‘YOTE NOTES – October 28, 2001
If you know anyone who would
like to subscribe to ‘Yote Notes, contact Mike Safford at msafford@albertson.edu
MEN’S
SOCCER: 10-2 Cascade Conference (1st
Place), 16-3 Overall
LAST
WEEK’S RESULTS: 2-0 (defeated Warner
Pacific, 3-0; defeated Western Baptist, 3-1)
‘YOTES
ARE PLAYOFF BOUND: With a pair of impressive wins over Warner Pacific and Western Baptist
at Symms Field last week, Albertson clinched its first-ever Cascade Conference
men’s soccer regular-season championship – securing the top seed to this week’s
CCC Tournament and inching ever so close to an automatic berth to regionals.
ABOUT
THE WINS: Friday’s
shutout of Warner Pacific exhibited a fine defensive performance by the
Coyotes. The squad got goals from Jason
Southward, John Reinschmidt, and Coe Michaelson – along with stellar play in
goal from Jake Steele – to record their sixth shutout of the season. Saturday’s game with playoff bound Western
Baptist showcased the freshman Southward, who tallied his first career hat
trick. The flow of the game, however,
was stopped with 30 seconds left, when defender Brad Thornberg was injured on a
what head coach John Calpin said was, “A disgusting foul.”
ON
THE INJURY FRONT: The status of Thornberg’s injury, due to a cleating by the WBC player,
was a deep puncture wound in his lower leg.
His status for the playoffs is uncertain. Another ‘Yote banged-up is Ryan Masingill, who sat out Saturday’s
tilt with a sprained knee. Calpin
believes that his senior midfielder will be able to play this week.
MICHAELSON
AGAIN REGIONAL PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK: For the week of October 15-21, Michaelson earned his
second-consecutive and third overall NAIA Region I Player-of-the-Week
honor. For the season, the junior
forward has scored 20 goals and assisted on 14 others – both among the top two
in the Cascade Conference.
ABOUT
THE PLAYOFFS: Albertson
will host Cascade College in one tournament semifinal, with Concordia host
Western Baptist in the other on Thursday afternoon. If Albertson should win, they will host the CU-WBC winner on
Saturday to determine not only the automatic berth to the Region I Tournament,
but the host site for the regional.
ARE
THE ‘YOTES IN THE REGIONAL?: According to my mathematics (take them for what they
are worth), yes, Albertson has qualified for the regional tournament – but that
is not official. Independents Seattle
University and Westminster College have sewn up the Nos. 1 and 2 berths to the
tournament, with Simon Fraser, Albertson, and the three other CCC teams
battling for two spots. Based on the
qualifying equation of 50-percent regional ranking, 50-percent longo rating,
Albertson has the top mark of the five remaining teams – giving them a berth in
the tournament, even if they falter in the CCC Tourney.
PLAYOFF
SCHEDULE: Albertson
will host Cascade, Thursday afternoon, at 2 p.m. on Symms Field. If the ‘Yotes win, they will host either
Concordia or Western Baptist on Saturday, time TBA. The regional tournament is set for November 9-10.
FINAL
CONFERENCE STANDINGS: Albertson (10-2-0, 30 points, 16-3-0); Concordia (9-3-0, 27 points,
10-7-0); Western Baptist (7-5-0, 10-7-1); Cascade (6-5-1, 10-8-1); Warner
Pacific (5-6-1, 16 points, 8-9-1), Northwest (3-9-0, 9 points, 4-11-0);
Evergreen (1-11-0, 3 points, 3-15-0)
OFFICIAL
MEN’S SOCCER WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/menssoccer.htm
VOLLEYBALL: 10-5 Cascade Conference (T-2nd),
15-9 overall
LAST
WEEK’S RESULTS: 2-0 (defeated
Northwest in five games, defeated Evergreen in four games)
LADY
‘YOTES WIN, WATCH OTHERS FALTER: With a pair of wins this week, Albertson has seen
its stock rise in the Cascade Conference.
Southern Oregon, Western Baptist, and Oregon Tech, all playoff bound
teams vying with the Lady ‘Yotes for seeding – dropped matches this week,
allowing Albertson to vault from fifth-place two weeks ago into a tie for
second.
NOT
PRETTY, BUT WINS NONETHELESS: Head coach Liz Mendiola has used the term ‘flat’ on
more than one occasion this season, and this weekends matches were no
exception. However, despite sporadic
play from the squad, they stopped both Northwest and Evergreen. On Friday against Northwest, Brecia Gamett
stepped up, rallying Albertson from a 2-1 deficit to sweep the final two
games. The senior had 25 kills to go
along with 19 digs, while Kristyn Price added 15 kills and seven service aces. Saturday at Evergreen, the ‘Yotes rode Katy
Tipton’s 15 kills and six blocks to victory in their first-ever match in
Olympia. The team has now won three
matches in a row.
IGOE
GOES TO EMERGENCY ROOM: Following Friday’s match with Northwest, Mendiola had to take defensive
specialist Amber Igoe to a Kirkland, Wash. hospital. The diagnosis was an intestinal infection, and Igoe’s
availability for this week’s matches is up in the air.
TIPTON
EARNS PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK NOD: For the week of Oct. 15-21, Katy Tipton earned her
second Cascade Conference and NAIA
Region I Player-of-the-Week award for stellar play in matches vs. Concordia and
Western Baptist.
PLAYOFF
RACE: Albertson
has clinched a berth in the six-team conference tournament, set for Nov. 9-10
in Portland, Ore. Concordia has
clinched the top spot, with Albertson and Southern Oregon battling for the
second spot, and a bye in the first round of the tourney. As mentioned earlier, Western Baptist and
Oregon Tech have also secured a berth, with Northwest and Eastern Oregon
battling for the final spot. The top
two teams in the tourney receive an automatic berth to the Region I tournament
Nov. 15-17, at a site yet to be determined.
THIS
WEEK’S MATCHES: Tuesday, at Northwest
Nazarene, 7 p.m.; Friday, host Warner Pacific, 7 p.m.
CONFERENCE
STANDINGS: Concordia
(15-0, 20-3); Southern Oregon (10-5, 15-7); Albertson (10-5, 15-9); Western
Baptist (9-6, 15-9); Oregon Tech (8-7, 12-9); Eastern Oregon (5-9, 8-14);
Northwest (5-10, 7-11); Evergreen (4-10, 6-11); Warner Pacific (0-14, 2-17)
OFFICIAL
VOLLEYBALL WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/vball.htm
WOMEN’S
SOCCER 3-9-2 Cascade Conference (7th
Place), 4-11-2 overall
LAST
WEEK’S RESULTS: 0-2 (lost at Western
Baptist, 7-0; lost at Cascade, 2-0)
SEASON
CONCLUDES WITH TWO SHUTOUT LOSSES ON ROAD: The rain in the Willamette Valley seemed to
fall in buckets on the Lady ‘Yotes this past weekend, as Albertson ended its
season with a pair of losses. Against
Western Baptist, still battling with Concordia for the conference championship,
Albertson gave up two early goals and were taken out of their game. The Warriors held a 36-5 shot advantage over
the Coyotes. On Saturday, Albertson
dropped the season finale to Cascade, as T-Birds forward Mindy Stanek scored
back-to-back goals late in the first half.
The ‘Yotes had to play a man down throughout the second half due to a
red card to Andrea Ebert, which limited any rally.
A
FUN SEASON: Of
the four wins and two ties, two of those decisions came against playoff bound
teams. A win over fourth-place
Evergreen, and a win over third-place Southern Oregon would be the high-points
on the year.
ROBERTSON
“OUTSTANDING”: When the all-conference teams are announced next Monday, expect to see
junior forward Becky Robertson among the bunch. The Othello, Wash. native scored a team-high 16 goals on the
season – one of the top-five marks in the CCC.
PLAYOFF
PAIRINGS: Evergreen
clinched the final spot in the CCC playoffs by stopping Oregon Tech, 2-0, on
Friday; then playing third-place Southern Oregon to a scoreless draw. Evergreen will travel to Concordia, while
SOU travels to Western Baptist – all four teams looking to earn the coveted
automatic berth to regionals.
FINAL
CONFERENCE STANDINGS: Concordia (13-1-0, 39 points, 16-4-0); Western Baptist (12-2-0, 36
points, 12-8-0); Southern Oregon (8-4-2, 26 points, 8-9-2); Evergreen (6-6-2,
20 points, 7-9-3); Oregon Tech (5-8-1, 16 points, 8-9-1); Cascade (4-10-0, 12
points, 5-11-0); Albertson (3-9-2, 11 points, 4-11-2); Eastern Oregon (1-12-1,
4 points, 1-16-1)
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SOCCER WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmenssoccer.htm
‘YOTES
TO OPEN 2001-02 CAMPAIGN IN VEGAS: The basketball season is upon us this week. The Albertson men’s basketball team opens up
the new season on Friday night, squaring off with Robert Morris of Illinois,
and the University of Great Fall on Saturday in the NAIA Las Vegas Invitational.
ON
THE AIR: All
Albertson men’s basketball contests will be heard live on KCID-AM, 1490 on the
radio dial. Friday night, Mike Safford
Jr. makes his debut as the “Voice of the Coyotes” at the Las Vegas
Invitational. Broadcast time on Friday
is set for 6:15 p.m., with Saturday’s broadcast time two hours earlier, at 4:15
p.m.
MEET
THE ‘YOTES NIGHT: Free popcorn and soda will be available for “Meet the ‘Yotes Night”
this Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Activities Center. It is a great chance for fans to see the 2001-02 men’s and women’s
squads, along with an opportunity for season ticket holders to pick-up their
tickets for the upcoming season.
ABOUT
THE TEAM: Fans
in Canyon County were treated with a dose of “tournament fever” last winter, as
the Albertson College men’s basketball team completed February 10-0, won the
Cascade Conference Tournament, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA
National Tournament. While the
“illness” may have kept some people glued to their radios and the internet in
March, the 2001-02 season may see the strain become more potent – as the ‘Yotes
look to defend their title and look to go “Dancin’ in Branson” for the
second-straight year. Many were
skeptical after Albertson opened last season 1-5 under first-year head coach
Mark Owen, wondering if Marty Holly knew something the rest of us didn’t after
he retired following 19 years as head coach.
Owen proved the skeptics wrong following a 73-59 victory over Northwest
Nazarene in the Idaho Center – a win that jumpstarted a team that had just one
regular player returning from the 1999-2000 season. Behind a great inside-outside game, the ‘Yotes rattled off
12-straight wins down the stretch, including wins two wins over third-ranked
Oregon Tech, an upset of second-ranked Siena Heights of Michigan, an upset of
tenth-ranked Western Baptist, before dropping an 88-79 decision to eventual
national champion Northwestern of Iowa.
What makes Owen’s second season at the helm exciting is the fact that
Albertson loses just point-guard Billy Offill and back-up forward Dan Bruce
from last season’s line-up and add a potent playmaker to boot. The fact is, with four starters returning,
and most key reserves raring to go – anticipation is high in Caldwell. The front-court looks to be the strength of
the 2001-02 ‘Yotes, as Albertson may boast three of the top big-men not only in
the Cascade Conference, but possibly in the entire NAIA Division II. All-American power-forward Ty Shaw returns
for his senior season, a year after dominating the conference to the tone of 14
points and nine boards a game. The
Nampa native led the entire NAIA Division II in field goal percentage (.679),
along with leading the CCC in rebounding (9.2) and double-doubles (13 –
including a 17 point, 20 rebound masterpiece in a 100-81 victory over
Evergreen). “I think Shaw has NCAA
Division I talent, in the fact his is so active for a 6-7 body,” said
Owen. He can shoot the outside shot,
plus rebound with anyone in the country – look for him to play a little
outside.” Back in the post is
six-foot, eight-inch Mike Homik, who according to most, may be the most
improved player on the ‘Yotes team. The
Kiwi showed promise for the future during the 2001 postseason, averaging 14
points and five rebounds a game, including a 13 point, 12 rebound performance
against Bellevue of Nebraska in the national tournament opener. “Homik might be one of the best big men we
have ever had here at Albertson,” Owen said.
“He is so strong and can score from 17-feet and in. I look for a great senior season from
him.” A crucial component of the ‘Yotes
success inside will be the development of transfer Eric Hare. The 6-5 junior from West Valley College, who
averaged 15 points and ten rebounds last year, will quickly remind fans of
Charles Barkley – of the NAIA ranks, that is.
Hare is a tenacious rebounder, with great offensive skills both facing and
with his back to the basket. “He loves
to go and get at it. He is exactly what
we needed to help us inside this year,” Owen said of Hare. Although Albertson returns a plethora of
capable gunners from long range in the backcourt, the question mark for the
team will be at point guard. Without
Offill (who will be the team’s film coordinator this year), it may end up being
a position-by-committee for the ‘Yotes.
Even though All-Conference guard Neal Robertson has the ability to play
the point, Owen feels more comfortable having him at the shooting guard. “Neal is such a competitor and can really
get on a roll,” Owen replied. “Look for
him to play some point-guard, but mainly will roam as the shooting guard.” Robertson, who electrified the crowd to the
tune of a record-setting 124 treys last year, hopes for more. Add Tennison Tripple (11.4 ppg), Kris Cox
(8.2 ppg), and Webb (5.8 ppg) to the group, and free hamburgers will once again
be raining from the Activities Center balcony.
Look for Devin Link and Jon Thomas to once again provided needed minutes
in the backcourt off the bench, with sophomore Justin McCarthy spelling the
big-guys up front. New recruits Brian
Jarrell and Zach Rasmussen will also battle for time off the bench.
ABOUT
THE CONFERENCE: The 2001-02 schedule is loaded once again – and that is before the
tough Cascade Conference grind. Trips
to Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Oakland, along with battles with Boise State
and Northwest Nazarene will provide the tune-up for conference play. Both Oregon Tech and Western Baptist return
the nucleus of their teams that finished 2001 in the NAIA’s top-ten, while
Southern Oregon and Evergreen (who has added former Boise State guard Quincy
Wilder to their line-up) look to be improved.
THIS
WEEK’S SCHEDULE: Friday vs. Robert Morris (Ill.) at the Las Vegas Invitational, 6:30
p.m. (KCID-AM); Saturday vs. Great Falls (Mont.) at the Las Vegas Invitational,
4:30 p.m. (KCID-AM)
OFFICIAL
MEN’S BASKETBALL WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm