LA GRANDE, Ore. – In seven days, the Cascade Collegiate Conference will pit No.1 seed Northwest University versus No. 2 seed and NAIA 3
rd ranked Concordia University in the women’s soccer conference tournament championship, presented by U.S. Bank.
The Eagles will host the Cavaliers next Saturday, Nov.15 at noon in Kirkland, Wash.
Saturday’s semifinals began as the top-seeded Northwest Eagles (11-5-2) were tested by No. 5 seed Warner Pacific (8-10-2), eventually slipping by 2-1 in overtime.
The Knights began their upset bid just before the halftime horn on an unassisted Ashley Valencia goal. After being held scoreless for most of the game, Northwest tied the contest at 1-1 as CCC Player of the Year candidate Acacia Johnson put the ball in the net for her conference-leading 18
th goal of the season on a cross from Gabriela de Andrade in the 83
rd minute.
The score remained 1-1 to the end of regulation, but it did not take long for the Eagles to grab the golden goal and advance in the tournament. NU’s Tiffany Taylor took a cross from Johnson and buried the game winner at the 4:05 mark for the 2-1 decision.
In the other semifinal, No. 2 seed Concordia (15-1-2) got an early goal from Martha Heaps in the 6
th minute and then followed up with goals from Ashley Ames (Ariel Kanabel) in the 56
th and Bobbi Echler (Shannon McMahon) in the 79
th to control the contest 3-0.
Corban University answered the Cav stifling defense with 52 seconds left in the contest on a successful penalty kick by Emily Anderson making the final margin 3-1.
Concordia goalkeeper Olivia Brock (7-0-1) faced 10 shots and did not record a save, allowing just the lone Warrior goal.
This will be the fourth-straight Conference Championship between the Eagles and Cavaliers. Last year’s championship had Concordia coming out on top, 3-0. In 2012 the Cavs were also victorious, 2-1 in overtime and the Eagles came up short in 2011 on the losing end of a 1-0 decision.
The winner next week will be one of 24 automatic berths to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round on November 22 at campus sites. Opening Round winners will then advance to the NAIA National Championship tournament in Orange Beach, Ala., Dec. 1-6
Championship, Nov. 15
#2 Concordia at #1 Northwest, 12 p.m.
Semifinals, Nov. 8
#1 Northwest def. #5 Warner Pacific, 2-1 OT
#2 Concordia def. #3 Corban, 3-1
Quarterfinals, Nov, 5-6
#5 Warner Pacific def. #4 College of Idaho, 2-0
#3 Corban tied #6 Southern Oregon, 0-0; Corban adv on PKs, 6-5