopeful the team has an outside shot of being selected as an at-large representative of the NWC in the Division III NCAA Tournament with their 17-3-3 overall record and 10-2-2 conference campaign.

"I think, hopefully, we still have a chance on Monday," said Whitworth head coach Morgan Cathey. "Being fourth in the region I think we'll have to see what happens with the at-large bid. I don't know if we are in a place right now over UT-Dallas, but I think our guys thoroughly deserve to be considered in the NCAA tournament talk. I think we haven't lost in seven or eight games."

Whitworth women snare 1-0 win in home finale; Wren leads men to 3-0 win

The Whitworth men will celebrate Senior Day next Saturday vs regional foe Whitman | Photos: Gerald Barnhart

The Whitworth women closed out their home slate with their eighth conference play shutout performance and claimed the victory against visiting Lewis & Clark on a late goal from Jackie Day, and the Pirate men had yet another easy go of it as they blanked Linfield 3-0 in a game in which reserves saw plenty of action and defender Will Wren tallied a brace playing up top.

Whitworth and Willamette play to a pair of draws

The Pirates play at home again Sunday on what will be Senior Day for the ladies | Photos: Gerald Barnhart

Finding goals was a difficult task Saturday at Whitworth as the Pirate ladies finished in a scoreless draw, their third in four games, against visiting Willamette and the men rallied for a 1-1 draw against the Bearcats, eliminating them from contention for the conference title that went to the University of Puget Sound with the day's results.