PREVIEW: CCC Women’s Soccer Tournament Quarterfinals Presented by U.S. Bank

11/6/2018 2:17:38 PM

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – It’s playoff time for the eight Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) postseason qualifiers, and that means the 2018 CCC Women’s Soccer Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, are right around the corner. 

Follow along with tournament results and match-ups at TOURNAMENT CENTRAL.

The tournament, running from November 7-10, will be featured at the Willamalane Complex in Springfield, Ore. After a kick-off banquet on Tuesday (November 6), competition will commence on the following day, with four quarterfinal matches slated to occur.

#1 Eastern Oregon vs. #8 Corban

Eastern Oregon claims the No. 1-seed in the CCC Tournament after earning a share of the conference regular-season title with No. 2-seeded Carroll. By virtue of a tiebreaker (fewest goals allowed), the Mountaineers enter the tournament in the top spot, looking to continue their strong season with a CCC tournament crown. Due in large part to their dynamic duo of Taylor Boyer (13 goals, five assists) and Mackinley Gregus (10 goals, two assists), alongside their defensive centerpiece Cydni Cottrell (0.70 goals-against-average), the Mountaineers are well-suited for postseason play.

Corban enters the match as the underdog, but brings a talented squad to the CCC tournament in hopes of making a playoff statement. On the short end of six one-goal losses, the Warriors have shown they can hang tough with any team in the conference. Highlighted by their leading goal-scorers Rylee MacDonald (8) and Hannah Shore (6), as well as a strong defensive core of Macy Goodwin and Riley Smetzler, the Warriors will look to limit Eastern Oregon’s playmakers and find the back of the net early in Wednesday’s quarterfinal bout.

During the regular season, Eastern Oregon claimed a 1-0 victory at home against Corban.

#2 Carroll vs. #7 Rocky Mountain

Carroll also earned a share of the CCC regular-season title after a strong bounce-back campaign in 2018. Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed, five members of the Fighting Saints roster (Payton Netz, Lizzie Sheldon, Kirsten Girolami, Katie Martin, Makayla Welch) scored at least three goals during the season, making them one of the tournament’s deepest attacks. Devan Murfitt, the team’s main goalkeeper, earned CCC defensive Player of the Week accolades during the last weekend of the season, and figures to be a key factor in Carroll’s success.

The Rocky Mountain offense is also no stranger to scoring goals, featuring five players (Lauryn Gamache, Mhari Smith, Emily Browne, Tiara Duford, Shasta Grant) with four or more goals in the 2018 campaign. Gamache is as good as anyone in the CCC, demonstrating throughout the season her aptitude for finding the back of the net and setting up her teammates. Ranking third in goals (12) in the CCC, and second in assists (11), she could play a huge factor in this year’s conference tournament. Maia Wetzel, the Battlin’ Bears’ talented goalkeeper, hopes to stifle Carroll’s offense when the two teams collide tomorrow.

Carroll defeated Rocky Mountain 2-1 in Billings, Mont. when the teams last played each other.

#3 Oregon Tech vs. #6 College of Idaho

Highlighted by a stretch of eight shutouts in nine games early in the season, and a subsequent six-game CCC winning streak, when Oregon Tech has gone on a run during the season, few teams have been able to stand in the Owls’ way. A large part of the team’s success is Amy Morikawa, Oregon Tech’s defensive centerpiece. In addition, Jenna Stiehr has been strong in goal for the Owls, totaling nine shutouts on the year. On the attacking end, Cassidy Gosvener is arguably the team’s offensive heartbeat, netting six goals on the year and leading all CCC competitors with 12 assists.

College of Idaho, another long-time member of the CCC, will counter the Owls with a talented attack of their own. Collectively, No. 6-seeded College of Idaho ranked fourth in the conference in goals against average (0.90), and fifth in goals per game (2.12), assists per game (1.44) and points per game (5.69). Cascade Conference fans will want to monitor both Jocelyn Cook-Cox and Maddie Brown, who are tied with each other for third in the CCC with three game-winning goals apiece. In goal, Shae Waters ranks in the top-four of the conference in both save percentage (.843) and goals against average (0.81).

Oregon Tech defeated College of Idaho by a 2-0 score when the two teams battled in the regular season.

#4 Southern Oregon vs. #5 Northwest

In what promises to be an exciting matchup, No. 4-seeded Southern Oregon will prepare to take on No. 5-seeded Northwest in the second and final match of the night for the CCC women. Southern Oregon, helmed by fifth-year coach Jenni Rosenberg, has stood toe-to-toe with some of the NAIA’s best this season, earning a 1-1 draw against No. 8-ranked Westmont earlier this season on the road. The Raiders have proven to be just as difficult for CCC opponents, led by their leading goal scorer Misty Martinez (7) and anchored in goal by Kailey Lemon (.870 save percentage, 0.68 goals against average). Finishing the year with similar records and coming into the tournament as the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, the matchup between Southern Oregon and Northwest should be a thrilling one.

In a bout between two similarly-aligned squads, the performances of key playmakers can make a big difference. Northwest claims the CCC’s leading goal scorer in Katie Michkiosky. The senior from Wenatchee, Wash. found the back of the net 18 times for the Eagles, and will look to give her team an early advantage against a tough opponent in Wednesday’s contest. Between the pipes, goalkeeper Kat Sanchez has the third-highest shutout total (6) in the CCC, and she will undoubtedly look to add another in tomorrow’s match.

Last time these two teams met, they ended the night with a 1-1 (2OT) draw, adding further suspense to an already exciting matchup.

Prior to tomorrow’s contests, each of the eight teams will attend the annual CCC awards banquet tonight at 7 p.m., with the All-Conference teams set to be announced at the event. A live stream of the awards presentation will be available here.

Below is a complete look at this year’s CCC Women’s Soccer Tournament schedule.

Women’s Soccer Championships Schedule
 

Note: Game Fields will be assigned by Tournament Director based on matchups and seating capacity


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