‘Yote Notes – Oct. 14, 2004

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

 

FOOTBALL INFORMATION:

QUESTIONS FROM THE FOOTBALL TASK FORCE: As many of you know, Albertson College is exploring the idea of whether a football team would be a good fit at the institution.  The Board of Trustees have entrusted a task force, made up of board members, alumni, students, faculty, and staff to report to the Board findings on this topic.  So far, the task force has visited Carroll College in Montana and this weekend, Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, to learn about their football programs, their budgets, and how important their teams are to their respective institutions and communities.

The task force would also like to have you answer a pair of questions – with the results appearing in a future ‘Yote Notes. 

  1. Do you support the idea of Albertson College having an intercollegiate football team?
  2. If a football team was announced, would you contribute to the start-up costs of the program?

Please email Mike Safford at msafford@collegeofidaho.edu your answers and feedback – the task force thanks you!!!

BASKETBALL:

SEASON TICKETS: Albertson College basketball season ticket brochures were mailed out this week in preparation for the 2004-05 season.  This season will offer plenty of options, as 28 games - including all nine Cascade Conference doubleheaders, the Golden Rule Shoot-Out, and the Lady 'Yote Classic are a part of the package. Reserved season tickets are $85 dollars per seat, while multiple plans are available for general admission season tickets.  Adult GA's are $65, student and senior GA's are $45, while a family (two adults, unlimited kids) can have a GA season pass for $150.  For more information or to become a Coyote season ticket holder, contact Dave Hahn at 459-5835.

PREVIEWS: Previews of the 2004-05 men’s and women’s basketball teams will be found in next week’s edition of ‘Yote Notes.

MEN’S SOCCER (8-2-1, 5-2-1 CCC): ‘Yotes playoff hopes rest with weekend matches against Concordia and Cascade

 

LAST WEEK: vs. Western Baptist (W 4-2), vs. Warner Pacific (T 2-2)

 

COMING UP: vs. Concordia, Friday, 3:30 p.m.; vs. Cascade, Saturday, 1 p.m.

 

WIN STREAK STILL ALIVE, SORT OF: As two key Cascade Conference matches and the final regular-season home games for the Coyotes loom this weekend, the Albertson men’s soccer team still hold a winning streak, sort of.  The ‘Yotes extended their win streak to six-straight with a 4-2 win over Western Baptist on Friday, then tied Warner Pacific, 2-2, on Saturday.  So although the “winning” streak has come to an end, the ‘Yotes now hold the longest “unbeaten” streak in the league at seven in a row.

 

NUMBER THREE IN THE REGIONAL POLL: With a 1-0-1 week, the Coyotes dropped to  No. 3 in the latest NAIA Region I poll.  Continuing to lead the region is Simon Fraser, who is ranked No. 10 in the national poll.  Evergreen, which swept convincing matches from Concordia and Cascade, leapfrogged both Albertson and Concordia into the No. 2 spot, with CU and Warner Pacific rounding out the top-five.

 

JUST OUTSIDE THE NAIA POLL: By virtue of moving into the No. 3 spot in the region, the ‘Yotes did not receive votes for the third-straight week in the NAIA national poll.  Albertson had remained at No. 30 in the NAIA with seven votes each of the last two weeks.  They received eight votes in the preseason poll (No. 31) and 17 votes during the first polling period (No. 27), but have not been ranked in the Top-25 since the 2002 season.  The Coyotes have earned a Top-25 ranking on five occasions in school history, cracking the poll at the end of the 2000 season (No. 25), doing the same in 2001 (No. 23), and on three occasions during the 2002 season (highest being No. 15).

 

A TIE?: The margin for error for the Coyotes to advance to the NAIA Region I playoffs became narrower over the weekend, as Albertson played Warner Pacific to a 2-2 draw at the Symms Field pitch.  A lackluster first half saw the visitors score two goals in a two minute stretch late in the period to take a 2-0 lead into the break.  They nearly made it 3-0 in the 61st minute, but Ryan Huber (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) snuffed out a Knight penalty kick – and it energized the ‘Yotes.  Albertson cut the lead in half on a Scott Fuller (Boise, Idaho / Cal State-Fullerton) free kick that he drilled into the Upper V, then tied it on a Shane Carmody (Boise, Idaho / Timberline HS) goal off a Michael Delgado (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) touch.  Both teams had chances in extra time, but could not find the net.

 

TIES AND THE ‘YOTES: The tie against Warner Pacific was the first time in over five years that the Coyotes have played to a draw.  It was Sept. 25, 1999, a 1-1 deadlock against Cal Baptist at the Les Schwab Invitational in Nampa, when the ‘Yotes last tied an opponent.  In 339 games in program history, last Saturday’s draw was just the 17th during the 21-year stretch.

 

RALLY CAPS ON AGAINST WESTERN: Playing well at the start of a match has eluded the ‘Yotes lately, as Albertson again had to rally for a win against Western Baptist.  After the Warriors took a 2-1 second half lead, the Coyotes scored three goals in a 13-minute stretch, including a Brad Brooks (Meridian, Idaho / Meridian HS) game-winner, his second of the season.  The win over Western was the first regular-season win against the Warriors since 2002.

 

BIG JAY, THE WARRIOR KILLER: With two goals against Western Baptist, it is safe to say that Jason Southward (Hailey, Idaho / Wood River HS) is a Warrior killer.  Southward has had more success against the visitors from Salem than any other team, scoring 14 goals in eight encounters – including a school record tying four goal outburst on Oct. 5, 2002 in a Coyote 4-1 win.

 

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE PLAYOFFS: With just two weeks remaining in the regular-season, the Coyotes must finish in the top-two in the Cascade Conference standings to have a chance to qualify for the NAIA Region I playoffs.  The top-two clubs in the CCC get automatic berths (with the loop champion earning the host site), while the next two clubs in the region with the highest Longo ratings receiving the at-large spots.  Currently, Simon Fraser holds the top Longo rating (288), followed by Concordia (241), Evergreen (217), Warner Pacific (205), Western Baptist (191), the Coyotes (175), and Westminster (148).  If the playoffs were to start today, Concordia and Evergreen would represent the CCC, with SFU and Warner claiming the at-large spots.

 

RECORD WATCH: A pair of Coyotes continue to inch up the Albertson career record book.  Jason Southward’s two goals against Western gave him 50 goals for his career, moving into third-place all-time, five behind Derek Larsen and second.  Southward also has 123 career points, moving past Jared Larsen and into fourth-place, and tying Coe Michaelson for third.  Matt Blazek is the all-time leading scorer with 69 goals and 173 career points.  Ryan Abo (Boise, Idaho / Timberline HS) has 34 assists in his career, just one behind Blazek for No. 2 all-time.  Abo is chasing Michaelson’s record of 39 assists, set from 2000-02.

 

A TALE OF TWO TEAMS: On Friday afternoon, the Coyotes meet their top soccer rival, Concordia, on the Symms Field pitch, with the visitor aching for revenge.  The Cavaliers (9-5-1, 7-2 CCC) sit in a tie atop the loop standings with Evergreen, but have lost the last four meetings to the ‘Yotes, including defeats in the 2003 Cascade Conference and NAIA Region I playoffs.  Concordia rebounded from a tough loss at Evergreen on Thursday by roughing up Saturday’s opponent, Cascade, by a school-record 14-0 margin.  Midfielder Luis Garcia (12 goals, five assists) had a monster five goal outburst against Cascade and is a tough player to mark.  All-Conference player Joe Beytebiere (seven goals, two assists) is a solid striker, while keeper Jeremy Wells (1.48 GAA) is agile in the net.  Albertson won the earlier meeting this year, 2-1, and leads the all-time series, 18-14-1.  The Thunderbirds (1-10-1, 0-9) have struggled for the second-straight season, with an offensive punch their biggest problem.  Cascade averages just four shots per game in 12 counters, and outside a 4-2 victory over Walla Walla College, have not scored a game against NAIA or NCAA competition this year.  The ‘Yotes took a 5-0 decision against the T-Birds in Portland in September, and hold a 20-4 all-time advantage.  

 
MORE INFORMATION: Updated information and statistics on the 2004 men’s soccer team can be found on Albertson men’s soccer official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/menssoccer.htm.  Up-to-date Cascade Conference standings can be found online at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/msoccer/stats/standings.htm.

 

VOLLEYBALL (10-7, 7-4 CCC): Ten-match home win streak on the line against Northwest and Evergreen

 

LAST WEEK: at Western Baptist (L 3-0), at Concordia (W 3-2)

 

COMING UP: vs. Northwest, Friday, 7 p.m.; vs. Evergreen, Saturday, 7 p.m.

 

‘YOTES HOT HOME STREAK: With Cascade Conference wins over Warner Pacific and Cascade two weeks ago, the Albertson volleyball team set a new school-record by extending their home win streak to ten.  Albertson has not lost on their home court since an October 25, 2003 loss to Concordia.  The Lady ‘Yotes, who are 6-0 at home, won their first nine straight at home during the 1999 season and won eight-in-a-row in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center during the 1998 campaign.

 

VOTES IN NATIONAL POLL ARE GONE: For the first time since the 2001 season, the Coyotes received votes in last week’s NAIA National Poll.  However, with a loss at Western Baptist, Albertson dropped from No. 3 to No. 6 in the latest Regional Poll, and losing their vote in the national rankings.  Southern Oregon (No. 12) is No. 1 in the region, followed by Carroll (No. 21), Oregon Tech, Montana Tech, Western Baptist, and the ‘Yotes.  Concordia, Northwest, Rocky Mountain, and Montana State-Northern round out the top-ten.

 

LAST TIME IN THE NATIONAL POLL: Albertson last received votes in the NAIA poll during the 2001 season – a year after making their lone National Tournament appearance.  The ‘Yotes began 2001 ranked No. 15 in the preseason poll, dropped to No. 19 in the first regular-season poll, and have not been ranked since.

 

LOSING STREAK IN CAV-DOME IS OVER: Albertson ended an 11-match losing streak to Concordia last season in the Cascade Conference playoffs, then ended a losing streak in Caldwell in September.  Last on their list was a chance to knock off the Cavs in Portland, something they had not done since the 1997 season.  It took five games, but the Lady ‘Yotes exorcised the demons on Saturday night, topping Concordia, 30-22, 30-27, 22-30, 26-30, 16-14.  Albertson sprinted out to a 2-0 lead, only to watch the hosts battle back to tie the match at 2-2, then jump out to a 13-8 lead in Game 5.  However, tough serving by sophomore Erin Cherrington (Granby, Colo. / Middle Fork HS), solid defense, and timely attacks by Ashlea Thornton (Glendora, Calif. / Cal Baptist) and Anne Parker (Pocatello, Idaho / Century HS), helped the ‘Yotes run off six points, and momentum to win the clincher.  Parker had her best game in her short college career with 18 kills and four blocks, while Thornton recorded 19 kills and 18 digs.  Cherrington was distributing the ball well, recording 65 assists – 43 of them to the ‘Yotes middles.

 

TOUGH NIGHT IN SALEM: As positive as the night was on Saturday, Friday night was the opposite end of the spectrum for the Lady ‘Yotes, as Western Baptist swept Albertson in three games.  The key was the Warriors one-two punch of Kendra Mitchell and Kim Turin, who combined for 43 kills with just four hitting errors (Turin was named NAIA Player of the Week for her performance).  Ashlea Thornton had 13 kills to lead the way for the ‘Yotes, who recorded just 28 digs in the match.

 

RECORD WATCH: The Albertson College individual single-season and career top-ten lists are seeing some reshuffling, courtesy of the 2004 Lady ‘Yote volleyballers.  Kahli Mann (Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS) is making a big splash, currently on pace to shatter the digs per game in a season record, currently averaging 5.14 digs a game, well ahead of the 4.40 mark set by Tara Daniel in 1997.  Mann has also climbed into the all-time top-ten in aces with 104, good enough for sixth-place, five behind Brecia Gamett and fifth, and is tenth all-time in digs (697).  Erin Cherrington has moved into fourth-place on the career assist list with 1,494, while Jenn Luchini (Cataldo, Idaho / Kellogg HS) ranks tenth all-time in aces with 81.

 

LOOKING FOR A BETTER PERFORMANCE AGAINST NORTHWEST, EVERGREEN: If the Coyotes have any aspirations of finishing in the Cascade Conference’s top two slots and receiving a first-round bye in the loop tournament, they must have a solid performance on Friday night against Northwest, the second-place team in the CCC.  The Eagles (11-4, 8-2 CCC) were running roughshod through the league until two weeks ago, when they were demoralized in a six-game stretch in losses at Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech.  Northwest, however, returns all six starters from last season, led by Emily Marquez (3.3 kills/game), the league’s leader in hitting percentage at .412.  Lisa Langmade (3.58 k/g) is a solid outside, while libero Dayna Cassiday (5.14 d/g) had 26 digs in the three-game rout of the ‘Yotes in September.  It is the 18th meeting between the teams, with Albertson holding a 14-3 advantage.  Saturday, Evergreen comes to Caldwell looking to pick up their first CCC win.  The Geoducks (5-14, 0-10) picked up the title at the Walla Walla College Tournament over the weekend, albeit against NCCAA competition – but wins are wins.  Meredith Lane (2.76 k/g) is the top player on the Clams club, which has lost all three previous meetings in Caldwell.  Albertson holds a 5-2 series lead, dating back to 2001.

 

MORE INFORMATION: Updated information and statistics on the 2004 volleyball team can be found on the Albertson volleyball official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/vball.htm.  Up-to-date Cascade Conference standings can be found online at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/vball/stats/standings.htm.

 

 

CROSS COUNTRY: Coyotes to compete in preview of Cascade Conference and NAIA Meet in Portland

 

LAST WEEK: at Treasure Valley Open – Men finished second of three teams competing, Women fielded incomplete team in the four team field

 

COMING UP: at Cascade Conference/NAIA Region I Preview Meet, Lents Park, Portland, Ore. – Women’s 5,000-meters at 9:15 a.m. (PDT), Men’s 8,000-meters at 10 a.m. (PDT)

 

COYOTE MEN SOLID IN ONTARIO: The Albertson men’s cross country team had a  nice workout on Saturday morning at the Treasure Valley Open, placing second out of three teams at the small meet.  The men were led by a sixth-place finish from freshman Tyler Hopper (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS), who traversed the short 5,000-meter course in 17:06.  He was closely followed by Jacob Haas (Portland, Ore. / Eastern Oregon Univ.) in seventh, Jesse Chlebeck (Eagan, Minn. / Eagan HS) in eighth, and Chris Rifer (Portland, Ore. / Sunset HS) in ninth.  What was encouraging was that less than 45 seconds separated the ‘Yotes first and fourth position runners.

 

INJURIES KEEP WOMEN FROM EARNING TEAM SCORE: The women harriers also competed against the Greater Boise Running Club, Boise State, and Treasure Valley CC in Ontario, but injuries to two of their six runners did not allow the ‘Yotes to factor in the team competition.  Shannon Edwards (Sherwood, Ore. / Eastern Oregon Univ.) battled the flu all week – and still managed a seventh-place finish in the event.  The Coyotes were also pleased with the race run by freshman Genny Gerke (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS), who finished in 11th-place.

 

CHANCES AT NATIONALS?: Coach Pat McCurry continues to be excited for women’s No. 1 runner Shannon Edwards, who continues to be among the elite runners in the NAIA Region I.  With the top 28 teams in the nation advancing to the NAIA National Championships in Louisville, Ky. – there is a good shot that Edwards could also head to nationals as an at-large competitor.  The top-five runners in the NAIA Region I not affiliated with teams headed to nationals (most likely Simon Fraser, British Columbia, Lewis-Clark State, Eastern Oregon, and Northwest) earn automatic spots as well – with Edwards currently ranked No. 2 in the region in that category.

 

THE COURSE THAT DETERMINES NATIONAL FATE: The Coyotes head west for the second of three trips to the Willamette Valley this weekend for the Cascade Conference / NAIA Region I Preview Meet at Lent’s Park in Southeast Portland.  The event is to allow the nine teams in the CCC, along with regional members Lewis-Clark State, British Columbia, and Simon Fraser a chance to traverse the exact course the loop championships will be held on in November.  On the men’s side, the ‘Yotes will be tested by four nationally ranked teams (No. 5 Eastern Oregon, No. 11 Southern Oregon, No. 19 British Columbia, and No. 25 Warner Pacific), while the women will see four nationally ranked teams (No. 8 British Columbia, No. 12 Lewis-Clark State, No. 23 Eastern Oregon, and No. 24 Northwest).  The lone teams in the region not to participate in the meet will be both Simon Fraser squads and the Northwest University men’s team.

 

ABOUT CROSS COUNTRY: Cross country is a bit different than most sports – similar to golf, where the lowest score is the best.  Teams compete in races, with the top-five times on a squad counting toward a team score.  The place a runner finishes in the race equals that many points (third-place is three points, 12th is 12 points), with the team with the fewest points (the squad with the highest finishers) winning the team event.

 

MORE INFORMATION: Updated information on the 2004 cross country team, including meet-by-meet results and top times can be found on the Albertson cross country official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/xc.htm. 

 

 

 

WOMEN’S SOCCER (1-13, 1-7 CCC): Losing streak ended at 15 with win over Cascade; off to face Western in Salem

 

LAST WEEK: vs. Warner Pacific (L 3-2); vs. Cascade (W 4-1); vs. Eastern Oregon (L 2-0

 

COMING UP: at Western Baptist, Saturday, 3 p.m. (PDT)

 

LOSING STREAK OVER: The streak is finally over!  With a convincing 4-1 win over Cascade College on Saturday, the Albertson women’s soccer team ended a 15-game losing streak (dating back to a 1-1 tie at Warner Pacific in 2003).  The previous mark was ten, as the 1997 club lost their final two matches of the season, then the 1998 squad dropped their first eight games to start the year – combining for a ten-game losing streak.  The 0-12 start to the 2004 season is also a record, surpassing the single-season eight-game skid from the 1998 club.

 

DOMINATING PLAY: The win over winless Cascade was a positive sign for the Lady ‘Yotes.  Albertson dominated play for 90 minutes, holding a 42-3 shot advantage, to go along with 15 corner kicks.  Jaime Peoples (Kuna, Idaho / Kuna HS) led the Albertson charge, scoring two goals and assisting on a third – including a header off a Lindsay Russell (Idaho Falls, Idaho / Idaho State Univ.) corner.  Also getting into the scoring act was Katie Ball (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS), who got the ‘Yotes on the board late in the first half, as did back-up keeper Danielle Dorsch (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS), who followed a Peoples shot for a goal in the 40th minute.

 

BIG NEWS: The win by the Lady ‘Yotes made its way onto television, as both KIVI-Channel 6 and KTVB Channel 7 mentioned the score on their Saturday night newscast.

 

WOULDA, COULDA, SHOULDA: A day prior to the win over Cascade, Albertson was in position to end the losing streak against Warner Pacific.  The Lady ‘Yotes jumped out to a 2-0 lead, only to see the Knights score three unanswered goals for the victory.  Laura Fink (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) scored both first half goals, including a tally less than five minutes into the contest.  Albertson actually held an advantage in shots and corner kicks, but could not put the ball between the pipes.

 

WOULDA, COULDA, SHOULDA, PART 2: Tuesday afternoon, the Lady ‘Yotes outplayed Eastern Oregon for 90 minutes, held a shot advantage for the third-straight game, but fell, 2-0.  After missing a pair of golden opportunities in the opening minutes, the Lady ‘Yotes defense broke down late in the first half – as Eastern took advantage of a pair of turnovers to score both goals.  Despite 16 shots at the Mountie net, Albertson could not break the wall in losing their third match to Eastern this season

 

LOSS ELIMINATES COYOTES FROM PLAYOFFS: The loss against Eastern mathematically eliminated Albertson from the postseason chase and relegated the club, even if they win their final three matches, to the North Division cellar.

 

REGIONAL RANKINGS: Heading into the fifth week of the 2004 season, Concordia continues to lead the NAIA Region I poll and are ranked No. 4 in the NAIA.  The Cavs are followed by Simon Fraser (No. 6), Carroll (No. 20), Western Baptist, and Rocky Mountain.

 

TRYING TO TURN THE TREND AGAINST WESTERN BAPTIST: The series between the Lady ‘Yotes and Saturday’s opponent, Western Baptist, has been a strange one.  The teams have met 20 times since 1993 season, with Albertson winning the first five matches (including a 15-0 victory), while the Warriors (10-4-1, 7-1-1 CCC) winning the last 15-in-a-row.  The 2004 Western club has skated through the South Division schedule, having already clinched a CCC Tournament berth.  Megan Waunch (nine goals and four assists) and Charissa Hunter (seven goals, four assists) have been at the top of Marty Ziesemer’s scoring punch, while Kim Mendenhall (0.95 GAA) has been solid in goal.  Last season, the Warriors topped Albertson, 5-1, at Symms Field.
 

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: The Albertson soccer teams would like to thank the sponsors who will made the 2004 media guide a success – Carmody Real Estate, Sport Shoppe, Fairview Service Center TuneTech, Idaho Power, Domino’s Pizza, Intermountain Community Bank, Meridian Dental, Acapulco Mexican Restaurant, Tolsma Auto Body, Family Vision, Performance Chevrolet, Bodybuilding.com, and GlenCo Construction.

 

MORE INFORMATION: Updated information and statistics on the 2004 women’s soccer team can be found on Albertson women’s soccer official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmenssoccer.htm.  Up-to-date Cascade Conference standings can be found online at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wsoccer/stats/standings.htm.

 

 

 

 

 

- ALBERTSON -