SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The preseason favorite to win the Cascade Collegiate Conference women’s soccer title took home the tournament title instead, knocking off Rocky Mountain College on Friday afterrnoon, 2-1
The Mountaineers, who rose as high as No. 6 in the NAIA national poll, but had falling in to the receiving-votes category over the last month, found some redemption as they claimed the CCC’s second automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship tournament. The first bid was claimed by Oregon Tech as they won their first regular-season conference title.
EOU wasted no time in making a statement as they scored the first goal of the game just 59 seconds in when a pair of first-team All-CCC selections connected. Junior Morgan Farrington found senior Nan Kiebert with a 40-yard free kick and Kiebert put it home for the early lead.
The Mounties continued to put on the pressure, out-shooting Rocky Mountain 7-1 in the half before taking the 1-0 lead into the intermission.
Rocky Mountain eventually tied the contest in the 59th minute as CCC Co-Offensive Player of the Year Lauryn Gamache scored for the 17th time this season, taking a pass from Alyssa Schneider.
It was only a matter of 76 seconds before Eastern was able to counter and take the lead for good on an unassisted rocket from the top of the box by Jenna Jensen.
Eastern Oregon ended the game with a 17-7 lead in shots as RMC’s Maia Wetzel made six saves.
The Bears finish the season with a record of 13-4-2. Eastern moves to 15-2-2 and will next play in the NAIA Opening Round on November 23. They will find out their exact fate on Monday when the pairings are announced.