Northwest Eagles clinch CCC title, conference tournament spots

PORTLAND, Ore. – Northwest University clinched their first Cascade Collegiate Conference championship in school history with a 2-0 shutout of Warner Pacific this afternoon breaking Concordia’s twelve year reign at the top of the standings.

Sophomore Acacia Johnson (Puyallup, Wash.) scored both goals with the first one coming in the first half at the 20:39 mark. She got control of the ball 18 yards out and lifted a shot over WPC goalkeeper, Lynzee Felder, to give NU the 1-0 lead. Northwest U. had to play over 72 minutes shorthanded as Hannah Reeser received her second yellow card at the 36:52 mark of the first half.

Johnson’s clincher came in the 61st minute as she scored on a breakaway for the 2-0 lead which would hold up the remainder of the game. In a defensive struggle, a total of 15 shots were taken, 8 by NU and 7 by the Knights.

Patty Hughes (Kalispell, Mont.) picked up the shutout and made 2 saves for the Eagles while Warner Pacific (1-13, 0-9) goalkeeper Felder, had one save for the game. NU held the edge on corner kicks, 6 to 4.

Northwest U. (8-8-2, 7-1-1 CCC) will host the semifinal game against the #4 seed, which looks to be Southern Oregon, on Saturday, Nov. 3, time to be determined.

This marks Northwest University’s first women’s soccer championship beginning the sport at the school in 2006. Erin Redwine has been the head coach since the inaugural season leading the Eagles to a spot in last year’s championship game as they fell to Concordia, 1-0, in Portland. Redwine was named CCC co-coach of the year in 2011.

Northwest U. Clinches Playoff Spot with Win Over C of I

CALDWELL, Idaho - The Northwest University Eagles scored two second half goals, just two minutes apart, to clinch a spot in the Cascade Conference Men’s Soccer Postseason Tournament with a 2-0 victory over The College of Idaho at Simplot Stadium today.

NU’s Nathan Furtado flicked home a Carlos Portillo corner kick in the 58th minute to break a scoreless tie, with Alex Taylor following with a 25-yard strike that slipped through C of I keeper Colin Benham-Marin’s hands and into the goal, as the Eagles (10-6-1, 8-5 CCC) completed a season sweep of the Yotes (2-10-4, 2-8-2). Furtado had the assist on the second goal. It was the first win in Caldwell for Eagle coach Gary McIntosh.

The College of Idaho had the edge on shots, 20-13, but NU goalkeeper Joe Galbraith had another solid day in goal for the as he made four saves including two diving stops of Yote shot attempts. Benham-Martin had four save in goal for the Yotes.

The 2012 Men’s Soccer Championships will include the top four teams based on CCC regular season finish. The Highest remaining seeds hosts lowest remaining seed in the semifinals.

Semifinals: #1 vs. # 4 and # 2 vs. # 3. Games will be held at the home of the higher seed with the semifinals being held on Tuesday, Nov. 6 and the championship final on Saturday, Nov. 10 (at the higher seed).

The winners will meet in the Championship match hosted by the highest remaining seed. The winner of the conference postseason tournament earns the league’s automatic bid to the NAIA Championships.

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