‘Yote Notes – Sept. 22,
2005
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Mike Safford Jr. – Sports
Info. Director
msafford@collegeofidaho.edu
ATHLETIC
NEWS:
CROSS COUNTRY MOVES TO NO. 14 IN NAIA: The Coyote cross country teams have
the weekend off, preparing for next weekend’s Willamette Invitational in Salem,
Ore. The Albertson men’s cross country
team climbed two spots in this week’s NAIA poll, now sitting at No. 14 – one of
four NAIA Region I schools in the Top-14.
COYOTE OPEN: The 21st Annual Coyote Open will take place at River Bend
Golf Course on Friday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. To become a sponsor or to
secure your team in the tournament, contact Dave Hahn at 459-5835.
NEW C.A.A. WEBSITE: For more information on the Coyote Athletic Association,
visit the C.A.A.'s website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa.htm.
BASEBALL ALUMNI GAME ON SUNDAY: The annual Albertson College
baseball alumni game will take place this Sunday at Simplot Stadium, beginning
at 1 p.m. Come watch Coyotes past and
present in the first Fall Ball game of the year.
GOLFERS KNOCK OFF NORTHWEST NAZARENE: The Albertson College golf team
opened up play on Tuesday with a dual at River Bend against Northwest
Nazarene. Led by 74’s from Paul
Giardina and John Pasley, the Coyote men defeated NNU 300-306. Drew Villastrigo and Ben Coate shot
76’s for the ‘Yotes. On the women’s
side, Sarah Gallant fired a 85.
WOMEN’S TENNIS OFF TO LEWISTON: Four members of the Albertson women’s
tennis team will compete in the ITA Pacific Northwest Regional in Lewiston next
weekend. Kyla Westerberg, Anna
Moylan, Katie Webster, and Channing Yip will compete for a
spot at the ITA Small College National Tournament in Florida this October.
VOLLEYBALL (7-3, 4-2 CCC): No. 29 ranked Coyotes to battle with I-84 Cup rival
Eastern Oregon in La Grande
LAST WEEK: vs. No. 14 Southern Oregon (L
3-0); vs. No. 25 Oregon Tech (W 3-0)
COMING UP: at Eastern Oregon, Friday, 7 p.m.
TALE OF TWO NIGHTS: The atmosphere at the J.A.
Albertson Activities Center on Friday and Saturday night was electric as the
new freshmen class at Albertson College came to watch volleyball in
droves. One night was a downer, as No.
14 ranked Southern Oregon thumped the Lady ‘Yotes in three games; one night was
ecstatic, as Albertson dominated No. 25 ranked Oregon Tech in three games.
LADY ‘YOTES RECEIVE VOTES: For the
second time this season, the Albertson volleyballers received votes in the NAIA
national poll, good enough to be the No. 29 ranked team in the nation. The Coyotes received five votes – the fourth
team listed in the “others receiving votes” category. The last time Albertson was ranked in the NAIA Top-25 was 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.
REGIONAL RANKINGS: Despite going 1-1 over the week,
the Coyotes jumped two spots in the NAIA Region I regional rankings. Unbeaten Northwest remains on top followed
by Southern Oregon and Albertson. Oregon
Tech fell to No. 4 with their loss to the Lady ‘Yotes, followed Great Falls, Concordia,
Rocky Mountain, MSU-Northern, Carroll, and Westminster.
A NIGHT TO FORGET: Nicolette Le Bel had a game-high
13 kills as No. 14 ranked Southern Oregon coasted to an easy 30-21, 30-16,
30-20 victory over Albertson on Friday night. The Raiders methodically took the
hosts out of their rhythm, mixing up a bevy of outside blasts and inside dinks
to avenge a three-game loss in Caldwell last year. Southern excelled in the passing department all night, racking up
66 digs, while the Raiders allowed only three Coyote aces. “Southern played outstanding volleyball
tonight,” said head coach Liz Mendiola.
“There aren’t many teams in the NAIA that could have beaten Southern the
way they played tonight.”
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: Albertson rebounded from a rare
two-match losing streak at home Saturday, dominating No. 25 ranked Oregon Tech
30-19, 30-24, 30-20. Kathryn Ely (La
Grande, Ore. / La Grande HS) led the way with 13 kills and nine digs, part
of an attack that hit at a .339 clip. The
'Yotes were in the lead or tied for all but three points all night, getting
revenge for a Hustlin' Owl win over Albertson at the 2004 Cascade Conference
tournament. Blocking was the key for the
Albertson win, as the
Coyotes won the battle at the net 11-4. Katie Hogue (Sparks,
Nev. / Reed HS) had 11 kills and five blocks, Fran Hartman (Lakeview,
Ore. / Lakeview HS) had 11 kills without an error to go along with four blocks,
and Anne Parker (Pocatello, Idaho / Century
HS) had eight kills and seven blocks.
SOWER ON THE OUTSIDE, GASTON TO LIBERO: The Lady ‘Yotes
made a big change on Saturday night and it proved dividends, as Tiffany
Sower (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) made her first start since the 2003
season at outside hitter. The sophomore
missed all of last season with a knee injury, but made a triumphant return with
seven kills and 11 digs – both season highs.
With Sower on the outside, Charity Gaston (Harrisonberg, Va. /
James Madison U.) moved from the outside to libero, and was
outstanding. The senior recorded a
season-high 25 digs, pushing her season average to 4.47 per game – sixth-best
in the CCC.
ELY AMONG TOP FRESHMEN: Among the top freshman in
the Cascade Conference so far in 2005 is Lady ‘Yote Kathryn Ely. The youngster ranks fifth in the loop in
kills per game (3.38) and has already earned CCC and Regional Player of the
Week honors. The youth movement is very
present – as four of the top eight hitters in the league (in kills per game)
are frosh – including Sara Bendorf of Northwest, Jennifer Luatua of Eastern
Oregon, Ely, and Chelsea Recker of Corban.
CONTINUING TO BLOCK WELL: The Coyotes continue to
lead the CCC in blocks per game and used a sizeable advantage to catapult
themselves past Oregon Tech on Saturday night.
Katie Hogue continues to lead the loop with 1.41 blocks per game, while
Anne Parker is fifth at 1.03 blocks per game.
Fran Hartman is also among the top-ten, averaging 0.72 blocks per game.
THE I-84 CUP, VOLLEYBALL STYLE: Although
the traveling trophy, the “I-84 Cup”, is awarded only in men’s basketball, the
first “I-84 Cup” volleyball match is Friday night in La Grande, when the Coyotes
take on Eastern Oregon. The
Mountaineers (3-4, 2-4 CCC) are much improved from the past few years, led by
freshman phenom Jennifer Luatua (3.88 kills per game). Unfortunately, success has not been on
Eastern’s side in the series with Albertson, as the Lady ‘Yotes have won 19
consecutive matches against the Mounties – with EOU snapping a 20-consecutive
game streak last year by taking a pair of games in a Albertson five-game win at
Quinn Coliseum. Albertson holds a
commanding 27-9 edge in the all-time series.
MORE
INFORMATION:
Updated information and statistics on the 2005 volleyball team can be found on
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.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (6-2-1, 4-1-1 CCC): Lady ‘Yotes
off to Montana for regional games at Carroll and Rocky Mountain
LAST WEEK: at Evergreen (T 1-1), at No. 5
Concordia (L 7-0), vs. Eastern Oregon (W 2-0)
COMING UP: at No. 21 Carroll, Saturday, 2
p.m.; at Rocky Mountain, Sunday, 11 a.m.
KEY HOME WIN VS. EASTERN: Two goals in the first 22 minutes were all the
Albertson College women's soccer team needed on Wednesday, as the Lady 'Yotes
recorded their fifth shutout of 2005 with a 2-0 win over Eastern Oregon at
Symms Field. Laura Fink (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) blasted a shot through the Eastern
defense in the tenth minute into the net to give the Coyotes an early 1-0
lead. Twelve minutes later, Fink would take a Ryann Lagomarsino (Fair
Oaks, Calif. / Sierra CC) pass and find Leah Roach (Boise, Idaho
/ Timberline HS) behind the EOU defense - who blasted the ball into an open
net. It was the second win in two tries this year against
the ‘Yotes I-84 rivals
FRANK TOUGH IN GOAL: Eastern had 14 shots on the
afternoon, but Coyote keeper Candice Frank (Boise, Idaho / Rocky
Mountain Coll.) was a stone wall – making five saves on the shots on
goal. Frank, who has not allowed a goal
from an opponent since the season opener against Northwest Nazarene (she did
allow an own goal), leads the Cascade Conference in goals against average (0.46),
in save percentage (.912), and shutouts (4).
SCORELESS STREAK ENDED: Albertson had their longest
stretch without allowing a goal in school history ended at Evergreen last
Friday afternoon. The Lady ‘Yotes, who
had recorded four consecutive shutouts for the first time ever, nearly had a
fifth, but a goal in the 81st minute ended the streak at 444 minutes. Not counting an own goal against Central
Washington, the Coyotes had not allowed a goal in 572 minutes – the span of
over six full matches.
HOT START CONTINUES: With six wins already in the
books, Albertson has already surpassed the win totals in 12 of the 16 previous
seasons of Lady ‘Yote soccer. In fact,
only two teams in school history have won more games – the 1989 team that went
8-3, and the 2002 team that went 10-11.
REGIONAL RANKINGS: Despite a 6-2-1 start to the 2005
season, the NAIA Region I rankings have not given the Lady ‘Yotes a
glance. The latest rankings have
Concordia leading the way, followed by Simon Fraser, Carroll, Evergreen State,
and Rocky Mountain. Albertson has never
been ranked in the Region I Top-5 in school history.
DEFENSE LEADS TO TIE AT EVERGREEN: Defense
was the key last Friday, as the Albertson women’s soccer team battled to a 1-1
draw at Evergreen State. The Coyotes
got on the board in the 21st minute, when Ryann Lagomarsino gobbled up a loose
ball in the box and blasted it in the net for a 1-0 lead. Albertson then withstood 22 Geoduck shots
before a corner kick was flicked off the shoulder of a Coyote defender into the
goal in the 81st minute to tie the score.
Danielle Dorsch (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS), who got the
start in goal, made 14 saves on the afternoon.
“VIOLENT” WAY TO LOSE AT CONCORDIA: A red card
near halftime completely changed the complexion of Saturday’s match at No. 5
Concordia, as the Cavaliers handed Albertson a 7-0 drubbing. Trailing 3-0 nearing the end of the opening
45 minutes, Coyote freshman Sarah Barlow (Layton, Utah / Layton HS) made
a solid tackle of a Concordia player, got tangled up with the Cavalier, got up,
and got back in the action – which is exactly what the video of the match
revealed. However, that is not what the
linesman saw, instructing the center official to give Barlow a red card for a “violent”
kick to the Concordia player. The
hosts, working against ten defenders, were able to pile on four additional
goals in the second half to notch their 15th straight win over Albertson.
FIRST TREK INTO BIG SKY COUNTRY: Albertson
takes a respite from Cascade Conference play this weekend, taking a long bus
ride into Montana for matches at NAIA Region I foes Carroll College and
Rocky Mountain. The Saints (4-2-1)
advanced to the 2004 NAIA Region I tournament and are currently ranked No. 21
in the latest NAIA poll. Carroll is led
by striker Jenni Annicchiarico, who has four goals on the season, and
keeper Nikki Skaggs, who has recorded four shutouts. Albertson has never defeated Carroll in four previous meetings,
including a 3-0 loss to the Saints in Caldwell last year. The Battlin’ Bears (3-3) advanced to their
first-ever NAIA Region I tournament last year and are coming off a scoreless
draw at the University of Mary in North Dakota. Rocky is led by striker Nicola Charles, who scored both goals in
the Bears 2-1 win over Albertson last season in Caldwell. It is the fifth meeting between the clubs,
with Albertson holding a 2-1-1 all-time edge.
MORE
INFORMATION:
Updated information and statistics on the 2005 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.
MEN’S SOCCER (0-5): ‘Yotes look to put losing streak
behind them at Evergreen State and Northwest
LAST WEEK: at Westminster Invitational, Salt
Lake City – vs. Westminster (L 3-0), vs. No. 17 Holy Names (L 3-0).
COMING UP: at No. 15 Evergreen State,
Friday, 5 p.m. (PDT); at Northwest, Saturday, 3 p.m.
TOUGH TIMES IN UTAH: The Albertson College men’s soccer
team headed to Salt Lake City last weekend with two things in mind – defending
their Westminster Invitational championship, and winning their first match of
the 2005 season. Neither goal was
reached, as the Coyotes dropped identical 3-0 decisions to host Westminster and
No. 17 ranked Holy Names. It was only
the second time in 10 trips to Utah that Albertson had failed to win a game
(the 1996 club went 0-3 at the tournament, losing three one-goal games).
OFF TO WORST START SINCE?: In the
20-plus year history of the Coyote soccer program, an 0-5 start had never
occurred until Albertson dropped a 3-0 decision to Holy Names. Before this season, three previous College
of Idaho or Albertson College teams had started with three-straight
losses. The last team to start 0-3 was
the 1996 club, which finished the season, 7-11. That season, along with the 1987 season (in which the ‘Yotes went
7-6-2), saw the squad lose their first four games – which was the school record
for futility at the start of a season.
On the flip side, the record for season-opening wins is seven, set
during the 1990 season.
LOSING STREAK: Albertson has lost six-consecutive
games overall, dating back to a 4-2 victory at Northwest on October 22,
2004. The school record for consecutive
losses is seven, spanning the end of the 1995 season and the start of 1996.
OFFENSIVE WOES PLAGUE TEAM: Over the
years, the Coyotes have been one of the top-scoring teams not only in the
region, but also regularly among the NAIA’s elite teams in goals and
assists. However, Albertson has been
shutout four times this season, after failing to score in only one match last
year. The ‘Yotes opponents have a
decisive edge in shots (101-39), shots on goal (49-13), and corners (31-10).
MORE ON THE OFFENSIVE WOES: In
comparing the first five games this season to the previous first five games
over the last four years of Coyote soccer, the offensive struggles are evident
–
YEAR ACI SHOTS
OPP SHOTS ACI GOALS OPP GOALS
2001
70 45 7 5
2002
61 46 11 9
2003
85 52 14 10
2004
89 52 12 6
2005
39 101 2 15
RECAP OF TOURNEY: Three different Westminster
players tallied unassisted goals, as the host Griffins knocked off Albertson
College, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon.
Westminster got on the board in the 26th minute, as Dave Rogers chipped home
a goal. They would make it 2-0 just before half, as Drew Frisbie found
the net. Xadier Gonzalez capped the scoring with a blast in the 63rd minute. Sunday, it was No. 17 ranked Holy Names
blanking the ‘Yotes, 3-0. The Hawks got
on the board midway through the first when the 'Yotes failed to clear a ball in
the box and Guilherme Souza, the NAIA's leading scorer in 2004, flicked it home
for a 1-0 lead. Per Karlsson added a pair of headers in the second half
to cap the scoring.
FROM THE COACH: Despite the struggles, head coach Brian
Smith is very optimistic, "We fought hard on Sunday, that is a huge
quality that this team can build off of. Let's put it in perspective - we
played toe-to-toe with a team in Holy Names that nearly defeated two Top-10
programs, with a very young club. Our record going into conference play
is 0-0, that is the key." Smith
also commented on playing much-more experienced teams, “This is the toughest
preseason schedule that this school has ever played. We have begun to find an identity as a team, but when you are
learning basic math, and your opponent is studying calculus, it can be
frustrating.”
INJURY BUG STILL PLAUGES ‘YOTES: The ‘Yotes
were without the services of Scott Fuller (Boise, Idaho / Fullerton
State) over the weekend, still recovering from a back injury suffered
during the California trip. Sam Reed
(Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) was also dinged up in Utah with a foot
injury. Both players are questionable
for this weekend’s action in the Evergreen State.
WESTWARD WE GO: Albertson opens up the 2005
Cascade Conference schedule in the same place they ended last season – at Evergreen
State. The Geoducks (5-1, 1-0 CCC)
are ranked No. 15 in the latest NAIA soccer poll and are coming off their most
successful season in program history.
The 2004 won the NAIA Region I tournament and advanced to the national
quarterfinals. After losing nearly
70-percent of their scoring punch, including Joe Gjertsen, who had an
outstanding rookie season for the Vancouver Whitecaps in USL-First Division
(one of four players up for USL Rookie of the Year). Evergreen has a balanced scoring attack (eight different players
have scored goals), while returning a pair of All-CCC players in Greg Preciado
and Dan Jones. The two teams split the
season series last year, with Albertson leading the all-time series,
11-3-1. Saturday, the ‘Yotes put their
longest overall win streak on the line at Northwest. The Coyotes, who have won 18-of-20 meetings
with the Eagles (2-5, 0-1), have defeated Northwest 11-consecutive times. The Kirkland, Wash. school has been unlucky
in 2005 – having dropped four one-goal matches, including a two-overtime 2-1
loss Tuesday to Evergreen. Freshman
striker Geoff Goodwill leads a very improved Eagles team, which has a
home-field advantage at Lake Washington High School – the only artificial turf
field in the league.
GREAT BALL DROP: Friday afternoon, the Coyote men’s
soccer team’s fall fundraiser, the Albertson College of Idaho Ball Drop 2005,
will take place following the 21st Annual Coyote Open golf tournament in
Wilder. A helicopter will hover above
the 18th green at River Bend Golf Course and drop a bucket filled with over
1,000 golf balls – if the ball you purchased falls in the hole, you win
$1,000. For more information on
purchasing a ball, contact Mike Safford at 459-5681.
MORE
INFORMATION:
Updated information and statistics on the 2005 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.
- ALBERTSON -