Mounties Earn At Least Share of CCC Title with 2-0 Shutout of NCU 10/21/2018 7:18:48 PM LA GRANDE, Ore. – Finishing the regular season a week earlier than the rest of the conferece, the Eastern Oregon women’s soccer team clinched at least a share of its second-straight Cascade Collegiate Conference regular season championship, defeating Northwest Christian 2-0 on Senior Day at Community Stadium. With Sunday’s victory, the Mountaineers (13-1-2, 9-1-2 CCC) finish the CCC season with 29 points and hold a six-point lead over second place Carroll College and Southern Oregon. With just two matches remaining for the rest of the league, the Blue and Gold and not be passed up in the standings and will at least tie for first place. The conference’s automatic qualifier to nationals and the No. 1-seed in the CCC tournament are still up for grabs. Reigning CCC Offensive Player of the Week and senior Taylor Boyer got things started for the offense after the Mounties were knocking on the doorstep. Boyer received a great pass from junior Josee Bassett up the middle of the field, beat a couple defenders before burying the ball past NCU keeper Katie Hastings. Boyer’s goal ranks her second in CCC matches with 25 points and 11 goals. The Mounaineers continued high pressure the entire game, outshooting the Beacons (2-11-1, 1-8-1 CCC) 13-3 in the first half and 30-4 for the match. In the second half, freshman Mackinley Gregus netted her 10th goal of the season in the 66th minute to give EOU the cushion it needed. Offensively, senior Alexandria Cuaresma led the way with six shots and four on goal. Boyer added five shots with three on net while sophomore Morgan Farrington had four shots. In net, senior Val Gaffney and junior Cydni Cottrell combined for the shutout, each playing a half. Gaffney made both saves in the match as the defense held strong once again over 90 minutes. On NCU’s side, Hastings had a great game between the pipes, making 14 saves and stopping numerous tough chances for the Mounties. Before the game, the Mountaineers celebrated the careers of their seven seniors, who played their final regular season matches at home. The seniors included Boyer, Gaffney, Cuaresma, Chelsey Nicol, Charli Torres, Sarah Lynch and Natalie Mitchell. The Blue and Gold have the final weekend off from action, but will return to the soccer pitch at the CCC Championships, which begin on Nov. 7 in Eugene, Oregon. For more information on Eastern Oregon men’s soccer, follow @EOUAthletics or visit eousports.com. FOLLOW EOU ATHLETICS Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Contact: Iain Dexter; 541-962-3946; idexter@eou.edu