LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University women's soccer team can cross another 'first' off its list. This time, it involves a showdown that could potentially have serious repercussions on the upper-echelon of the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC).
On Wednesday afternoon, the NAIA announced the Navy and Gold's matchup against (RV) Rocky Mountain College on Friday would be the eighth installment of the NAIA Women's Soccer Match of the Week.
The recognition marks the first time the Mountaineer women's soccer team has been chosen for the match of the week.
"I'm excited for the match to be selected as the game of the week," said head women's soccer coach Justin Wagar. "Rocky Mountain is a talented team receiving national votes and is at the top of our conference standings with us. It's sure to be a heck of a game."
Scouting Rocky Mountain
The Battlin' Bears enter Friday's game with a 7-3-2 record overall and a 5-1-1 clip in CCC play.
The squad is on the heels of a surprising 1-1 draw against a struggling Corban team on Oct. 10 in Salem, Ore. Rocky Mountain actually trailed for most of the contest until Ashley Flannigan scored on a penalty kick in the 60th minute to tie the game at one apiece.
The Battlin' Bears launched 27 shots in the game compared to 16 attempts by the Warriors.
On the season, Mandi Achen is tied for fifth in the CCC in goals (5), and she also has three assists on the year. Meanwhile, Lia Unterholzner has registered 55 saves on the season and boasts a .755 save percentage.
Rocky Mountain is receiving 12 votes in the latest NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
EOU's Last Time Out
The Navy and Gold ended a nine-year drought to Southern Oregon with a thrilling 1-0 triumph on Oct. 4 in Ashland, Ore.
Freshman forward Zoe Anderson scored the game-winner in the 9th minute, and that was all the Mountaineers needed to foil the Raiders' upset bid. In the process, Anderson became the all-time leader in game-winners for a single season at EOU.
Meanwhile, junior goalkeeper Jessica Parker collected a pair of saves en route to earning her fifth shutout of the season.
Leading the CCC
Senior forward Crystal Schuder is making the most of her lone year as a Mountaineer, as she leads the conference in both shots (57) and assists (5).
In goal, Parker boasts a CCC-best .52 goals-against average, and she needs one more shutout to tie the school record.
Plastering the EOU Women's Soccer Record Books
- Best start in program history (10-1)
- Most team shutouts in a single season (8)
- Most wins since 2006
- Most goals in a single game (13)
- Most goals in a single season (47)
- Most assists in a single season (35)
- Most points in a single season (129)
- Most goals by an individual in a single season (Anderson – 11)
- Most points by an individual in a single season (Anderson – 26)
- Most game-winners by an individual in a single season (Anderson – 4)
Game Time
The Mountaineers square off against the Battlin' Bears on Friday in Billings, Mont., at 3:30 p.m. MT.
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