Yote Notes – November
11, 2008
Mike Safford Jr. – Sports
Info. Director
ATHLETIC NEWS:
IDAHO STAMPEDE TO HOLD INTRA-SQUAD
GAME IN ACTIVITIES CENTER: The Idaho Stampede are teaming up with The College of Idaho for an
inter-squad scrimmage on November 19 at 7 p.m. at the J.A. Albertson Activities
Center in Caldwell – with all proceeds raised to benefit the Coyote Men’s Basketball Team. For the Idaho Stampede, this will be the last
day of the 2008 training camp. Head
coach, Bryan Gates will then have to cut his team down to the final roster
after the game. “This is a great way to
gauge where our draft picks are,” said Gates.
“We are thrilled to be able to play on the court where Coach Owen and
Coach Holly have created a positive and winning environment.” Tickets for the inter-squad game are just
$5. They can be purchased at the Idaho
Stampede office, at The C of I Ticket Office in the J.A. Albertson
Activities Center,
or by phone at 459-5681. Fans may also
purchase tickets at the door on the game-day.
All major credit cards are accepted but cash is encouraged. “We are very excited to be participating in a
fundraiser for the College
of Idaho,” said Stampede
President and General Manager, Steve Brandes.
“The Idaho Stampede are open to any and all opportunities to contribute
back to the Treasure
Valley.” Fans will have the chance to get autographs
from the Stampede players, Rumble, and Spirit dance team after the game.
NO HOSPITALITY ROOM IN 2008-09: The College of Idaho Athletic
Association has announced that there will be no
hospitality room for boosters during the upcoming basketball season. “Last season, we spent nearly $4,000 for food
and beverages for the hospitality room, and we feel that this is money that
should be spent on our student-athletes,” said athletic director, Marty
Holly. “I’m sure that all supporters
understand that the money should be directed toward our athletic programs.”
ORANGE SALES CONTINUE: Once again, The C of I baseball team
will be out in the community, selling boxes of apples and oranges. To secure yourself a box of fruit, contact
head coach Shawn Humberger at 459-5861.
DONATE TO
THE COLLEGE OF IDAHO ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION: Click
here to make your tax deductible gift to assist the CIAA with post-season
championships team travel, scholarships and recruiting - https://www.collegeofidaho.edu/media/_secure/makeagift.asp
MEN’S BASKETBALL (0-2): Coyotes look to rebound at United
Heritage Tip-Off and Las Vegas Classic
NOTE – C of I loses United Heritage Tip-Off to NNU, 76-71. Complete coverage of the game in next week’s
Yote Notes
LAST WEEK: at Quinn Classic, La Grande,
Ore. – vs. No. 22 Lewis-Clark State (L 71-58),
vs. Montana
Tech (L 78-70)
COMING UP: 7th Annual United Heritage
Tip-Off vs. Northwest Nazarene, Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.; at Las
Vegas Classic, Las Vegas, Nev. – Friday vs. Westmont, 2 p.m. (PT); Saturday vs. Fresno Pacific, Noon (PT)
ON THE RADIO: The United Heritage Tip-Off against Northwest Nazarene,
along with Friday’s game in Las Vegas
will be carried live on radio on 1490 KCID-AM.
Mike Safford will be at the Idaho
Center on Tuesday night,
with pregame coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Friday, Dave Hahn will be in Las Vegas
for the match-up with Westmont, with the pregame show startng at 2:45 p.m. in
the Treasure Valley.
Saturday’s game with Fresno Pacific will not be aired, due to conflicts
with Idaho and Idaho State
football.
ON TELEVISION: For the fifth-straight season, the
United Heritage Tip-Off will be broadcast live in the Treasure Valley on KTVB’s
24/7 (cable channel 28, digital channel 7.2, UHF channel 49). David Augusto will handle the play-by-play
duties, with C of I athletic director and Hall of Fame coach Marty Holly
providing analysis.
YOTES CAN’T HANG ON IN LA GRANDE: For the second-straight season, The
College of Idaho men’s basketball team opened the season 0-2 – dropping both
games at the Quinn Classic in La Grande, Ore. However, unlike last year, when the Yotes
were blown out in their two openers – The C of I had chances to win both games
– holding the lead at the ten minute mark in the second half in both game.s.
WOES FROM BOTH LINES: Issues from the lines hurt the
Coyotes, as the squad connected on just 26-of-51 free throws – a paltry 53-percent. It was worse behind the new 20-foot, 9-inch
three-point line, where the Coyotes made just 8-of-45 attempts – an 18-percent
clip. The squad was a combined 2-for-25
from outside the arc in the second half of the two games.
TALE OF TWO HALVES: If the Yotes could have manufactured
their first half of both games – the team would have headed home with a pair of
wins. The C of I hit 30 of their 56
field goal attempts before halftime – leading Lewis-Clark State
36-27 and Montana Tech 39-33 at the break.
However, the second half was a different story, as the Coyotes converted
just 17-of-54 shots – including going the final 12-plus minutes of the L-C game
without a made field goal.
DUNKS GALORE: Fans will enjoy the 2008-09 team, as
the Coyotes enjoy to play above the rim – as evident of the five dunks against
Montana Tech. Transfer Jordan Stokes (Las Vegas, Nev.
/ Lassen CC) had a pair of highlight reel dunks – one on an alley-oop from Brian Bergerson (Modesto, Calif.
/ Modesto CC),
with the other an emphatic two hand jam on a breakaway. Craig
McGee (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) had
a pair of jams on post moves, with Jabari
McIntosh (Union City, Calif. / West
Valley CC) providing the final flush on a two-hand jam in the final minute.
OLDEST COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL RIVALRY
IN IDAHO: The recorded history of The C of
I-NNU series began in 1933, with the College knocking off Northwest Nazarene,
23-16. Overall, the two teams have met 183 times in men’s basketball, with the
Coyotes holding a 111-72 advantage. The Coyotes have had three seven-game win
streaks in the series (1952-56,1960-62. 1984-86), while NNU has won five games
in a row three times (1975-76, 1977-80, and 1996-97). The last three meetings – all wins for the
Coyotes, were exhibition games for both teams, and do not count in the all-time
series standings.
TICKETS TO THE TIP-OFF: Tickets for the United Heritage
Tip-Off can be purchased in the ticket offices of both The C of I and NNU,
along with www.ictickets.com and at the
Idaho box
office. Tickets are $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors, $2.00 for students,
and $20.00 for coaches row tickets (a one-dollar surcharge will be added to any
ticket purchased at the Idaho
Center).
TEAMS ON A NATIONAL SCENE: Both the Coyotes and Crusaders have
been very successful on the national stage over the course of the last four
decades. The C of I has advanced to 17 NAIA national tournaments, including
five of the last seven years – winning the 1996 crown. Northwest Nazarene,
before their move to the NCAA Division II made nine appearances in the NAIA
tourney, with a second and three third-place finishes. The two schools combined
have a 31-24 record at nationals.
HISTORY OF THE TIP-OFF: It is the seventh time that the
Yotes and Crusaders have met in the Idaho
Center – with crowds each
season approaching 5,000 fans. The C of
I holds victories in five of the six previous meetings – winning in 2000
(73-59), 2001 (99-86), 2005 (78-71), 2006 (88-80), and 2007 (60-54) while NNU
notched their only win in 2004 (78-75).
ABOUT NORTHWEST NAZARENE: The 2008-09 Crusaders (17-10 last
season) look to use a veteran club to climb the ladder in the Great Northwest
Athletic Conference. NNU returns both of
their top posts in junior Kendall Gielow (13.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and senior Scott
Helpenstell (9.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 588 fg%), along with their top three-point
shooter Joel Ryman (11.3 ppg, .500 3fg%).
Also back in local product Louie Beech (7.6 ppg), who averaged 18 points
a game in the Crusaders two exhibition games – a 73-46 loss at Utah State and a
121-70 win over Corban College. The
Crusaders led the NCAA Division II last season in free throw percentage (.784
percent) and hit nearly 40-percent of their three-point attempts.
A LOOK BACK TO 2007 - C OF I 60, NNU 54: Despite not converting a field goal
for the first ten minutes of the game, The College of Idaho rallied from a
17-point first half deficit to defeat Canyon County rival Northwest
Nazarene, 60-54 in the Sixth-Annual United Heritage Tip-Off, before 3,892 fans
in the Idaho Center. The exhibition win
for the Coyotes was their third-straight against their neighbors from Nampa and improved The C
of I to 5-1 in the series. With the game
tied at 44-44, Bryan Champ (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) canned a
three-pointer at the 5:16 mark to give the Yotes the lead for good, as The C of
I went on a 15-4 run to take control of the contest. The Purple and Gold
connected on 57-percent of their field goals in the second half, including
5-of-7 from outside the arc. It wasn't
easy for the Coyotes, as the Crusaders connected on their first four
three-point attempts, building a 20-3 edge with 10:47 left in the first
half. However, a Donnel Garner trey, ended a 0-for-10 start for The C of
I, helped the Yotes go on a 14-2 run to cut the margin to 22-17 - but trailed
28-18 at halftime. The Yotes would score the first seven points of the
second half, taking their first lead at 34-33, since the early moments of the
game, on a Phillip Matcham trey. The game would see three lead
changes and four ties until Champ's triple.
Josh Owen had 13 points and three assists in the win, with Craig McGee adding
12 points and Matcham ten. Champ had seven points, six rebounds, and
three steals, with Garner recording five steals. NNU got 15 points from Brian Parnell and 11
points from Joel Ryman, but were playing without standout forward, Scott
Helpenstell, who missed the game with an ankle injury.
OFF TO LAS VEGAS: The Yotes return to regular season
action this weekend, heading south for the Las Vegas Classic, hosted by Robert Morris
College. It marks the ninth time that The C of I has
appearance in the tournament – having made seven consecutive trips to Vegas
from the 1997-98 season through the 2003-04 season, returning to the tourney
last season.
GAMES AT A NEW SITE: The games will be played at a
different site than in years past – at Desert Oasis High, located southwest of
the famous Vegas Strip. It is located at
6600 Erie Avenue.
ABOUT WESTMONT: The Coyotes will open their trip to Las Vegas with a rematch against Westmont of Santa Barbara,
Calif. The Warriors (15-13 last season) met The C of
I in the Wendy’s Classic in Caldwell
last season, with the Yotes winning 79-67.
16th year head coach John Moore returns an experienced club,
led by 6-6 forward Dan Rasp (14.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg), 6-3 shooting guard Tyler
Dutton (11.0 ppg, .413 3fg%), and swingman Nasa Sete (8.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Their line-up will also be helped by transfer
Chris Jackson, who led the CCCAA in steals and assist-to-turnover ratio. It marks the third meeting between the clubs,
with the Yotes holding a 2-0 series edge.
ABOUT FRESNO PACIFIC: Saturday’s early game will be the
first-ever between the Coyotes and Fresno
Pacific of the Golden State Athletic Conference. The Sunbirds (2-0) are coming off a 19-11
season – but have been very impressive in the early going, sweeping aside Cal
State-Maritime and Holy Names, nearly upsetting Fresno
State, then handing San Francisco a 74-69 loss. Leading the charge for the NAIA Division I
club is James Lewis (23.0 ppg), who had 21 in the win against USF, while Marcus
West (16.0 ppg) had 25 in the 97-88 loss at Fresno State.
PRESEASON NATIONAL POLL: The C of I earned one vote in the
2008-09 NAIA Division II Preseason Top-25 Coaches Poll, released Oct. 27 by the
national office in Kansas City,
Mo. For the Coyotes,
coming off a 13-18 season, it marks the 16th-straight season that the team has
earned a vote in the poll. They had a streak of 15-straight years of
Top-25 appearances ended last season.
Four other CCC teams were in the Top-25 - No. 1 Oregon Tech, No. 6
Eastern Oregon, No. 20 Evergreen State, and No. 24 Warner Pacific, while three
other opponents - No. 13 Westminster and No. 22 Lewis-Clark State in the NAIA
Division I poll, and Menlo, receiving votes in the NAIA Division II poll, were
among the elite teams.
CASCADE CONFERENCE COACHES POLL: The C of I was picked fifth out of
11 teams as the Cascade Conference coaches announced their 2008-09
Preseason Poll, released Oct. 15 by the league office in Portland, Ore. Defending NAIA Division II champions, Oregon
Tech, claimed eight first-place votes to take the top spot, while 2007-08 CCC
champion Eastern Oregon took the other three first-place votes and was
second. Evergreen
State and Warner Pacific
were tied for third, just four voter points ahead of the Coyotes.
GAME RECAP: LEWIS-CLARK
STATE 71, C OF I 58: Curtis Allen scored 16 of his
game-high 20 points in the second half, as NAIA Division I No. 22 Lewis-Clark
State rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat The C of I, 71-58,
in Friday’s game of the Quinn Classic in La Grande, Ore.
After trailing 36-27 at the break, the Warriors forced three straight C
of I turnovers to open the second half, using a 6-0 run in the first 90 seconds
to pull to within 36-33. L-C would retake the lead at 43-42 on an Allen
steal and lay-up and take the lead for good with eight minutes left on an Allen
jumper - part of a 12-0 run to put the game away. The Coyotes could not handle the defensive
pressure from the Warriors in the second half, converting just four field goals
- going the final 12 minutes of the game without a made field goal. The C
of I connected on just 2-of-19 three-pointers on the night, and just 18-of-32
free throws. On the flip side, the
new-look Yotes played a fabulous first half - hitting 58-percent of their
three-point attempts, using a 14-0 run midway through the period to build a 20-11
lead, maintaining the margin throughout the period. Craig McGee led the Yotes with 12 points and
five rebounds, with Bryan Champ and Jordan Stokes each scoring 11. Post
Drew Arnold had 13 points and six rebounds in the win for L-C.
GAME RECAP: MONTANA TECH 78, C OF I
70: Montana Tech hit
7-of-10 three-point baskets in the second half, including three consecutive
triples in a 14-4 run, as the Orediggers rallied for a 78-70 victory over The C
of I at the Aramark Quinn Classic Saturday in La Grande, Ore. Tony Trudnowski hit back to back treys to
give Tech the lead for good at 48-46, with a Cole Conway triple with 7:55 left
building the lead to 56-50. The Yotes
would cut the margin to 63-58 on a tip-in from Jordan Stokes, but could not get
closer. The Coyotes, who saw a six-game
win streak over the Diggers snapped, used a 16-2 first half run to build a
20-11 lead. Back to back Stokes dunks
pushed the lead to 32-20, but Tech cut the lead to six at the break. For the second night in a row, the second
half was not kind to The C of I, as the Yotes made just 1-of-14 three-point
attempts after the break, while converting on just 8-of-17 free throws for the
game. Craig McGee led the Yotes with 18
points on 8-of-11 shooting, with Brian Bergerson adding 12 – but going 4-of-17
from outside the arc. Josh Monagle was a
work horse in the paint for the Diggers, hitting 14-of-17 shots as part of his
30 point night. Trudnowski had 18 points
in the win.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more on The C of I men’s
basketball program, head to the homepage of the Coyotes,
www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (2-1): Lady Yotes take two-game win streak
to Salt Lake for Westminster Tournament
LAST WEEK: vs. Concordia-Irvine (W 81-70), vs.
Northwest Christian (W 72-63)
COMING UP: at Westminster Tournament, Salt Lake
City, Utah – Thursday vs. No. 15 Cal Baptist, 2 p.m.; Friday vs. Northern New
Mexico, 4 p.m.; Saturday vs. Holy Names, 2 p.m.
ON THE AIR: No internet broadcasts of games in Salt Lake City will be
available. All Lady Yote road CCC games
will be carried live on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the
action. In addition, the Coyotes are
hopeful that live internet video will be available for home games through Penn
Atlantic later this season.
LIVE STATS: Live stats of all three games at the
Westminster Tournament will be available via Westminster’s athletic website at http://klubboom.com/xlive.htm.
VANDER ESCH SOLID AT HOME: After an outstanding opening road
trip to Utah, forward Christon Vander Esch (Riggins, Idaho
/ Treasure Valley CC) had back-to-back solid games in the Lady Yotes two
home wins last week. The senior recorded
her sixth career double-double with 26 points and a career-high tying 15
rebounds in the win over Concordia-Irvine, followed it up with ten points and
five rebounds against Northwest Christian – with a total of eight steals in the
two games. Vander Esch has now recorded
at least one steal in 20 consecutive games, a point in 42-straight games, and a
rebound in 52-straight games.
BRUCE SHOWING PROMISE IN THE POST: Stepping into the starting role in
the middle this season for the Lady Yotes, Nicole
Bruce (Boise, Idaho
/ Bishop Kelly HS) has impressed with her first extended playing time of
her career. The sophomore, who managed
just six minutes a game last season, is averaging 20 minutes a game this season
– scoring eight points and seven boards vs. CUI, then recorded her first-ever
double-double, 11 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Northwest
Christian. Bruce is also perfect from
the foul line, connecting on 7-of-7 free throws this season.
STRUNK CONSISTENT: Transfer Katie Strunk (Shoshone, Idaho / Walla Walla CC) has
provided stability for the Lady Yotes off the bench in the first three games of
the season. The junior is averaging just
under 20 minutes per game – recording at least six rebounds in all three games,
averaging 13 points per night. Strunk
recorded a season-high five steals in the win over Concordia-Irvine.
WINGS SPREADING THE WEALTH: The Lady Yotes have had a different
wing step up in each game this season, giving head coach Reagan Rossi multiple options.
Against CUI, ShaNae Horner (West Jordan, Utah / Snow CC) had 12
points to lead the guards, while on Saturday, both sophomore Nicole Gall (Boise, Idaho / Santa Clara U.) and true freshman Meghan Hughes (Eagle, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) each had ten points.
HIGHEST COMBINED SCORE: The 193 points combined between the
Lady Yotes and Westminster
on Nov. 1 equaled the highest combined score in program history – joining a
99-94 victory over Concordia from the 1996-97 season. The 109 points scored by Westminster in their
win was the second-most allowed by a C of I team – the most, 110 points by
Lewis-Clark State during the 2006-07 season.
ANOTHER ROAD TRIP TO SALT LAKE CITY: After a weekend at home, the Lady Yotes head out on the
final preseason road trip before the start of Cascade Conference play,
returning to Salt Lake City
for a trio of games at the Westminster Tournament. Thursday, The C of I opens with Cal Baptist, who opens the 2008-09
season ranked No. 13 in the NAIA Division I preseason poll. The Lancers (1-0) lost their lone exhibition
game 82-73 to UC-San Diego, but opened the regular-season with a 100-45 victory
over Pacific Union, as Brenna Hahn, who had 23 points in the loss to UCSD,
poured in 20. The key to CBU’s success
is All-America guard Nicole Davis – one of the top players in the Golden State
Athletic Conference. It marks the second
meeting between the clubs, with the Yotes winning the first meeting back in
1997. Friday, the Lady Yotes will meet
first-year program Northern New Mexico,
a USCAA school that has made the transition from a two-year to a four-year
institution. The Eagles (2-4) have
rebounded after four consecutive lopsided early-season losses to win
back-to-back games over New
Mexico Highlands
and College of the Southwest. Ashley
Davis (16 ppg) and Mariha Simpkson (15 ppg) lead the NNMC attack. Closing out the weekend is a match-up with
perennial NAIA Division II power, Holy
Names. The Hawks (1-2) have
struggled on the glass in their first three games – with their opponents
recording a seven rebound per game lead, but HNU was able to steal a rare 68-60
victory at Carroll College. The two
teams have met once before, with the Hawks upending the Yotes, 69-60, in the
1999-00 season.
GAME RECAP – C OF I 81,
CONCORDIA-IRVINE 70: Christon
Vander Esch scored a game-high 26 points and added 15 rebounds, as The C of I
opened up their home schedule with a 81-70 victory over Concordia-Irvine
Thursday night in the J.A.
Albertson Activities
Center. The Lady Yotes, coming off an exhibition win
over NCAA Division I Weber State, forced 31 turnovers and outscored the
visitors from California
30-8 off miscues. After a see-saw first
half, the NAIA Division I Eagles took their final lead of the night at 40-39,
before the Yotes methodically took control of the game. A Vander Esch
jumper at the 12:20 mark pushed the lead to 55-48, with ShaNae Horner bucket
inside the final three minutes got the lead out to 74-61. Vander Esch connected on 10-of-18 shots from
the floor, including four three-pointers, and registered five steals.
Katie Strunk had 12 points, eight rebounds, and five steals off the bench, with
Horner adding 12 points and six assists.
The Eagles, making their 2008-09 debut, held a 54-52 rebound edge - but
struggled hanging onto the ball. Nicole Fu led the Golden State Athletic
Conference opponent with 20 points and ten rebounds, but also had seven
turnovers. Kayanna Nichols had 11 points and Tyler Howard added ten
points off the bench.
GAME RECAP – C OF I 72, NORTHWEST
CHRISTIAN 63: The C of I
overcame a horrible night shooting with great defense and hard-work rebounding
to win a second straight, besting league foe Northwest Christian 72-63 in a
non-conference tussle on Saturday night.
For the second straight game shots didn’t fall for the Yotes, as the
team hit just 23-of-77 (29.9 percent), yet won the battle on the boards 52-39,
including 29-10 on the offensive end, and forced 27 turnovers. The Coyotes inched out to an 18-14 lead on a
Christon Vander Esch bucket midway through the first half, and regrouping from
a 24-20 deficit after a Callie McVicker triple as Vander Esch hit two free
throws, then Katie Strunk and Meghan Hughes each tossed in a bucket. Up 28-26 at the break, the Yotes tried to
break free early in the second half as Nicole Gall hit a three-ball and added a
12-footer in a 10-2 push, and a Nicole Bruce 3-point play made it 45-36. But the Beacons hung around as shots refused
to fall for the Yotes, eventually grabbing a 52-51 lead on an Emily Gray bucket
with 5:59 to play. C of I answered by attacking
the bucket, getting to the free-throw line to help power the offense as Katee Brewer (Arco, Idaho / Butte County HS) hit two freebies and Hughes added
two more, sandwiched around a Brewer trey.
In all, the Yotes sank 10-of-14 freebies after the Beacons took that
brief lead. And Kayla Brewer (Arco, Idaho / Butte County
HS) added a big
3-pointer — despite the off shooting night — with the shot clock winding down,
putting the C of I up 68-60 with 56.4 seconds left. Bruce led the way for the Yotes with 11
points and 12 rebounds, while Vander Esch, Gall and Hughes each scored 10 in
the win.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more on The C of I women’s
basketball program, head to the homepage of the Lady Yotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.
VOLLEYBALL (21-7): NAIA Championships berth on the line
as Lady Yotes host Cascade Conference Tournament
LAST WEEK: at Eastern
Oregon (W 3-0), at Northwest Christian (W 3-0)
COMING UP: host Cascade Conference Postseason
Tournament – Friday, Southern Oregon vs. Oregon Tech, 4 p.m.; C of I vs. Eastern Oregon, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Championship Game, 7
p.m.
YOTES HOST CCC TOURNAMENT: By virtue of winning the regular season
Cascade Conference championship, The College of Idaho volleyball team has
earned the host berth for the 2008 CCC Tournament, Friday and Saturday in the J.A. Albertson
Activities Center. It marks the second time that the Lady Yotes
have hosted the tournament, The C of I hosted the CCC Tournament at the
conclusion of the 2006 season.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION: There will be one session per day at
the tourney, with ticket prices set at $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors, and
$2.00 for children 17-and-under and students from affiliated schools. Only NAIA passes will be accepted. Both The C of I and Southern Oregon received
quarterfinal byes in the tournament, with third-seeded Oregon Tech advancing to
the semis with a three-set win over Corban, and fourth-seeded Eastern
Oregon advancing with a five-set win over Concordia. The semifinal winners will meet for the
championship on Saturday night.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: For the first time, the winner of the
CCC Tournament will receive an automatic berth to the NAIA Championships. In previous years, CCC teams had to advance
to Nationals through the NAIA Region I – which was eliminated this year as the
NAIA moved to conference-direct qualification.
A total of 36 teams will advance to the National Tournament, with 28
teams receiving a bid through their affiliated conference, seven teams
receiving an at-large berth based on the final national poll, and one host
berth. The Top-12 ranked teams will
automatically move to the final site in Sioux City,
Iowa, while the remaining 24 teams will play a
first-round match at various campus sites on Nov. 22 to determine the remaining
12 spots to Sioux City.
PAST TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS: The Lady Yotes have won the last two
CCC Tournaments (the event was not held in 2007), winning the tourney at
Southern Oregon in 2005, and winning the tourney in Caldwell in 2006. Southern Oregon
claimed the titles in 2003 and 2004, with Concordia dominating the league from
1999-02. Outside of the Lady Yotes
victory in 2005, the tournament host has won the event every year since 1999.
ABOUT EASTERN
OREGON: The
Mountaineers (20-9) are having their best season in recent memory – riding a
10-2 mark at home to a fourth-place finish in CCC play. Eastern has a quality front line, paced by
All-CCC candidate Grace Deboodt (3.5 k/s, 2.4 d/s) and Melanie Cecilani (2.5
k/s, 0.5 b/s), while libero Sareena Simpson (4.5 d/s, 41 aces) is among the
league leaders in digs and aces. EOU
will have to get a big monkey off their back to reach the title game – the Mountaineers
have dropped 28-straight matches to The C of I, dating back to 1996 and trail
the all-time series 57-20.
ABOUT SOUTHERN
OREGON: The
Raiders (19-9) look to return to the NAIA Tournament for the first time since
the 2004 season and have spent time this season in the NAIA Top-25. SOU is led by a pair of All-Americans – 2007
CCC Player of the Year Lindsey Stone (10.8 a/s, 34 aces), who leads the league
in assists, and three-time All-CCC middle Mia Wortel (2.9 k/s, 1.0 b/s), who is
hitting at a .391 clip this season.
Southern has won six matches in a row coming in and 16 of their last 17
overall – and lead the all-time series with the Coyotes 53-16.
ABOUT OREGON TECH: The Owls (22-9) have had a banner
2008 season and look to make their first-ever trip to the NAIA
Championships. OIT is led by the CCC’s
leading hitter in Krista Wooley (3.9 k/s, 2.9 d/s), along with Megan
Christiansen (2.9 k/s, 0.9 b/s), and Nicole Andrews (2.2 k/s). Setter Lizzie Law (9.5 a/g) is among the
league leaders in assists, while libero Krystie Vea (3.6 d/s) has a tough
left-handed serve. The Yotes and Owls
have met 49 previous times, with The C of I holding a 31-18 series edge.
TEAMS AGAINST EACH OTHER: Each of the four teams has had
varying success against the other foes, with the Lady Yotes the lone team to
defeat all three (going 2-0 vs. EOU, and 1-1 vs. both OIT and SOU). Southern Oregon
has swept OIT, split with the Yotes, but lost both to Eastern, while Tech has
swept EOU, split with the Yotes, but lost both to SOU. EOU has swept Southern, but been swept by
both OIT and C of I.
OWEN NAMED LIBERO OF THE WEEK: For the fourth time this season, C of I libero Whitney Owen (Caldwell, Idaho
/ Vallivue HS) was named CCC Libero of the Week, released Monday by the
league office in Portland, Ore.
The sophomore had back-to-back big nights for the Lady Yotes, recording
22 digs in the win at Eastern Oregon, followed
by 21 digs in the win at Northwest Christian.
Owen now ranks second in the league in digs per set.
STILL NO. 21 IN NAIA POLL: The Lady Yotes find themselves ranked
in the NAIA Top-25 for the third-straight week, remaining at No. 21 in this week’s tabulation. It marks the 32th time in school
history that the Yotes have been nationally ranked – once in 2000, two times in
2001, every poll from Nov. 16, 2005 to Aug. 19, 2008, along with the last three
polls. It also marks the 43rd-straight
week that the Coyotes have received votes in the national poll. Other C of I opponents were in the ranking –
No. 3 Concordia-Irvine, No. 11 Madonna, No. 13 Lewis-Clark State, No. 14 Point
Loma Nazarene, with Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech receiving votes. The final Top-25 poll will be released this
Sunday
AGAINST TOP-25 TEAMS: The Lady Yotes have played nine matches
this season against teams ranked in the Top-25 and have a 4-5 mark. The Yotes have defeated Eastern Oregon in
four sets, along with Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, and Westminster
in three sets - but have lost matches to SOU and Concordia-Irvine in four sets,
while losing to Point Loma Nazarene, Madonna, and Lewis-Clark State
in five sets. Since the 2005 season, the
Lady Yotes have won 15 matches against teams ranked in the NAIA Top-25.
CCC HOME WIN STREAK AT 35: With wins over Northwest and Evergreen State on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, the Lady
Yotes ran their conference home win streak to 35 matches, dating back to
September of 2005. The C of I has
recorded an undefeated CCC mark at home each of the last three seasons – going
9-0 in league play in 2006, and 10-0 in CCC play each of the last two years.
20-WIN SEASONS: With the win over Eastern
Oregon last Tuesday , the Lady Yotes would record their
fourth-straight 20-win season. In the
eight-years under head coach Liz
Mendiola, The C of I has not won fewer than 17 games in a season.
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 (Boise,
Idaho / Boise
HS) ranks No. 6 all-time in blocks with 356, Madie Machurek (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) is seventh in assists with 1,147,
and Naomi Reimer (Killarney,
Man. / Killarney SS) is
eighth in assists with 888.
RECAP – C OF I 3, EASTERN OREGON
0: The C of I clinched at least a share of their
third-straight CCC title with a convincing 25-18, 25-20, 25-19 victory over
Eastern Oregon at Quinn Coliseum in La Grande,
Ore. The No. 21 ranked Coyotes won for the ninth
time in a row overall and notched their 28th-straight win over Eastern, dating
back to 1996. Megan Spinks (Manteca, Calif. / East Union HS) provided
the spark for the Yotes in the opening set, recording seven kills - including
three straight spikes to give The C of I momentum. Set 2 was Naomi
Reimer's turn, recording three kills in a 4-0 push that broke an 18-18 tie to
give the Yotes a two set advantage. The clinching set saw the Yotes run
off nine-straight points, erasing an 11-10 lead by the Mountaineers (18-9,
13-6). Spinks had 11 kills and three
blocks, while Jessie Link (Tonopah,
Nev. / Nicholls State U.) had
a career-high 11 kills in the win. Reimer had nine kills, 20 assists, and
six digs, Whitney Owen had 22 digs, with Kaylyn
Hayashikawa (Waikoloa,
Hawaii / Hawaii Prep Acad.) recorded a
career-high ten digs. EOU got ten kills
and 12 digs from all-star Grace Deboodt, but hit just .148 as a team in the
loss.
RECAP – C OF I 3, NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN
0: Jessie Link
recorded ten kills as The College of Idaho clinched their third-consecutive
Cascade Conference title with a 25-17, 25-18, 25-16 victory over Northwest
Christian at the Morse Center in Eugene,
Ore. Despite the lopsided scores, the match was
much closer, as the Beacons (12-16, 5-14) used a 7-0 push in the
opening set to build a 9-5 lead. The Yotes would come right back,
getting two Link spikes and a Madie Machurek ace as part of a 9-0 run to take
control. Set 2 saw The C of I lead just 18-16, before the Yotes closed
the period on a 7-2 run, keyed by a pair of Megan Spinks kills. The
Coyotes never trailed in the finale, as Kristin Henning recorded four kills in
the deciding set. Sarah Buhler (Middleton, Idaho
/ Middleton HS) had eight kills and Henning added six in the win, with
Machurek recording a double-double with 11 kills and 11 assists. Whitney
Owen led all players with 21 digs. Brooke Stribling led NCU with eight
kills and 11 digs, with setter Whitney Hoff recording 17 assists and 13 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 182-71, 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.
MEN’S SOCCER (14-2-1): Yotes to host Concordia in CCC
Championship Game Wednesday at Vallivue
High School
LAST WEEK:. Cascade Conference semifinals – vs.
Warner Pacific (W 3-0)
COMING UP: Cascade Conference finals – Wednesday
vs. Concordia, 1 p.m. (Vallivue HS)
PLAYOFF GAME MOVED TO VALLIVUE HIGH: With the Symms Field pitch still
unplayable, the Coyotes have moved the CCC title match to Vallivue High – with
a 1 p.m. kickoff. To get to VHS, take Indiana Street south
to Homedale Road
and make a right, turn right at first four-way stop (Montana Ave.), the soccer field is
located just north of the football stadium on your right. Admission will be charged at the event -
$5.00 for adults, $2.00 for students (fans with C of I soccer season passes
will be admitted for free).
IT’S FOR ALL THE MARBLES: For both The College of Idaho and Concordia University men’s soccer
teams, it all comes down to Wednesday afternoon, as the top-two programs of the
decade meet to determine the CCC’s lone berth into the NAIA National
Tournament. Unlike in past seasons where
CCC teams had to advance through a regional tournament (against teams such as Seattle, Simon Fraser, and Westminster), the NAIA now determines
national berths through conference-direct qualification.
ABOUT CONCORDIA: The Cavaliers (13-5-1) have won eight
of their last nine games, with the lone blemish a 4-2 loss to the Yotes on Oct.
24. CU wins with defense, recording
eight shutouts this season (allowing more than one goal just four times in 18
matches) with keeper Garrett Staples (1.07 GAA) among the league leaders in all
goalie categories. Offensively, the
Cavs have a potent front line, keyed by a trio of high-caliber players – Brayn
Iotte (9 goals, 7 assists), Tyler Camp (7 goals, 8 assists), and Joey Graham (8
goals, 3 assists), helping the team to 47 counters this season. It is the 42nd meeting between the
rivals on the pitch, with the Yotes holding a 21-19-1 all-time series advantage.
PLAYOFF HISTORY WITH CAVS: It marks the seventh time that the
Yotes and Cavaliers have met in a playoff game and marks the third time they
have met in the CCC Championship Game.
1992 –
Concordia 2, C of I 0: Mike Ellsworth made nine saves, but the Yotes lost the
District 2 playoff game in Portland; 1997 – C of I 2, Concordia 1 – Matt Blazek
had two goals in the Yotes CCC semifinal win; 2000 – C of I 2, Concordia 1 (CCC
Championship), C of I 1, Concordia 0 (Region I semifinal); 2003 – C of I 2, Concordia
1: Brad Thornberg and Drake Jakovac each headed in a goal to lift the Yotes to
the CCC Tourney title; C of I 2, Concordia 0: Roger Aguilar’s goal with ten
minutes left broke a scoreless tie and Tyler Seaman added an insurance goal in
the Yotes regional semifinal win in Burnaby, B.C.
RECAP OF FIRST MEETING: Antonio
Bautista (Homedale, Idaho / Homedale
HS) and Garga Caserta (Aracatuba, Brazil / North Idaho CC) each
scored two goals, as The C of I topped then No. 24 ranked Concordia, 4-2, Oct. 24
at the Boise Capitals Soccer Complex.
The Yotes took advantage of every opportunity against the Cavs in the
first 25 minutes – taking three shots and scoring three goals. Caserta got
The C of I on the board in the 11th minute, as Jesus Lopez played a ball to
Bautista, who slotted a through-ball to Caserta
– flicking it home to make it 1-0. A
minute later, Alex Penrod (Las
Vegas, Nev. /
Cimarron-Memorial HS) played a ball to the top of the CU box, but
miscommunication allowed Bautista to chip a ball over keeper Garrett Staples
for the two-goal lead. In the 22nd
minute, Kazuki Murata (Tokyo, Japan / International Secondary
Inst.) made a great run down the center of the field and was fouled inside
the penalty box, allowing Bautista to convert the penalty kick – his 18th goal
of the year. The Cavaliers would not go
away, getting a Joey Graham goal off a Facundo Dipascuale pass in the 31st
minute to cut the margin to 3-1, then got within a goal seven minutes into the
second half on a Jon Larsen touch off a Tyler Camp corner. However, after a pair of C of I chances were
thwarted on diving saves by Staples, the Yotes put the game away with ten
minutes remaining, as Caserta took a pretty feed from Murata and blasted a shot
into the top shelf. The game was pretty
even, as the Yotes held a slim 12-11 edge in total shots, while CU had a 6-2
edge in corner kicks.
12TH PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 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 now boasts an 11-13 playoff record (including last
week’s win. 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).
PERFECTION: The C of I became just the second
team in the history of the CCC to complete an unbeaten, untied league schedule
– going 12-0. George Fox was the only
other team to accomplish the feat, going 5-0 during the 1994 season, while
Corban (then known as Western Baptist) had a 5-0-1 record in 1996. The previous best finish for the Yotes in
league play was in 2001, when The C of I finished 10-2.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: The Coyotes swept the final CCC weekly awards of the 2008 season,
as Garga Caserta was named Offensive Player of the Week, with Aaron Reynolds (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS) named Defensive Player of the
Week. Caserta assisted on the game-winning goal,
then added an insurance goal in the Yotes 3-0 win over Warner Pacific in the
CCC semifinals. Reynolds turned away
three shots on goal to notch his fourth shutout of the season – earning the
league honor for the fourth time this season.
TOP SCORING SEASONS: Antonio Bautista is closing in on the
most prolific scoring season by a Coyote
– as he is two goals away from the top mark. Nine 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) and Bautista (20 goals in 2008), 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).
TITLES: This season marked the third time that the Yotes have won a
CCC championship – joining the 2001 squad that claimed the outright title, and
the 2006 squad that shared the crown with Concordia.
CONFERENCE/NAIA POLL: For the third time this season, the Coyotes earned votes in the NAIA Top-25 poll,
receiving 52 voter points in the tabulation, or No. 31 in the NAIA – released
Nov. 11. In this week’s CCC coaches
poll, the Yotes remained in the No. 1 spot, with Concordia at No. 2. The final NAIA Top-25 poll will be released
on Sunday afternoon – which will help determine the at-large teams to the NAIA
Championships.
PREVIOUS NATIONAL POLLS: The last time the Coyotes received votes in the NAIA Top-25 Poll was
on Oct. 25, 2006 – earning one voter point.
The team has been ranked in the Top-25 on five different occasions – No.
25 at the conclusion of the 2000 season, No. 23 at the conclusion of the 2001
season, No. 16 in the 2002 preseason poll, No. 15 in the first poll of the 2002
season, and the last time, No. 24 on Oct. 9, 2002.
TEN WIN SEASONS: Under head coach Brian Smith, the Coyotes
have posted ten-or-more wins in four of his five seasons at the helm, with the
13 wins this season the most by the Yotes since 2003. In the 25-year history of the program, the Yotes
have won ten-or-more games 15 times.
GAME RECAP – C OF I 3, WARNER PACIFIC
0: The C of I moved
on into the CCC championship game with a convincing 3-0 victory over Warner
Pacific last Wednesday at a chilly Vallivue High. The Coyotes extended their school record win
streak to 13 - becoming the first team this season to hold the Knights, the top
scoring team in the league, without a goal. It didn't take long for the Yotes to get on
the board, as Garga Caserta found Antonio Bautista at the top of the 18 less
than three minutes into the game, with the CCC's leading scorer flicking home
his 21st goal of the season. Neither
team managed a great opportunity for the next 65 minutes
- despite the Coyotes recording
seven first-half corner kicks, with WP being turned away by
solid play from defensemen Alex Penrod and Spencer Ward. The Yotes had a quality chance in the
70th minute, as Bautista had a 1-on-1 opportunity with Knights keeper Ted
Latta, but Latta made a kick save on a drive to the left post to keep WP's
hopes alive. The visitors nearly tied it in the 79th minute, as Luis
Galvan ripped a shot from the right side, but C of I keeper Aaron Reynolds
made a leaping save to his left to keep the shutout intact. The game would be put away in the final
seven minutes, as a Jesus Lopez shot was blocked - then touched to Caserta, who buried a
shot from the left angle for a 2-0 lead. Three minutes later, Reynolds
launched a goal kick that bounced into the Knights zone, but
Latta whiffed on a clearing attempt, and Kazuki Murata pounced on the ball
- flicking it into the empty net. The
Coyotes held a 19-10 shot advantage and held a 9-3 edge in corners.
ABOUT THE COACH: Brian Smith is in his fifth season
as head coach at The C of I and holds an all-time record of 55-27-4. In
his first season two seasons, the Coyotes narrowly missed a spot in the NAIA
Region I Tournament, despite a second and third-place finish in the Cascade
Conference standings. In 2006, however, the Yotes claimed their first CCC
title since 2001 and advanced to the regional semifinals. For his
efforts, the Coyote skipper was named CCC Coach of the Year. Last season,
the Yotes missed out on the postseason by one game, before this seasons South
Division title. Smith, who helped the
Coyotes to a 35-21-1 record as a player for longtime coach, John Calpin, from
1990-93, returned to his alma mater in 2004 after a successful high school
coaching career in the Treasure
Valley.
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.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (12-5-2): Lady Yotes travel to Concordia for
Cascade Conference Championship Game
LAST WEEK:. Cascade Conference semifinals – vs.
Southern Oregon (W 1-0)
COMING UP: Cascade Conference finals – at No. 4
Concordia, Wednesday, 6 p.m. (PT)
GAME TO BE PLAYED IN BEAVERTON:
The Cascade Conference
Tournament championship game between the Lady Yotes and Concordia will be
played at CU’s off-campus field – at the Tualatin
Hills Parks
and Recreation Complex in Beaverton,
Ore. The artificial surface field will serve at
the Cavaliers home facility as CU’s home pitch is the site of a new library
building on the Portland
campus.
WINNER GOES TO NATIONALS: The winner of Wednesday’s C of
I-Concordia game will receive the CCC’s automatic berth to the NAIA
Championships. This season, the CCC
receives an automatic berth to Nationals through the NAIA’s conferene-direct
qualification method – with the teams not having to face Northwest regional
teams (Carroll, Rocky
Mountain, Simon Fraser)
as they have in the past.
ABOUT CONCORDIA: The Cavaliers (18-0-1) ride a 17-game
win streak into Wednesday’s title game – looking to continue their dominance in
2008. CU has allowed just seven goals
all season and has recorded a league-high 13 shutouts, thanks to the play of netminder
Georgie Christensen (0.28 GAA). The
offense has been prolific, scoring at least three goals in every CCC game this
season and at least two goals in 18 of their 19 matches – tallying 85 goals
this season. Leading the offense are a
pair of All-Americans – Jessica Ramback (18 goals, 6 assists) and Justine
Pronovost (13 goals, 6 assists), while Shea Miller (17 goals, 9 assists) and
Kaitlyn Tebbs (11 goals, 7 assists) have been very effective.
DAVID VS. GOLIATH: If the Lady Yotes can pull the upset,
it would be the biggest win in program history – especially since Concordia has
dominated The C of I for over a decade.
CU holds a 22-2-4 all-time series edge and has won the last 20 matches
in a row – with the Yotes last decision, a draw, coming back in 1995.
C OF I PLAYOFF HISTORY: The Lady Yotes have qualified for the
postseason five previous times and have a 2-5 all-time record in the
playoffs. The squad reached the playoffs
in 1991 and 1993, losing District 2 semifinal matches, then lost opening round
games in the 2002 and 2006 CCC Tournament.
In 2007, the Coyotes played their first home playoff game, defeating
Cascade, 1-0, before losing in the CCC semifinals at Concordia. They picked up their second playoff win last
Wednesday over Southern Oregon.
CONCORDIA PLAYOFF HISTORY: The Cavaliers, based on their
national ranking, are assured their eighth-consecutive trip to the NAIA
Championships in 2008. CU has advanced
out of the opening round at Nationals every year since 2002 – including trips
to the national semifinals in 2003 and 2006, and a national runner-up finish in
2004.
RECAP OF FIRST MEETING: Concordia University clinched their ninth-consecutive CCC championship with a
3-0 victory over The C of I, Oct. 24 at the Boise Capitals Soccer Complex. After the Lady Yotes controlled the play for
the opening 20 minutes, the Cavaliers countered to get on the board. Jessica Ramback slotted a ball through the
center of The C of I defense, finding the foot of Justine Pronovost, who
flicked the ball into the right corner of the net. CU would score their final two goals off of
set pieces – Kaitlyn Tebbs touching home a rebound of a Jackie Hendrickson shot
after a corner just before halftime, with Shea Miller heading home a Sami
Andrews corner five minutes into the second half. The Cavs held a 21-6 edge in shots and had a
9-5 margin in corner kicks.
LADY YOTES HISTORY IN CCC: Since 1996, the Lady Yotes have
recorded a 49-77-12 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 three seasons, the Coyotes have been above the .500 mark, recording a
16-7-6 loop record – earning playoff appearances in 2006, 2007, and now, 2008.
CLOSING IN ON RECORDS: The Yotes are closing in on multiple
team records – with at least one more game left on the schedule. The C of I has scored 38 goals on the season,
second only to the 2002 team that scored 39, while the team is also chasing
records for assists (Yotes have 37, record is 42) and total points (113, record
is 120). The 2008 squad has already
eclipsed the school record for shutouts in a season, recording their eighth
shutout in the playoff win over Southern Oregon.
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 seventh all-time with 14 goals in her career. She is one goal back of sixth-place (Amy
Wells with 15 goals from 1989-91) – with Jones leading the chart with 30 career
goals from 1990-93.
COYOTES STILL NO. 2 IN CCC
POLL/RECEIVING VOTES IN NAIA POLL: , The Lady Yotes continue to find themselves ranked No. 2 in
the latest CCC Coaches Poll, released Monday morning. Concordia is the top team, followed by the
Yotes, Southern Oregon, Northwest, Oregon
Tech, and Corban. The C of I has
received votes in the past six NAIA polls – and has earned votes a total of
seven times this season, including 18 voter points in the latest tabulation,
released Nov. 11.
GAME RECAP – C OF I 1, SOUTHERN
OREGON 0: Mandy
Greif found the net just 31 seconds into the match and The C of I defense made
it hold up, as the Lady Yotes advanced to their first-ever Cascade Conference
Tournament championship game with a 1-0 victory over Southern Oregon last
Wednesday at Vallivue High. It didn't
take long for the Yotes to put away the game-winner, as Jamie Reichel (Boise, Idaho
/ Capital HS) collected a ball 25-yards out on the right side and crossed
the ball to Greif at the top of the 18. The junior turned a laced a shot
that caught Raiders keeper Jessica Kuehlwien off guard, finding the left corner
of the net. Southern, who dropped their
fifth-straight match to the Lady Yotes, had their best chance in the 24th
minute as Denise Powell got a ball behind The C of I defense and eluded keeper Sadie Hughes (Courtenay, B.C. / Vanier SS). However, sweeper Colleen Smith (Boise, Idaho
/ Boise HS) cleared
the ball of the goal line, and Hughes made a save on a Powell rebound
shot. The Yotes nearly made it 2-0 in
the 51st minute, as a shot from the right side by Allie Dufault clanged off the
crossbar. The match was dominated by the
Coyotes, holding a 13-7 edge in shots, including a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.
ABOUT THE COACH: Niki
Taylor (27-22-7) is in her third
season as head coach of The C of I women's soccer program and is the all-time
winningest coach in program history. In her first 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: C of I women win CCC title,
both teams headed to NAIA Championships
LAST WEEK: at Cascade Conference Championships, Seattle, Wash.
– Men 3rd of 11 teams, Women 1st of 11 teams
COMING UP: at NAIA National Championships, Kenosha, Wisc., Nov. 22
DOMINATING PERFORMANCE BY THE LADY YOTES: With their top four finishers in the
Top-10 overall, The College of Idaho women’s cross country team ran roughshod
over the field at the 2008 Cascade Conference Championships in Seattle, Wash.,
picking up their first league title and the automatic berth to the NAIA
Championships. In fact, six of the ten
other schools in the field did not have a finisher cross the line before four
Lady Yotes were across the tape. Nine of
the ten C of I runners were under the 20-minute barrier – with Maggie Miller (Anchorage,
Alaska / Lane CC), Stephanie Sparks (West
Jordan, Utah / Juan Diego HS),
Kayloni
Jones (Nine Mile Falls, Wash.
/ Lakeside HS), and Jayne Saunders (Emmett, Idaho
/ Emmett HS) all runner personal best 5,000-meter times.
HELM WINS CCC TITLE FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT YEAR: After dominating NAIA runners throughout
the year, Stephanie
Helm (Challis, Idaho / Challis HS) made it a perfect regular
season, picking up her second-straight CCC individual title, earning CCC
Women’s Runner of the Year honors. The
sophomore, who has not been beaten by an NAIA competitor this season, won the
race by 11-seconds – running under the 18-minute mark for the third-straight
time at the 5,000-meter distance.
OTHER HONORS: Four Lady Yotes earned All-CCC
honors, going to the Top-12 finishers in the race. Stephanie Helm and Stephanie Sparks each
earned the award for the second-straight year, while Maggie Miller and Tegan Troutner (Lake Fork, Idaho
/ McCall-Donnelly HS) earned the award for the first time.
A CLEAN SWEEP FOR HELM: The Lady Yotes have raced six times this
season, with Stephanie Helm earning CCC Runner of the Week honors each time –
the final award being released on Monday afternoon. Only C of I volleyball player Erin
Cherrington, who was named CCC Setter of the Week seven times in 2006, has
earned more weekly honors in a single season, than Helm.
MCCURRY EARNS WELL-DESERVED HONOR: Following the women’s race, C of I
head coach Pat
McCurry was honored as CCC Coach of the Year. It marks the first honor for McCurry in his
five seasons with the Coyotes.
WOMEN HEAD TO NATIONALS FOR FIRST TIME: In just their fifth year of
existence, the Lady Yotes will head to the NAIA Championships in Kenosha, Wisc., for the
first time. The C of I has sent
individuals to Nationals on three different occasions – Shannon Edwards in 2004
(112th), Shannon Edwards in 2005 (48th), and Stephanie
Helm in 2007 (31st).
LOOKING AT THE NATIONAL FIELD: The women’s race at Nationals will
feature 32 teams, including 25 conferences/independents/unaffiliated champions
and seven at-large bids and 112 individual qualifiers. The Top-22 teams in the final NAIA Top-25
poll are all in the field – including three other teams from the Northwest –
Simon Fraser, Concordia, and Lewis-Clark
State.
MEN RECEIVE REPRIEVE, GET AT-LARGE BERTH: The Coyote men had been here before
– a less than stellar race in the CCC Championships, leaving their fate into
the NAIA Championships in the hands of the national raters. Unlike in 2006, when the Yotes were left at
home, The C of I was ranked No. 15 in the final poll and earned one of seven
at-large berths to Nationals.
HISTORY AT NATIONALS: The Yotes will head to the national
meet as a team for the third time in the last four years. The C of I placed 17th in 2005 and
23rd last season, with David Fluckiger recording the best finish by
a Coyote runner at Nationals – finishing in 26th-place in 2005.
YOTES TAKE THIRD AT CONFERENCE MEET: With a couple key runners having off
days, the Coyotes gutted out a great team effort to take third at Saturday’s
CCC Championships. The C of I was led by
a ninth-place finish from Paul Sartin (Meridian, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) (25:43) and a
tenth-place finish from Kiprotich Langat (Nairobi,
Kenya / Soliat
SS) (25:46) - who both
earned All-CCC honors. Great runs by
both J.J.
Burk (Bliss, Idaho / Bliss HS)
(26:19) and Cory
Kniep (Shoshone, Idaho
/ Shoshone HS) (26:38) - each recording personal bests, kept the
Yotes in the third-place position.
LOOKING AT THE MEN’S NATIONAL FIELD: The men’s race at Nationals will
feature 32 teams, including 25 conferences/independents/unaffiliated champions
and seven at-large bids and 111 individual qualifiers. The Top-21 teams in the final NAIA Top-25
poll are all in the field – including four other teams from the Northwest – CCC
Champion, Southern Oreogn, along with Simon Fraser, Concordia, and Lewis-Clark State.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I cross country
program, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/xc.htm.
SWIMMING:
Yotes head to Linfield after
three-week layoff
LAST
WEEK: Idle
COMING
UP: at
Linfield, Saturday, 1 p.m. (PT)
YOTES HEAD BACK TO THE POOL: The College
of Idaho swim teams head back into
competition this weekend, traveling to McMinnville,
Ore., for a dual against Linfield College. It marks the first time that the Yotes and
Wildcats have met in a dual – as the NCAA Division III squad has already competed
in two team events and two duals. Last
weekend, Linfield dropped both ends of duals with Whitworth and Whitman –
despite solid swims from Yusuke Kobayashi (100-fly, 500-free) and Samuel Carter
(100-breast, 100-fly) on the men’s side
and Rose Hollingsworth (400-IM, 100-back) on the women’s side.
LOOKING AHEAD: It will be the
first of back-to-back weekends for the Coyotes in the pool, as The C of I will
travel next weekend to Spokane,
Wash., for the Northwest
Invitational. It will mark the fifth-straight
year that the Yotes will swim in the largest small college meet in the
Northwest.
NATIONAL
MARKS ALREADY: Plane
tickets to St. Louis
can already be secured for the Coyotes, as The C of I had five NAIA
"A" and six NAIA "B" marks during their opening meet at
Lewis & Clark. NAIA "A" - John Green (Pleasanton,
Calif. / Foothill HS) (50-free, 100-free), Men's 200-medley relay, Alphonsina Savell (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) (100-breast), Women's 200-medley
relay; NAIA "B" - Jeremy
Younggren (Island City,
Ore. / La Grande HS) (50-free), Forrest Shoemaker (University
Place, Wash. / Curtis HS) (500-free), James Rutter (Bakersfield,
Calif. / Stockdale HS) (100-back), Alphonsina Savell (100-free), Annie Younggren (Island City, Ore. / La Grande HS) (200-free, 500-free).
FOR
MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I swim program, head to the official
homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/swim.htm.
