With conference play just around the corner for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the Northwest Conference, handful of area teams and players have gotten things off to good starts in non-conference play.
In the GNAC, the Northwest Nazarene men have gotten off to a great start to the season. The Crusaders are 4-1-0 with the lone loss, 1-0, being their only game at home. The team swept a three-game trip in Hawaii and picked up another victory in California. They also netted an impressive exhibition result in their first action of the fall, netting a 2-2 draw in Spokane against Division I Gonzaga.
Meanwhile, league power Seattle Pacific has been perfect through its first four games with Cody Lang (Spokane, WA) not allowing a single goal along the way.
GNAC newcomers Concordia has gotten off to mixed starts in their move up from the NAIA. The men are 2-1-0 and the ladies are 2-1-1. MSU-Billings (2-1-1) and Northwest Nazarene (3-2-0) also boast winning non-conference records heading into the women's season.
In the NWC, the reigning champion Whitworth men have been rather dominant in their non-league start at 4-0-0 in addition to a pair of road draws against GNAC opposition Saint Martin's and Western Washington in exhibition contests on the same day.
On the ladies side of the NWC, it has been a tough start for the local programs with Whitworth going 2-2-0 and Whitman 0-4 in non-league play.
Here is an update on the action thus far in the GNAC and NWC along with some notes on players around the nation at the DII and DIII levels...
GNAC MEN #############
Thursday, September 3
Cal Baptist 0 :: OT :: 1 Seattle Pacific
Bryson Pavel (Boise, ID) helped set up the game-winning tally four minutes into overtime and Cody Lang (Spokane, WA) recorded the shutout, needing just one save on the night.
UC San Diego 1 :: 1 Saint Martin's
Cal State Los Angeles 1 :: 1 Western Washington
Simon Fraser 1 :: 3 Sonoma State
Friday, September 4
Northwest Nazarene 1 :: 0 Hawaii Hilo
The Crusaders opened the campaign with Jaime Verdin and Jan Ilskens combining to set up Alex Mitrovic's game-winning header in the 33rd minute of the contest. Goalkeeper Ryan Foo was untested as the defense allowed just two shots, neither on frame. MORE [+]
MSU-Billings 1 :: 1 Cal State San Marcos
The Yellowjackets used a turnover in the first half to take the lead when Niklas Schregel took the failed clearance and scored from about 15 yards in the 28th minute in Utah. The opposition, though, tied matters in the 69th with a penalty to earn the draw. MORE [+]
Concordia 3 :: 2 Humboldt State
Mary 1 :: 2 Maryville
Saturday, September 5
Northwest Nazarene 2 :: OT :: 1 Hawaii Pacific
Mitrovic scored the opener again on a header, this time on a play created by Fernando Alvarez and Graham Reid (Boise, ID) just over six minutes into the match. The hosts answered in the 55th and the two remained deadlocked until extra time, where the Crusaders grabbed the win quickly just 66 seconds in when Bryan Neba found Julio Castillo, who drove through the defense and scored from about 20 yards. MORE [+]
UC San Diego 0 :: 2 Western Washington
Adam Talley (Spokane Valley, WA) netted his first goal as a Viking 12 minutes into the contest and Eleazar Galvan (Chelan, WA) added some insurance in the 89th courtesy of Talley and Jeremy Wentzel.
Chico State 0 :: 1 Seattle Pacific
It was another shutout for Lang, who was not credited with any saves as Chico State did not put any shots on target.
Cal State Los Angeles 4 :: 0 Saint Martin's
Simon Fraser 1 :: 1 Cal Baptist
Sunday, September 6
MSU-Billings 1 :: 4 Metro State
The Yellowjackets took the lead again on a goal just over five minutes into the match when David Loeung converted a penalty. From there the Roadrunners dominated the contest, finishing with 11 shots on goal to three with Will Moats (Boise, ID) scoring the game-winning strike in the 58th minute on the rebound of a blocked shot. They tied things up in the 29th and scored three more in the second half to pull away. MORE [+]
Concordia 0 :: 1 San Francisco State
Mary 1 :: OT :: 2 Illinois-Springfield
Monday, September 7
Chico State 2 :: 3 St Martin's
Derrick Gonzalez (Moses Lake, WA) gave the Saints a two-goal lead in the 64th minute with a strike that proved to be the game-winner.
Tuesday, September 8
Northwest Nazarene 3 :: 1 BYU-Hawaii
The winning form continued on their island adventure. The Crusaders took a one-goal lead into the break on a goal from Abraham Placito created by Castillo and Erik Anderson in the 36th minute. Placito scored his second in the 58th minute and Ilskens made it three in the 76th before the hosts spoiled the shutout with a shot from nearly the center line. MORE [+]
Wednesday, September 9
Cal State San Bernardino 0 :: 3 Simon Fraser
Thursday, September 10
Seattle Pacific 1 :: 0 Notre Dame de Namur
Another one-save outing for Lang, but it was all he and the team needed for the victory.
Western Washington 1 :: OT :: 0 Cal State East Bay
Greyden Saunders (Spokane, WA) scored the game-winner in the 104th minute off a cross
Friday, September 11
Carroll 0 :: 5 MSU-Billings
The second-year in-state foes from the NAIA could not match the Jackets on the day. Loeung put the hosts up early in the sixth minute on a corner from Jorge Paez and Ricardo Palomino doubled the lead in teh 27th via Julian Toenges. Palomino pushed it to three by taking a turnover in the 56th and beating the keeper and two minutes later a through ball from Loeung to Toenges made it four. Fernando Perez capped the scoring off an Adam Hepburn corner in the 83rd. Tom Lohmann needed just three saves in his 82 minutes with Joe Scott (Cheney, WA) making one in the final eight. MORE - CC [+] -- MSUB [+]
Linfield 1 :: 3 Concordia
Mary 1 :: 1 South Dakota Mines
Saturday, September 12
Cal State Dominguez Hills 1 :: 0 Northwest Nazarene
After a sweep in Hawaii, the Crusaders were tripped up at home by the Toros, who scored just three minutes into the match and shutout the hosts the rest of the way with six saves and a goal-line stop on a chance by Alvarez 10 minutes into the match. Foo made eight saves himself, including on a first half penalty to keep NNU in the match. MORE [+]
Seattle Pacific 3 :: 0 Cal State East Bay
Lang received his first test in goal, needing to make four saves for the shutout on the road.
Western Washington 0 :: 2 Notre Dame de Namur
Saint Martin's 1 :: 2 Pacific
Sunday, September 13
South Dakota Mines 1 :: 5 MSU-Billings
It was another five-goal outing for the Yellowjackets, but they had to come from behind though as the the visitors capitalized on a corner just over two minutes in. Palomino, however, answered immediately and emphatically, tallying a hat-trick before the half-hour mark. Toenges delivered through balls for the first two in the fifth and ninth minutes to take the lead and Paez found him for the third in the 29th. Toenges used a long ball from Lohmann to keep things rolling in the 48th before finding Palomino with yet another through ball in the 51st. MORE [+]
Mary 3 :: 2 Carroll (Exhibition for CC)
Tuesday, September 15
Northwest Nazarene 1 :: 0 Dominican
Back on the road, the Crusaders kept their away form going with another victory, claiming it with less than two minutes remaining on the clock when Anderson flicked an Anderson corner to Placito for the winning header. Foo registered his second shutout with four saves. MORE [+]
GNAC WOMEN #############
Thursday, September 3
Sonoma State 2 :: 0 Central Washington
The Wildcats gave up a pair of goals in the second half in dropping their opener as they were outshot 18-9 on the day. MORE [+]
Carroll 2 :: OT :: 3 MSU-Billings
The Yellowjackets were given a bit of a test from their in-state NAIA counterparts. After getting the lead on a 13th minute own goal headed in by a Carroll defender, the hosts saw the Saints pull even on a loose ball in the 38th when Katey Friedt (Eagle, ID) connected with Tayla Vaira (Great Falls, MT). An Elizabeth Howard free kick four minutes into the second half was put away by Jessica Spang (Billings, MT) to reclaim the advantage, but the Saints answered again when Kristyn Bohlander (Kennewick, WA) chipped goalkeeper Chloe Hopps from 25 yards. As time ran out in the first overtime session, Spang dropped a ball back to the top of the area for a finish from Alycia Wright in 100th minute. MORE - CC [+] -- MSUB [+]
Chico State 2 :: 0 Saint Mary's
Western Oregon 7 :: 0 Warner Pacific
Humboldt State 0 :: 2 Seattle Pacific
Northwest 1 :: 4 Concordia
Cal Baptist 0 :: OT :: 1 Western Washington
Friday, September 4
Regis 3 :: OT :: 2 Northwest Nazarene
Down two after 12 minutes, the Crusaders battled back to tie things up before the intermission. A long ball from Kayla Williams bounced over the keeper in the 40th, allowing Lexi Fesenbeck to cut into the deficit. Three minutes later the keeper misplayed another ball, this time from Rachel Ball (Veon, ID), allowing it to squirt free while attempted to smother it, and Laura Seymour (Spokane Valley, WA / CC Spokane) finished it to put things level. The second half proved to be a stalemate, and the visitors grabbed the win nine minutes into the extra frame thanks to Idaho native Mickie Piechowski (Boise, ID), who helped set up the opening goal and then scored on a run behind the defense in overtime. MORE [+]
Saturday, September 5
San Francisco State 1 :: 2 Central Washington
The visitors took the lead just 10 minutes in, but the Wildcats finally found the back of the net in the second half when Jessica Haga found Reilly Retz with her free kick for the equalizer in the 52nd minute. A good effort from Mackenzie Nolte created the winner in the 89th minute. The striker took a through ball up the right and after her first shot was blocked, she collected the rebound and found Shaina Mitchell for the deciding tally. MORE [+]
MSU-Billings 0 :: 0 Mary
In a tight contest that saw only 10 combined shots, Lili Delgadillo recorded the shutout for the Yellowjackets on three saves. MORE [+]
Cal Baptist 1 :: 2 Concordia (@ WWU)
Martha Heaps (Spokane, WA) provided what proved to be the game-winner in the 27th minute on a shot from 30 yards off a throw-in from Emma Chappell (Spokane, WA).
Chico State 0 :: 1 Seattle Pacific
Humboldt State 1 :: 3 Simon Fraser
Sonoma State 0 :: 2 Western Washington
Sunday, September 6
Colorado State Pueblo 1 :: OT :: 0 Western Oregon
Monday, September 7
Regis 1 :: 0 Central Washington (@ NNU)
Playing in Idaho, the Wildcats were upended by a player back in her home state as Rikki Fix (Boise, ID) scored the winning tally in the 54th for Regis. MORE [+]
San Francisco State 0 :: 2 Northwest Nazarene
Kelsey Martin scored twice for the victory, hitting the first in the 61st minute on a 30-yard free kick that went in off the crossbar. She added some insurance on a tap-in in the 90th courtesy of a ball from Hannah Holm (Spokane Valley, WA). Daniele Ortiz made 11 saves as NNU was outshot 30-11 in the match. MORE [+]
Tuesday, September 8
Western Oregon 2 :: 0 New Mexico Highlands
Wednesday, September 9
Western Washington 1 :: 2 Humboldt State
Thursday, September 10
MSU-Billings 1 :: 2 San Francisco State
The Yellowjackets found themselves trailing by two at the break on the road, and eventually broke through in the 84th on a corner from Howard that found Spang. Her shot was blocked but Wright followed up on the rebound to cut into the deficit, but it was not enough. MORE [+]
Northwest Nazarene 2 :: 3 Holy Names
The Crusaders took the initial lead 17 minutes in only to see the hosts run off three consecutive for a commanding advantage. Ashley Cook-Cox (Spokane, WA) delivered a through ball to Nicole Nsa for the opener with HNU rallying for a 2-1 lead at the break. Trailing by two since the 47th, Nsa made it a one-goal contest with a header off a Fesenbek corner in the 75th, but they were unable to find the equalizer. MORE [+]
Seattle Pacific 1 :: 0 Notre Dame de Namur
Western Oregon 2 :: OT :: 1 Colorado Christian
Simon Fraser 0 :: 0 Hawaii Hilo
Concordia 0 :: 0 Chico State
Friday, September 11
Cal State Monterey Bay 0 :: 2 Central Washington
The Wildcats took the lead in the 18th minute when a Keilin Farrand (Ellensburg, WA) free kick found the head of Cassie Ripley. Whitney Lowe added some insurance in the 80th after she followed the rebound of her initial saved shot and beat the defense to the ball for the goal. Amanda White made four saves for the shutout. MORE [+]
Cal State Stanislaus 4 :: OT :: 3 Saint Martin's
Trailing 3-2, Hannah Frakes (Boise, ID) put away a loose ball in the box in the 79th minute to tie things up and send it to overtime.
Saturday, September 12
MSU-Billings 2 :: OT :: 1 Academy of Art
The Yellowjackets dominated with a 30-5 advantage in shots (15-1 on target), but were unable to find the back of the net until the second half and needed extra time for the win. Dana Lubieniecki made a nice run to the top of the box before scoring in the 53rd, but the hosts only shot on frame counted in the 84th, ultimately sending things onto overtime where Spang netted the winner in the 107th minute when a cross from Ashely Marra was not cleared well. MORE [+]
Northwest Nazarene 1 :: 0 Dominican
Nsa scored her third goal in two games in the 66th minute on a ball from Fesenbek, and it was all the Crusaders would need on the day with Ortiz making eight stops for the shutout. MORE [+]
Western Washington 1 :: 0 Notre Dame de Namur
Malia Maack's (Spokane, WA) cross into the box went uncleared, allowing for the Vikings to get the win on Becca Cates' 55th minute strike.
Concordia 0 :: 1 San Francisco State
Simon Fraser 1 :: 0 Hawaii Pacific
Seattle Pacific 3 :: OT :: 2 Cal State East Bay
Sunday, September 13
Cal State Stanislaus 4 :: 3 Central Washington
Down two at halftime, the Wildcats attempted to claw back into the game, but were never able to find the equalizer with CSS answering twice. Nolte found Michaela Wallace in the 48th to cut the deficit but the Warriors restored the two-goal margin in the 75th. The final eight minutes were dramatic as Lowe pulled the hosts back within one again via Nolte in the 83rd only to see the visitors tally again in the 87th. The Wilcats got one more on a Farrand corner that was redirected by Retz to Alyssa Navlet, but the goal came with just four seconds remaining in the match. MORE [+]
Cal State Monterey Bay 2 :: 1 Saint Martin's
Monday, September 14
Trinity Lutheran 0 :: 4 Saint Martin's
Evergreen State 0 :: 1 Western Oregon
Wednesday, September 16
Western Washington 2 :: 1 St Edward's
NWC MEN #############
Tuesday, September 1
Pacific Lutheran 2 :: 1 Dallas
The Lutes started their Texas trip off with a win, getting what proved to be the game-winner from Joe Sammartino (Boise, ID) in the 40th minute.
Trinity Lutheran 0 :: 5 Puget Sound
Warner Pacific 4 :: 1 Pacific
Northwest Christian 1 :: 7 Linfield
Wednesday, September 2
La Verne 1 :: 0 George Fox
Thursday, September 3
Whitman 1 :: 2 Dallas
The Missionaries trailed by two at the break, but were only able to answer with a penalty kick in the 90th minute that was converted by Noah Cavanaugh. MORE [+]
Pacific Lutheran 2 :: OT :: Texas-Tyler
La Verne 2 :: 1 Willamette
Friday, September 4
Northwest 1 :: 3 Whitworth
The Pirates opened the scoring with Sam Engle scoring on a ball from Jonah Snyder in the 14th minute and added a second when Austin Cassity connected with Karl Muelheims (Spokane, WA) in the 27th. The Eagles pulled within one in the 37th, but Muelheims added a second goal in the 64th courtesy of Rylan Berriman. MORE [+] INWsn PHOTOS [+]
Whitman 0 :: OT :: 1 Texas-Tyler
In an evenly contested match, the Missionaries went all the way to overtime scoreless with Milo Cantor making five saves in goal, but the hosts prevailed in the 94th minute. MORE [+]
Puget Sound 2 :: 1 John Carroll
Minnesota-Morris 0 :: 1 Pacific (@ Whitworth)
Pacific Lutheran 0 :: OT :: 1 Texas-Dallas
Saturday, September 5
Minnesota-Morris 0 :: 9 Whitworth
The Pirates dominated from the start with Muelheims netting back-to-back goals in the 18th and 19th minutes, the first from Snyder. Berriman set up Alfredo Omelas to make it three before the break. Muelheims turned provider on a Tanner Stepp goal in the 76th and the two reversed roles on to complete Muelheims' hat-trick in the 80th minute after an Engle goal in the 78th. Samual Jarrett got on the board and an UMM goal made the difference eight before Stepp got a second tally via Johnny Thayer. MORE [+]
Whitman 1 :: 2 Texas-Dallas
The Missionaries wrapped up their Texas trek with another close loss. Down two again in the second half a cross from Bridger Sellegren (Bozeman, MT) found Connor Welty in the 77th minute, but it was all they could find in the rally effort. MORE [+]
Southwestern 0 :: 1 Willamette
Defender Sebastian Mortimer (Moscow, ID) helped lead the defense and scored the lone goal on a header in the 15th minute.
Northwest 3 :: 1 Pacific (@ Whitworth)
Trailing by two from the first half, Kellan McNamara (Missoula, MT) pulled one back for the Boxers in the 51st, but Northwest locked up the win with another strike 10 minutes later.
Multnomah 0 :: 5 Linfield (@ OIT)
Sunday, September 6
Puget Sound 1 :: OT :: 2 St Thomas
Wisconsin-Oshkosh 0 :: 0 Willamette
Linfield 1 :: 0 Oregon Tech
Monday, September 7
Warner Pacific 0 :: 3 George Fox
Trevor Martin (Spokane, WA) set up the opening goal in the 18th minute and Joab Logan (Sandpoint, ID) created the second in the 40th.
Tuesday, September 8
Corban 3 :: 0 George Fox
Wednesday, September 9
Linfield 3 :: 2 Trinity Lutheran
Thursday, September 10
Whitworth 1 :: 0 Mary Hardin-Baylor
A free kick was the difference in the contest with Sam Engle putting in a free kick on the familiar ground at Pacific Lutheran. Timmy Costa made four saves for the shutout. MORE [+]
Friday, September 11
George Fox 1 :: 0 Cal Lutheran
Logan tallied his second assist of the year on the game-winner in the 47th minute.
Mary Hardin-Baylor 1 :: 0 Puget Sound
Massachusetts-Boston 2 :: 1 Pacific Lutheran
Linfield 1 :: 3 Concordia
UC Santa Cruz 3 :: 1 Willamette
Saturday, September 12
Northwest 2 :: OT :: 1 Linfield
St Martin's 1 :: 2 Pacific
George Fox 0 :: 3 Redlands
Evergreen State 2 :: 1 Willamette
Sunday, September 13
Whitworth 3 :: 1 UC Santa Cruz
For the first time, Muelheims and Engle were unable to produce a goal, but Snyder had a pair. He nodded in the first on a ball from Tyler Pangia in the eighth minute and put away a ball from Muelheims in the 59th with UC Santa Cruz answering three minutes later on a penalty. Pangia combined with Spencer Wolfe to set up Omelas in the 78th for some insurance at Willamette. MORE [+]
Mary Hardin-Baylor 1 :: OT :: 2 Pacific Lutheran
Sammartino set up the equalizer in the 68th minute as the Lutes went on to grab the overtime win.
Massachusetts-Boston 2 :: 0 Puget Sound
Tuesday, September 15
UC Santa Cruz 3 :: 0 Pacific
Wednesday, September 16
Trinity Lutheran 0 :: 4 George Fox
Martin helped set up the opening goal of the contest as the Bruins rolled to the victory.
NWC WOMEN #############
Saturday, August 29
Evergreen State 0 :: 3 Linfield
Tuesday, September 1
Whitman 0 :: OT :: 1 College of Idaho
The NAIA program outshot the Missionaries 16-8 in the game, and grabbed the win in the 105th minute when a shot by Hailey Woods (Meridian, ID) rebounded off the crossbar to Summer Jackson (Boise, ID). Cassidy Brewin made three saves for Whitman while Brittany Houghton had four for the Saints. MORE - CofI [+] -- WC [+]
Pacific Lutheran 1 :: 0 Concordia-Moorehead
Corban 1 :: 0 Willamette
Pacific 0 :: 1 Warner Pacific
Wednesday, September 2
Carleton 0 :: 2 Whitworth
The Pirates opened up the season with Tiara Pajimola (Spokane, WA) scoring on a ball from DeNae Vandam (Missoula, MT) in the 21st minute. Five minutes into the second half Brooke Morrow (Clarkston, WA) found Megan McCart (East Wenatchee, WA) to add some insurance, but the defense permitted only one shot that goalkeeper Andrea Stump needed to save. INWsn REPORT [+]
Thursday, September 3
Redlands 2 :: OT :: 1 Pacific
Sydney Virgen (Richland, WA) set up the Boxers' go-ahead goal in the 56th minute.
Pacific Lutheran 3 :: 0 St Thomas
Trinity Lutheran 0 :: 2 Linfield
Friday, September 4
Puget Sound 1 :: 0 Emory
Carleton 3 :: 0 George Fox
Saturday, September 5
Carroll 0 :: 1 Whitworth (@ Whitman)
The NAIA program provided quite a challenge with goalkeeper Sienna Tanner (Spokane, WA) needing to make eight saves to keep the Saints off the board at Whitman. The winner came in the 82nd minute when McCart dished the ball back to the top of the box, where Vandam scored from about 19 yards. MORE CC [+] -- WU [+]
Puget Sound 2 :: 1 Wheaton
Lura Morton (Moscow, ID) scored what proved to be the game-winner from about eight yards out in the 76th minute for the Loggers.
Redlands 0 :: 0 Willamette
Wisconsin-Eau Claire 0 :: 2 Lewis & Clark
Sunday, September 6
Carroll 1 :: 0 Whitman
Another close contest in which the Missionaries defense kept the game alive, but the Saints snared the road win in the 59th minute when a cross from Lexi Pyette (Great Falls, MT) found Kayla Bayer in the six for the winner. Whitman nearly had an early lead, but Clara Merlino's shot from about 18 hit the underside of the bar and only partially crossed the goal line before coming out. Brewin had four saves for Whitman while Jamie Carter made three for the Saints shutout. MORE - CC [+] -- WC [+]
College of Idaho 1 :: 2 Linfield
Carleton 1 :: 2 Lewis & Clark
Wisconsin-Eau Claire 0 :: 0 George Fox
Thursday, September 10
Linfield 1 :: 0 Corban
Friday, September 11
Whitworth 1 :: 2 Chapman
Trailing since the 18th, Pajimola in the 78th minute found Sarah Mickelson, who chipped the keeper from about nine yards out for the equalizer. The joy was short-lived though as the Panthers scored about 20 seconds later. MORE [+]
George Fox 3 :: OT :: 2 Texas-Dallas
Trailing by two since the 27th, Kacie Morgan (Pullman, WA) scored in the 38th to tie things up and then put away a rebound in the 66th to put things level as the Bruins went on to get the win.
Cal Lutheran 0 :: 1 Puget Sound
Hamline 0 :: 4 Pacific Lutheran
Willamette 0 :: 3 Whittier
Saturday, September 12
Whitworth 0 :: 1 La Verne
The Leopards got on the board in the 29th minute at UC Santa Cruz and made it stand as the Pirates outshot them 15-11 in the game. MORE [+]
Whitman 0 :: 2 New York U
A shot off the crossbar put the opposition up in the 20th minute and a breakaway six minutes later made it a two-goal game. MORE [+]
Pacific 1 :: OT :: 2 Chapman
Hamline 0 :: 1 Puget Sound
Lewis & Clark 4 :: 0 Dallas
Cal Lutheran 0 :: 4 Pacific Lutheran
Sunday, September 13
Whitman 0 :: OT :: 1 Vassar
In her first game of the season, Haley Case was leading the Missionaries in another scoreless stalemate with five saves before a Vassar corner in the second minute of overtime led to heartbreak, deflecting in off the keeper. MORE [+]
George Fox 2 :: 0 Dallas
Emma Weme (Sandpoint, ID) put the Bruins on the board 14 minutes into the contest and Ashley Behrens (Newport, WA) doubled the lead less than two minutes before intermission.
Willamette 0 :: OT :: 1 Claremont-M-S
Pacific 0 :: 2 UC Santa Cruz
Lewis & Clark 2 :: 1 Texas-Dallas
NWC conference play kicked off Wednesday - recap of the results will be available in next week's round-up along with results from the upcoming weekend.
ADDITIONAL DII NOTES #############
Mitch Butt (Boise, ID) has two assists so far this season, setting up a goal as Humboldt State attempted to rally in a 3-2 loss at Concordia September 4 and on the lone goal in a 1-0 victory against Holy Names September 10.
The Regis (CO) Saints are off to a good start thanks to a number of area players. In addition to Piechowski and Fix playing roles in wins against Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington (noted above) in Idaho, Akina Fujimoto (Meridian, ID) set up a goal by Maison O'Neill (Boise, ID) in a 4-0 win against Cal State Dominguez Hills September 11 and Maggie Saras (Boise, ID) has done well on defense.
Abi Yanke (Boise, ID) is off to a 3-0-0 start in goal for Westminster as the former NAIA program kicks off its first season in DII. She has allowed just one goal in three outings.
Freshman Natalie Wheelock (Coeur d'Alene, ID) scored on a header in a 2-2 draw against Lubbock Christian for Adams State (CO) September 12.
ADDITIONAL DIII NOTES #############
Defender Ben Thompson has University of Redlands off to a 3-2-0 start with a pair of assists, setting up the opening goal in a 2-1 win against Colorado College September 5 and the second goal in a 3-0 win against George Fox September 12.
Savannah Laursen (Boise, ID) has one assist in the Redlands women's 2-0-1 start, creating the 88th minute equalizer in a 2-1 overtime win against Claremont-M-S September 16.