Yote Notes – October 15, 2008

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

 

ATHLETIC NEWS:

 

LADY YOTES PICKED SECOND BY CCC COACHES: The College of Idaho women's basketball team was picked second in the 11 team Cascade Conference, as the CCC's Preseason Coaches Poll was released by league office Monday afternoon in Portland, Ore.  Despite not receiving one first-place vote, the Lady Yotes (19-11 in 2007-08) recorded 103 voter points for the runner-up nod for the second-straight season.  Last year, The C of I finished third in the regular-season standings and lost in overtime in the CCC Tournament title game.  Defending CCC tourney champions, Southern Oregon, claimed the top spot, earning eight of the 11 first-place votes - followed by the Yotes, Oregon Tech, Eastern Oregon, and Concordia.  SOU (29-5) returns four starters from last season's NAIA Tournament team, while OIT (23-9) returns CCC Newcomer of the Year Amanda Johnston.  Eastern (25-6), which advanced to the Sweet Sixteen at the NAIA Tournament, returns a trio of guards, while CU (15-16) had a quality recruiting class and returns CCC Freshman of the Year, Danielle Clauson.

 

TWO WOMEN’S HOOP PLAYERS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-CCC TEAM:   Two members of The C of I women's basketball team were among the 15 players selected to the inaugural All-Cascade Conference preseason women's basketball team, announced Tuesday by the league office in Portland, Ore.  Senior forward Christon Vander Esch (Riggins, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC), along with transfer Nicole Gall (Boise, Idaho / Santa Clara U.) were honored by the CCC today.  Vander Esch averaged 12 points and seven rebounds last season, while leading the league with 88 steals and 59 blocked shots - earning CCC Defensive Player of the Year honors.  Gall comes to The C of I from Santa Clara University, where she played in all 27 games for the Division I Broncos - averaging five points and two rebounds a game.  Concordia led the way with three selections, while The C of I, Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, and Cascade each had two honorees.  SOU's Jacki Speer was named the CCC Preseason Player of the Year.

 

SWIM, BASKETBALL SEASONS CLOSING IN: The C of I swim team will open up their 2008-09 schedule on October 25 at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, while the Lady Yote basketball team opens the first week of November with games at Westminster and Weber State.  The Coyote men’s basketball team is set to open the weekend of Nov. 7-8 at the Quinn Classic, meeting Lewis-Clark State and Montana Tech.

 

MEN’S SOCCER (9-2-1, 8-0-0 CCC): Yotes to play at Syringa Middle School, put win streak on the line against Warner Pacific and Corban

 

LAST WEEK: at Cascade (W 2-1), at Corban (2-1)

 

COMING UP: vs. Warner Pacific, Friday, 3 p.m.; vs. Corban, Saturday, 3 p.m. – both matches to be played at Syringa Middle School in Caldwell.

 

SYMMS FIELD UNPLAYABLE, GAMES SHIFTED TO SYRINGA: Despite having two weeks of inactivity and no rain, the Symms Field soccer surface is still unplayable due to the multiple thunderstorms during the Yotes doubleheader on Oct. 4.  Because of this, the Coyotes, in conjunction with the Caldwell School District, have moved Friday’s match with Warner Pacific and Saturday’s match with Corban to Caldwell High’s game field at Syringa Middle School – less than a mile from The C of I campus.  The CHS pitch is in top shape – as it will play host to the Idaho 4A Boys and Girls state championship games on Oct. 25.  The site of the Yotes Oct. 24-25 games are still to be determined.

 

TO GET TO SYRINGA MIDDLE SCHOOL: From Symms Field, head south on College Ave. to the stop sign at Linden.  Make a right-hand turn and procede through the four-way stop at Montana.  Two blocks ahead, turn left on Washington (entering Syringa Middle School) – the soccer field is beyond the track and football fields.  Parking, however, will be limited on Friday – as school will be in session until midway through the first half.

 

BAUTISTA LEADING THE NAIA: With four more goals last weekend, Antonio Bautista (Homedale, Idaho / Homedale HS) now leads the Cascade Conference with 15 goals on the season – while leading the NAIA with his six game-winning scores.  The junior has recorded at least one point in every game the Yotes have scored in this season, while knocking home a goal in eight of the last nine games.  Bautista also has five multi-goal games on the season – tops in the league.

 

TOP SCORING SEASONS: Eight times in C of I history has a men’s soccer player scored more than 15 goals in a season – led by the 23 goals scored by Matt Blazek in 1998.  Derek Jordan (22 goals in 1989) is second on the list, followed by Coe Michaelson (21 goals in 2001), Jason Southward (20 goals in 2003), Blazek (18 goals in 1997), Jared Larsen (18 goals in 1999), Larsen (17 goals in 2000), and Joe Chandler (17 goals in 2003).

 

YOTES RIDING AN EIGHT-GAME WIN STREAK: With road victories over Cascade and Corban, The C of I extended its winning streak to eight – including six road wins.  What is unique about the streak is that it extends a longstanding record for the Coyotes in terms of win streaks.  Since the 1999 season, spanning ten seasons, the Yotes have recorded a win streak of five-or-more games each year.  In 2005 and 2007, they had a five-game win streak; in 1999 and 2004, they had a six-game win streak; in 2002 and 2003, they had a seven-game win streak, in 2000 and 2006, they had an eight-game win streak; and in 2001, the Yotes recorded their school-record 11-game win streak.

 

DEFENSE IS THE KEY: In the eight wins, the Coyotes never trailed in any of the games – in fact, had multi-goal leads in seven of the eight games.  Overall, in the Yotes nine wins (and the one draw), the squad has allowed one or fewer goals – while in the two losses, The C of I has allowed two-or-more goals.

 

PERFECT AGAINST THE SOUTH: With the two wins last weekend, the Coyotes improved to 6-0 this season against Cascade Conference South Division opponents – and remain the lone unbeaten team overall in the loop with a 8-0 record.

 

C OF I CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH: With 24 points, the Coyotes have secured their first postseason berth since the 2006 season – and along with it at least one home playoff game.  The Yotes can secure a first-round playoff bye with a win in one of their final four games, and can secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs if they finish as the top-rated team in the final CCC coaches poll.  The C of I has qualified for the postseason on 12 occasions (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008) and boasts a 10-13 playoff record.  The Yotes won the 1989 District II title, the 2000 NAIA Region I title, and the 2000 and 2003 CCC Tournament titles – while advancing to their lone NAIA Tournament in 2000 (losing to Mobile (Ala.), 4-2).

 

YOTES SWEEP PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS: The C of I swept the Cascade Conference Men's Soccer weekly awards, as Antonio Bautista was named Offensive Player of the Week and Aaron Reynolds (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS) was named Defensive Player of the Week, as announced Monday by the league office in Portland, Ore.  Bautista had a stellar weekend in helping the Yotes to 2-1 victories over Cascade and Corban - scoring all four goals on the trip., while Reynolds earns the award for the second-straight week and the third time this season.  The freshman logged all 180 minutes in goal for the Coyotes, recording four saves in the win over Cascade, adding five saves in the victory at Corban.

 

ABOUT WARNER PACIFIC: The Coyotes have an opportunity to move up in the CCC poll this week with a win over Warner Pacific, a team that has been ranked in the NAIA Top-25 this season.  The Knights (9-4, 5-2 CCC) are battling with Concordia for the top spot in the CCC North and are an explosive scoring team – having recorded three or more goals in seven matches this season.  They are led offensively be Davor Lukic (9 goals, 4 assists), Alija Sacirovic (6 goals, 7 assists), Luis Galvan (8 goals, 6 assists) and Chris Price (5 goals, 4 assists), while keeper Ted Latta (1.38 GAA) is solid.  WP has won the last two meetings, but the Coyotes hold the all-time series lead at 13-11-2.

 

ABOUT CORBAN: For the second-straight Saturday, the Yotes square off with Corban, this time in Caldwell.  The Warriors (4-8-1, 2-5) dropped a 2-1 decision to the Yotes last weekend – but will look to use their size advantage against the Purple and Gold.  Corban has struggled offensively, scoring more than one goal in a match just once this season, while being shut out eight times.  University of Idaho transfer Ayouba Moussa (2 goals, 2 assists) is their top scorer, while keeper Aaron Franklin (1.36 GAA) keeps the squad in games.  The Yotes have won the last two meetings and hold a 21-17-1 all-time series lead.

 

CONFERENCE LEADERS: As a team, the Yotes lead the league in shots, shots per game, fewest goals allowed, goals against average, and corner kicks, while ranking second in points per game and goals per game.  Four C of I players are among the CCC Top-5 in statistical categories, heading into the week.  Leading the way is Antonio Bautista, who leads the loop in goals (15), goals per game (1.25), points (33), points per game (2.75), and game winning goals (6).  Garga Caserta (Aracatuba, Brazil / North Idaho CC) leads the loop in total shots attempted (45) and shots per game (4.1), while Jesus Lopez (Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS), is tied for first in total shots attempted (45) and is second in shots per game (3.8).  Keeper Aaron Reynolds rounds out the group, leading the league in goal against average (0.98) and save percentage (.831).

 

CONFERENCE/NAIA RANKINGS: The sixth CCC Coaches Poll of the regular-season was released on Monday, with the Yotes remaining in the No. 3 spot in the Top-5 ranking.  Concordia is in the No. 1 spot, with Warner Pacific remaining in the No. 2 slot after a 2-1 loss at Concordia.  The Yotes were the last team in the ranking – as the CCC did not rank a No. 4 or 5 team.  In the latest NAIA Top-25 poll, only Concordia, at No. 24 was in the tabulation.  The CCC poll is released on Monday mornings, while the NAIA poll is released on Tuesday afternoons.

 

GAME RECAP: C OF I 2, CASCADE 1: Antonio Bautista scored a pair of first half goals as The C of I won their seventh-straight game, stopping Cascade College, 2-1, Friday in Portland, Ore.  Bautista got the Yotes on the board in the 12th minute, heading home a long cross played by Mats Boehnke (Carson City, Nev. / Carson HS).  The junior would score again in the 32nd minute, flicking a pass from Kazuki Murata (Tokyo, Japan / International Secondary Inst.) into the net to make it 2-0.  The T-Birds, who held a 13-11 shot advantage, finally broke through in the 88th minute, as Craig Wilson converted a one-touch goal off a Juan Manzanarez free kick - but Cascade could not get the equalizer.

 

GAME RECAP: C OF I 2, CORBAN 1: Antonio Bautista continued his torrid streak with a pair of goals, including the game-winner in the 57th minute, as they Yotes clinched at least a share of the Cascade Conference South Division title with a 2-1 victory over Corban College at Warrior Field in Salem, Ore.  With the win, the Coyotes extended their win streak to eight and completed a perfect 6-0 season on the road in league counters.  The squad also secured their first home playoff game since the 2003 season and can earn a CCC Tournament first-round bye with a win or a Cascade College loss.  Bautista, who scored all four goals on the road trip, got the Yotes on the board just 93 seconds into the match, taking a through-ball from Esteban Cabrera (Quito, Ecuador / Payette HS) and beating Warriors keeper Aaron Franklin.  After Corban tied the score in the 56th minute on a Jared Rust goal, the junior needed just 62 seconds to record his 15th goal and sixth game-winning goal of the year, receiving a pass from Garga Caserta and hammering home the feed.  The Coyotes held a 16-10 edge in total shots, with keeper Aaron Reynolds recording six saves to pick up the victory in goal.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyote men’s soccer program, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/menssoccer.htm.

 

VOLLEYBALL (13-7, 10-2 CCC): Nationally ranked teams head to Caldwell, Yotes set to face No. 25 OIT and No. 21 Southern Oregon

 

LAST WEEK: vs. No. 9 Lewis-Clark State (L 3-2), at Cascade (W 3-0), at Warner Pacific (W 3-0)

 

COMING UP: vs. No. 25 Oregon Tech, Friday, 7 p.m.; vs. No. 21 Southern Oregon, Saturday, 7 p.m.

 

OWEN WINS THIRD-STRAIGHT LIBERO HONOR: For the third-straight week, College of Idaho’s Whitney Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) was named Cascade Conference Libero of the Week, announced Monday by the league office in Portland, Ore.   The sophomore recorded a career-high 25 digs in the Lady Yotes five-set loss to then No. 11 Lewis-Clark State, then had quality matches in The C of I's two weekend road wins - recording 13 digs at Cascade and 21 digs at Warner Pacific.  Owen has recorded double-figure digs in each of her last ten matches, upping her season average to 4.28 digs per set - ranking third in the CCC.  The last C of I player to win three-straight weekly awards was Erin Cherrington, who claimed five-straight CCC Setter of the Week awards in 2006.

 

REIMER NOTCHES RARE TRIPLE-DOUBLE: In last Wednesday’s loss to L-C State, Naomi Reimer (Killarney, Man. / Killarney SS) recorded the first C of I triple-double in five seasons – with a monster 12 kill-35 assist-11 dig night against the Warriors.  It was the first triple-double by a Lady Yote since Nov. of 2003, when Amanda Basañez recorded 15 kills, 24 assists, and 15 digs in the Region I semifinals against LCSC – the final of a school record ten triple-doubles Basañez recorded that season.

 

HOME STREAK ENDED: Last Wednesday, Lewis-Clark State did what no other team had done in over three seasons – win in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  The Coyote loss ended a school record 42-match home win streak – by far the longest in program history.  Despite the loss, the Coyotes have thrived at home under head coach Liz Mendiola – recording an 83-13 overall record in the Activities Center, including an amazing 61-8 mark in CCC counters.

 

LOOKING BACK AT THE STREAK: A couple of amazing stats stand out in the 42-match home win streak the Coyotes had from September of 2005 to last week.  During that stretch, the Yotes won 126 of the 132 sets played at home, including sweeping every CCC match in the Activities Center during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.  In fact, no match during the streak went a full five sets.

 

YOTES RECEIVING VOTES IN NAIA POLL: For the 39th-straight week, dating back to the 2005 season, the Lady Yotes received votes in the NAIA poll.  In the sixth NAIA Top-25 poll of the season (released Oct. 14), the Coyotes received 55 voter points – the fifth team listed in the Others Receiving Votes category, or No. 30 in the nation.  Two CCC teams are in the poll – No. 21 Southern Oregon and No. 25 Oregon Tech, while the Yotes and Eastern Oregon received votes.  Other C of I opponents were also ranked – No. 2 Concordia (Calif.), No. 7 Madonna, No. 9 Lewis-Clark State, and No. 15 Point Loma Nazarene – all of whom the Yotes won at least one set against.

 

CASCADE CONFERENCE RANKINGS: The sixth regular-season CCC Coaches Poll was released on Monday, with the Lady Yotes remaining in the No. 3 in the balloting.  Southern Oregon sits in the No. 1 spot for the third-straight week, followed by Oregon Tech, the Yotes, Eastern Oregon, Concordia, and Corban.  The CCC ranking is released on Monday’s, the NAIA national poll is released on Tuesday afternoons.

 

PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Lady Yotes can clinch their tenth-straight playoff berth with one victory and a loss by Northwest.  The top-six teams in the CCC advance to the postseason – with the No. 3 and No. 4 teams hosting a quarterfinal match, while the No. 1 and No. 2 teams earn a first-round bye (league champ will host the four-team CCC Tournament).

 

ABOUT OREGON TECH: Up first this weekend is No. 25 Oregon Tech, the lone team this season to sweep three games from the Coyotes – forcing 24 hitting errors.  The Owls (16-3, 11-1 CCC) come to Caldwell riding a five-game win streak, have won 11-of-12 and 16-of-18.  Krista Wooley (3.84 k/s, 2.78 d/s, .338%) is OIT’s top option, leading the league in kills, while Megan Christiansen (2.75 k/s 0.67 b/s) is potent, and setter Lizzie Law (8.66 a/g) is among the league leaders.  Tech leads the loop with a .269 hitting percentage and limits opponents to swing at a .141 clip.  It is the 49th meeting between the clubs, with the Yotes holding a 30-18 series edge.

 

ABOUT SOUTHERN OREGON: Saturday, its rival Southern Oregon coming to town, looking to sweep the Yotes for the first time since the 2002 season.  The No. 21 ranked Raiders (13-7, 11-1) boast the longest win streak in the loop at ten – and have not dropped a match since losing back-to-back contests to Eastern Oregon and Western Oregon in September.  All-American middle Mia Wortel (2.67 k/s, 0.97 b/s, .377%) is having a fabulous senior season, while reigning CCC Player of the Year Lindsey Stone (10.40 a/g, 1.57 d/g, 27 aces) leads the league in assists.  Southern holds opponents to a .145 hitting percentage – and forced the Yotes into 29 hitting errors in their four-set win to open the CCC season.  It marks the 69th meeting between the teams, with SOU holding a commanding 53-15 series lead – but have not won in the Activities Center since 2005.

 

AGAINST RANKED TEAMS IN 2008: The Lady Yotes have played seven matches this season against teams ranked in the Top-25 and have a 2-5 mark.  The Yotes have defeated Westminster and Eastern Oregon, but have lost matches to Southern Oregon and Concordia-Irvine in four sets, while losing to Point Loma Nazarene, Madonna, and Lewis-Clark State in five sets.

 

YOTES IN THE CCC STATS: As a team, the Yotes lead the league in opponents hitting percentage (.124), kills per set (12.82), and blocks per set (2.35), while ranking No. 2 in hitting percentage (.235) and assists (11.75).  Individually, Kristin Henning (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS)  leads the league in hitting percentage (.389) and is tied for the top-spot in blocks per set (1.06), while Marcella Hernandez (Torrance, Calif. / El Camino CC) is tied for the CCC lead in blocks per set (1.06).  Others in the Top-5 are Whitney Owen, who is third in digs per set (4.28), Sarah Buhler (Middleton, Idaho / Middleton HS), who is fifth in kills per set (3.17), and Naomi Reimer, who is fourth in aces per set (0.49).

 

CAREER RECORD BOOK: Four C of I players currently rank among the Top-10 in the all-time career record book.  Leading the way is Kathryn Ely (La Grande, Ore. / La Grande HS), who is fifth in school history with 1,199 kills.  Also Kristin Henning ranks No. 6 all-time in blocks with 323, Madie Machurek (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) is seventh in assists with 1,001, and Naomi Reimer is eighth in assists with 742.

 

RECAP – LEWIS-CLARK STATE 3, C OF I 2:. Dana Christiansen had eight kills in the final two sets, helping then No. 11 ranked Lewis-Clark State rally from a two set deficit to end The C of I’s 42-match home win streak, toppling the Coyotes 20-25, 18-25, 26-24, 25-12, 15-11 last Wednesday in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  The Coyotes were poised for victory, up two sets and leading 23-20 in Set 3, however, back-to-back Josi Lyman kills, a Katie Hinrichs ace, and a C of I hitting error swung the momentum, as a Lyman kill ended the set.  Set 4 was all L-C, sprinting out to a 12-3 lead on the strength of three service aces to earn the win, then road Christiansen in the finale, getting kills to push the score to 7-1, 8-3, and 9-4.  The Warriors would have match point at 14-7, but watch the Yotes push four points, before an Anile Clemente smash on a free ball closed out the match.  Clemente led all players with 15 kills and 15 digs, while Christiansen had 12 kills for the Warriors.  Lisa Davis had 21 assists, four aces, and seven digs in the win, while Lindsay Scott had 20 digs.  Middleton High product Austyn Lewis had four kills and ten blocks in the victory.  The C of I used a 7-1 push in Set 1 to earn the win, getting four kills from Naomi Reimer, then jumped out to a 17-6 lead to win Set 2 behind four kills from Kristin Henning.  They would lead 7-2 in Set 3 before L-C rallied - holding the Yotes without a block during the final three sets of the match.  Reimer had a rare triple-double with 12 kills, 35 assists, and 11 digs.  Sarah Buhler led the way with 14 kills, Madie Machurek had 27 assists and 13 digs, with Whitney Owen recording a career-high 25 digs in the losing cause.

 

RECAP – C OF I 3, CASCADE 0: Naomi Reimer had a season-high seven service aces, helping The C of I open up a road trip to the Rose City with a convincing 25-14, 25-13, 25-13 victory Friday at Cascade College in the Thunderdome.  The win for the Lady Yotes was their ninth-straight league victory and their 24th-straight victory over the Portland school.  Set 1 was tight midway through the period, until a Megan Spinks (Manteca, Calif. / East Union HS) spike began a 10-2 push to close out the game.  Set 2 saw the Thunderbirds jump out to a 5-3 lead, but seven straight C of I points - including three Reimer aces, gave the Yotes control.  The final set saw the Coyotes claim an 8-3 lead and were never threatened.  Reimer, who had a triple-double Wednesday against Lewis-Clark State, added five kills, ten assists, and seven digs to her ace total, while Sarah Buhler led the way with seven kills.  Kristin Henning had six kills and five blocks, while Marcella Hernandez and Spinks each had five kills.  Madie Machurek had a team-high 14 assists, while Whitney Owen had 13 digs.

 

RECAP – C OF I 3, WARNER PACIFIC 0: Sarah Buhler had ten kills and five digs, leading The C of I to their tenth-straight CCC victory, upending Warner Pacific, 25-20, 25-21, 25-15, Saturday in Portland, Ore.  Set 1 was a tight affair, as a Kara Veach kill pulled the Knights (5-9, 3-9) within 21-20.  However, a kill from Megan Spinks, a pair of WP attack errors, and a Naomi Reimer spike completed a 4-0 push to win the frame.  Set 2 saw the Yotes jump out to a 7-2 edge, but WP would rally to tie the score at 15-15.  Back to back Buhler kills would give The C of I the lead for good to take a 2-0 lead.  The final set was all Coyotes, using a 11-0 run midway through the set to claim the victory over the Knights.  Reimer had eight kills, 19 assists, and six digs in the victory, while Marcella Hernandez and Kristin Henning each had six kills.  Madie Machurek had 19 assists in the win, with Whitney Owen recording 21 digs.

 

ABOUT THE COACH: Liz Mendiola is in her eighth season as head volleyball coach at The C of I.  During her first six seasons at the helm, the Coyotes have advanced to six consecutive Cascade Conference tournaments, four NAIA regional tournaments, and back-to-back trips to the NAIA National Championships in 2005 and 2006.  Last season, the squad won their second-straight CCC title and advanced to the NAIA Region I Tournament semifinals - while being ranked as high as No. 6 in the national poll.  During her career, she has amassed a record of 174-71, the most wins and highest winning percentage in school history.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyote volleyball program, head to the official homepage of the Lady Yotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/vball.htm.

 

WOMEN’S SOCCER (8-3-2, 4-0-2 CCC): Lady Yotes take six-game unbeaten streak on road to face NW Christian and No. 9 Simon Fraser

 

LAST WEEK: vs. Warner Pacific (W 2-0), vs. Corban (T 0-0)

 

COMING UP: at Northwest Christian, Saturday, 7 p.m. (PT); vs. No. 9 Simon Fraser, Sunday (at Starfire Complex, Tukwila, Wash.), 5 p.m. (PT)

 

STATUS OF SYMMS FIELD: It is uncertain whether the Lady Yotes will play their matches next weekend on their home field on The C of I campus.  Field conditions deteriorated during the Oct. 4 match vs. Oregon Tech – so much so that the men’s team has moved this weekend’s home games to an alternate site.  An official announcement regarding the Oct. 24-25 games should be made early next week.

 

100 WINS CLOSING IN: Heading into the weekend, the Lady Yotes have won 97 matches in program history – needed three more wins to reach the 100-win plateau.  Also closing in on a milestone is head coach Niki Taylor, who needs two victories to become the all-time winningest coach in school history.

 

ANOTHER QUICK START IN CCC PLAY: The College of Idaho women’s soccer team has opened up the 2008 Cascade Conference slate on a good swing with a 4-0-2 record – marking the fourth-straight season that they have began the league season on the right note.  In 2005, the Lady Yotes opened 3-0-1 in CCC play; in 2006, they opened 4-0-1; while last year, the Coyotes began 3-0-2.

 

LADY YOTES HISTORY IN CCC: Since 1996, the Lady Yotes have recorded a 46-76-12 record in CCC play – but are solid in league counters over the past six years, notching a .500 or better record five times.  The last two-plus seasons, the Coyotes have been above the .500 mark, recording a 13-6-6 loop record – earning playoff appearances in 2006 and 2007.

 

EIGHT WINS – WHERE DOES THAT STAND: Heading into the week, the Lady Yotes have an 8-3-2 record overall.  In the 20 years of the program, The C of I has won more than eight games in a season just two times, while winning four or fewer games ten times.  The 2007 team won nine games, with the 2002 squad winning a school-record ten games.

 

GOALS COMPARED TO LAST SEASON: Through 13 games this season, the Lady Yotes have scored 26 goals – eclipsing the total of 17 goals The C of I scored in 19 games last year.

 

SCORING FIRST EQUALS WINS: In the Lady Yotes eight wins, The C of I has recorded the first goal of the game in seven of the eight games.  However, in their three losses and one of their two draws, the Yotes have seen their opponent get on the scoreboard first.

 

0-0 DRAWS: The 0-0 tilt between the Lady Yotes and Corban was the eighth time in 20 seasons that The C of I has played a scoreless draw.  Four of the matches (10/11/08 vs. Corban, 10/6/07 vs. Simon Fraser, 10/14/06 vs. Cascade, 9/15/06 vs. Northwest) have come in the past three years, while the other four (10/11/00 vs. Rocky Mountain, 10/7/95 vs. Concordia, 9/8/95 vs. Concordia, 10/5/91 vs. George Fox) were spread out over a 15-year span.

 

CAREER RECORDS: Two C of I players have moved into the Top-10 on the career records list during the 2008 season.  Junior midfielder Mandy Greif (Payette, Idaho / Payette HS) ranks No. 3 all-time with 15 assists – trailing the 32 assists from Alyssa Latham (2002-03) and the 20 assists from Kristine Jones (1990-93).  Also in the Top-10 is senior midfielder Allie Dufault (Irvine, Calif. / University HS), who is tied for seventh in goals scored, knocking home 11 goals in her career.  She is four goals back of sixth-place (Amy Wells with 15 goals from 1989-91) – with Jones leading the chart with 30 career goals from 1990-93.

 

ABOUT NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN: The Lady Yotes get a rare Friday off, playing Saturday at Northwest Christian.  The Beacons (5-8, 2-3 CCC) have won two in a row (1-0 wins over Warner Pacific and Cascade) and have allowed one or fewer goals in four of their last five matches.  NCU has scored the bulk of their goals in three matches (27 goals in wins over Mills and Simpson – who are a combined 2-20), but just three goals in their other eight counters.  Carli Vath (10 goals, 7 assists), Samantha Stewart (7 goals, 3 assists), and Heather Henderson (6 goals, 3 assists) are the main threats, with keeper Katelyn Nistler (2.31 GAA) recording three shutouts this season.  It is the second meeting between the teams, with the Yotes winning in Caldwell last year, 1-0.

 

NEUTRAL FIELD GAME VS. NO. 9 SIMON FRASER: Sunday, the Coyotes step aside from league play for their final non-conference test – a battle with ninth-ranked Simon Fraser at the Starfire Soccer Complex in Tukwila, Wash.  The Clan (8-3), who won NAIA championships in 1995 and 2000 (and have advanced to the national semifinals five times) have rebounded after a tough 2007 season with stellar defense – having allowed just six goals in 11 matches, and allowing more than one goal in a match just once.  Offensively, SFU is paced by Sarah Boulton (8 goals, 2 assists), Chanelle Bradshaw (3 goals, 1 assist), and Ari Adams (1 goal, 6 assists), while keeper Cassie Newbrook (0.54 GAA) is among the best in the Northwest.  It marks the second meeting between the teams, with the two schools playing to a 0-0 draw last season.

 

LADY YOTES RECEIVE VOTES IN THIRD-STRAIGHT NAIA POLL: For the fourth time this season and the third-straight week, the Lady Yotes have received votes in the NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll, earning five voter points in the latest tabulation released from the national office in Kansas City, Mo., or No. 39 in the nation.  Five other C of I opponents were in the poll – No. 5 Concordia, No. 9 Simon Fraser, with Carroll, Rocky Mountain, and Dominican all receiving votes.  The Coyotes were second in this week’s Cascade Conference poll, trailing only Concordia.  Rounding out the Top-5 was Corban, Southern Oregon, Northwest, and Oregon Tech.  The CCC poll is released on Monday’s, with the NAIA poll released on Tuesday afternoon.

 

GAME RECAP – C OF I 2, WARNER PACIFIC 0: A pair of goals in the first ten minutes of play was all The C of I needed, as the Lady Yotes picked up their first-ever win at Warner Pacific, toppling the Knights, 2-0, Friday at Portland Christian High School.  The win for The C of I extended their unbeaten streak to five and stopped an 0-2-1 skid against WP in the Rose City.  The Yotes jumped on top in the fifth minute of play, as Kelly Hardegree-Ullman (Boise, Idaho / Mountain View HS) tallied her sixth goal of the season, hammering home a pass from Chelsea Heffner (Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS).  They'd add an insurance goal in the tenth minute, as Jamie Reichel (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS) converted a Mandy Greif feed to make it 2-0.  It was all the Coyotes needed, as the Purple and Gold held a 20-7 shot advantage and limited the Knights to just one shot on goal.  They also extended WP's scoreless streak to 778 minutes - dating back to August.

 

GAME RECAP – C OF I 0, CORBAN 0: The Lady Yotes ran their unbeaten streak to six matches, as The C of I and Corban College played to a 0-0 draw Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field in Salem, Ore.  Despite a 23-14 edge in total shots, the Coyotes were unable to find the net - picking up their second tie in three matches.  Macy Egerman (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) was active in the offensive zone for the Yotes, leading the team with eight total shots, but Warriors keeper Karyn Allen was up to the challenge all afternoon, recording a season-high 11 saves.  Sadie Hughes (Courtenay, B.C. / Vanier SS) was equally impressive in goal for the Yotes, turning away five shots for her second shutout of the year.  The C of I has not allowed a goal in 302 minutes of action.

 

ABOUT THE COACH: Niki Taylor (23-21-7) is in her third season as head coach of The C of I women's soccer program.  In her two seasons with the Coyotes, she helped the Lady Yotes to their first-ever back-to-back playoff appearances, including their first-ever postseason win in 2007, advancing to the Cascade Conference Tournament semifinals.   A graduate of Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., Taylor was an honorable mention all-conference player for the Bulldogs in 1999 and 2000, helping the squad to the NCAA Division II regional championships.  She went on to assist coach Mike Cannon during the 2001 season, helping TSU to the regional finals, then moved West, where she was an assistant for Steve Lucas at Boise State for three seasons.  She has also been involved with the Les Bois United Soccer Club for the past five years, while serving as a head coach in the Idaho Olympic Development Program.  Taylor has received her USSF "B" Coaching License.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyote women’s soccer program, head to the official homepage of the Lady Yotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmenssoccer.htm.

 

 

CROSS COUNTRY: Nationally-ranked Yotes set to battle D-I’s Idaho State and Montana State in Pocatello

 

LAST WEEK: Idle

 

COMING UP: at Idaho State/Montana State dual, Saturday, Pocatello (Centennial Course).

 

YOTES TO SQUARE OFF WITH DIVISION I TEAMS THIS WEEKEND: For the third-straight year, The College of Idaho cross country teams will head to Eastern Idaho to compete – this year in a three-way dual against NCAA Division I programs Idaho State and Montana State.  The two Big Sky Conference teams and the Yotes will race on ISU’s Centennial Course – one of the more difficult cross country terrains in the state.  The host Bengals are very good on the women’s side and are coming off a team victory at the Color Country Invite, hosted by Southern Utah – led by Gemma Maini and Kris Thomasberg.  The ISU men have not fared well this season – placing third last week out of four teams in Cedar City, led by Ryan Davis and Logan Torigson.  The Coyote men and women have dropped both previous duals with ISU – with the women losing last year by a single point, however, the men defeated the Bengals at the 2008 Bob Firman Invite, and the women defeated ISU at the 2007 Bob Firman Invite.  The Bobcats will race against the Yotes for the first time and should provide excellent competition, as the MSU men are paced by Patrick Casey and Devin McDowell and the women are led by Morgan Dunley and Kala Jauquet.

 

LOOKING FOR BETTER WEATHER: Temperatures in the 60s are forecast in Bannock County this weekend, a far cry from the conditions the Coyotes and ISU raced in last year.  Last fall, a rare October snowstorm dumped six inches of snow on the course prior to the competition – with temperatures in the 30s and windy conditions made matters worse.

 

TOP-20 CCC TIMES: Three C of I men and four C of I women are among the Top-20 times this season in the Cascade Conference.  On the men’s side, Kiprotich Langat (Nairobi, Kenya / United World College) is 15th (25:37), Zeke Wilson (Challis, Idaho / Challis HS) is 16th (25:38), and Paul Sartin (Meridian, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) is 20th (25:44).  The women are led by Stephanie Helm (Challis, Idaho / Challis HS), who has the fastest time (17:56) and the fifth-fastest time (18:34) in the league this season, while Maggie Miller (Anchorage, Alaska / Lane CC) is No. 12 (19:01) and Chantel Varland (Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS) is No. 18 (19:24).

 

CCC COACHES POLL: The latest CCC Coaches Poll was released on Monday – with both sides pretty much the same.  For the second-straight week, the Lady Yotes were atop the women’s side, followed by Concordia, Evergreen State, Corban, Oregon Tech, Eastern Oregon, and Northwest.  The men were in the No. 2 slot for the second-straight week, right behind Southern Oregon.  Following the Yotes were Concordia, Eastern Oregon, Evergreen State, Corban, and Warner Pacific.  The CCC poll is released each Monday morning.

 

NAIA TOP-25 POLL: Once again, both C of I teams were ranked in the latest NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll – as the Coyote men were ranked No. 12 and the Lady Yotes No. 15.  For the men, it marks the 15th-straight regular-season poll that they have earned a Top-25 ranking.  Joining them in the poll were No. 8 Southern Oregon and No. 15 Concordia – while no other CCC women’s team was ranked in the poll (Concordia, Evergreen State, and Corban all received votes).

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I cross country teams, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/xc.htm.

 

GOLF: Coyote men seventh, Lady Yotes second at College of Idaho Invitational

 

LAST WEEK: hosted College of Idaho Invitational - Men 7th out of 8 teams, Women 2nd out of 2 full teams (2nd out of 5 teams overall)

 

COMING UP: Idle until spring season

 

HOME COURSE ADVANTAGE NOT ENOUGH FOR C OF I MEN: A tough second round was the dagger for The College of Idaho men's golf team, as the Coyotes finished seventh out of eight teams at The C of I Invitational at River Bend Golf Course last week.  The Yotes sat in a three-way tie for fifth-place after Round 1, but struggled to a second round 328 - their worst total of the tourney, falling to seventh.  A solid final round - thanks to four rounds in the 70s, including a 75 from Ben Coate (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS), drew the Yotes within 13 shots of sixth.  Overall, Tyler Thurston (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) was the top Coyote in 17th-place with a 16-over total.  Walla Walla Community College took home the team title, while Northwest Christian's Justin Ahrens won medalist honors.

 

WOMEN TAKE SECOND AT RIVER BEND: Despite solid play from their top three golfers, the Lady Yotes were no match for Concordia University in Wilder, finishing 75-strokes behind the nationally-ranked Cavaliers - but ahead of the other three Cascade Conference teams (as Northwest Christian and Warner Pacific failed to fill full rosters and Corban did not participate).  Cecilia Garcia (Ontario, Ore. / Treasure Valley CC) had a quality tourney, notching an 82-84-82  248 to place fourth overall.

 

CCC PLAYER STANDINGS: Following the first two CCC events, Tyler Thurston is the top C of I men's player, sitting just outside the Top-10 with a 78.33 stroke average.  On the women's side, three Lady Yotes are in the Top-10 - Cecilia Garcia in fourth (84.50), Heidi Murphy (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) in sixth (87.00), and Breanna Pace (Burley, Idaho / Burley HS) in tenth (89.00).

 

OFF UNTIL THE SPRING: The C of I Invitational was the final event of the fall season, with the Yotes not competing in an official event until March.  The CCC schedule has two more league tournaments (Warner Pacific and Concordia hosting), with the CCC Championships set for late April at Diamond Woods Golf Club in Monroe, Ore.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I golf teams, head to the official homepage of Coyote golf, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/golf.htm.