CC Spokane wins home opener versus Highline

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The Sasquatch ladies continued their outstanding start in non-league play by moving to 3-0-1 with a dominant performance against 2014 quarterfinalist Highline at Spokane Falls CC Tuesday afternoon in a 3-1 victory.

Eastern tops Big Sky foe Idaho in non-league game

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A pair of programs continuing to grow in their second year under new coaches met up Monday in their last non-conference match-up scheduled prior to Idaho re-joining the Big Sky Conference. In a back-and-forth affair, Eastern Washington picked up a 2-1 victory at home thanks to a goal and assist from Chloe Williams in a one-minute span in the first half.

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 women top Roadrunners 3-1

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The Gonzaga women rebounded from a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime loss Friday with a quality performance in a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon against visiting CSU-Bakersfield. Karley Baggerly helped lead the way with a goal and assist.

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."

EPLWA Round-Up - July 17

Brady Ulen celebrates Shadow winner versus Wenatchee

Down to two.

The week started early with league-leading South Sound showing they were not going to just lay down for the Shadow, who had grabbed control in the title race the previous weekend. The Shock downed Vancouver Wednesday in a game that narrowed the title contenders realistically down to two sides. The weekend action, though, featured some surprise outcomes, the most notable being South Sound dropping points against Bellingham, which was previously pointless.

The week's results leave just South Sound and Spokane in contention for the title. The defending champion Shadow, trailing currently by two, only need five points from their final three games, two of which are on the road this week. The Shock, meanwhile, are idle in league play this week before wrapping things up at Wenatchee.

EPLWA Round-Up - July 11

Extreme temperatures added to a huge week as the league's title race began to truly heat up with some big match-ups between some of the contenders. In the end, Vancouver's struggles continued as they dropped matches to both South Sound and Spokane, which posted a six-point weekend while on the road to take control in the title race courtesy of having games in hand.

Meanwhile, things are getting interesting for the rest of the pack as four teams are now separated by five points in the race to finish fourth going into the final two weeks of play.