Area soccer notebook: Washington State ranked No. 9, highest in program history

Washington State’s women continue to impress.

For the first time in program history, the ninth-ranked Cougars (8-0, 1-0 Pac-12) have cracked the top 10 of the NCAA coaches’ poll.

WSU, one of two NCAA Division I teams unbeaten and untied, hosts Oregon (7-1-0, 1-0-0) in a 7 p.m. conference match today at Lower Soccer Field.

WSU’s Maddy Haro has averaged one assist per game, tops in the nation. Morgan Weaver ranks sixth all time in program history in career goals (21), and is tied for fourth in Pac-12 scoring this season.

The surging Cougars, who beat then-No. 8 UCLA 1-0 on Friday, have been versatile in their scoring, too. Nine players have accounted for the team’s 19 goals.

The WSU women also swept this week’s Pac-12 awards.

Weaver earned the offensive player of the week after scoring the deciding goal in the win over UCLA. The goal came in the 61st minute.

Sophomore Aaqila McLyn was the defensive player of the week after coming up with a key play and assist in the UCLA win.

Rachel Thompson was named the goalie of the week after tallying a career-high nine saves in the shutout of the Bruins.

Idaho’s Daley, Presgrave honored

The Idaho women (5-5-1, 2-0) are off to a nice start in Big Sky Conference play, and two Vandals were honored this week.

Bridget Daley earned the Big Sky Conference’s offensive player of the week honors after scoring a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Portland State last week.

Makayla Presgrave, a goalie, was key in the Vandals’ shutout of Portland State and 2-0 blanking of Sacramento State, combining for five saves.

Idaho continues conference play Friday at Northern Colorado.

EWU women hit the road

Defending Big Sky Conference champion Eastern Washington (5-4-2, 1-0) takes its first conference road trip of the season this weekend at Montana and Northern Colorado.

The Eagles, who face the Grizzlies on Friday and the Bears on Sunday, lead the conference in shots (176).

Jenny Chavez and Brooke Dunbar lead the Eagles with two goals each. Goalie Kelsee Winston (37 saves) leads the conference in save percentage (.860).

Gonzaga women open WCC play

The Bulldogs, who posted a 5-2-2 record in nonconference play, begin their West Coast Conference slate today at BYU (5-3-1) at 6 p.m.

India Jencks leads the Bulldogs with four goals. Goalie Isabel Jones has not allowed a goal in the past three games.

The Gonzaga men (2-6-2) open WCC play Oct. 6 at Portland.

Whitworth men honored by NWC

Whitworth’s Drew Williams and Jesus Nunez were named the Northwest Conference’s offensive and defensive player of the week.

Williams had three goals in two games last weekend for the Pirates (4-4-2, 3-0-1 NWL), who are off to a hot start in league play. Nunez had nine saves and allowed just one goal.

Whitworth men and women continue conference play Saturday at Willamette.

The Whitworth women (5-1-2, 3-0-1) have also yet to lose in conference play. Coby Yoshimura leads the Pirates with two goals and an assist.

NIC men clip Spokane in rivalry match; women tie

North Idaho’s Connor Wold scored a goal in the 85th minute Wednesday at Spokane Community College and the Cardinals clipped Community Colleges of Spokane 1-0 in the Northwest Athletic Conference East Region rivalry match.

NIC (2-7-1, 1-3-1) snapped a three-game losing streak while defeating seventh-ranked CCS (5-5-0, 4-1-0).

In the women’s match, league-leading CCS (7-2-2, 5-0-1) and North Idaho (4-3-3, 4-1-1) finished in a scoreless tie.