Northern Colorado Match Notes
CHENEY, Wash. – Continuing its longest home stand of the season, the Eastern Washington University soccer team opens Big Sky Conference play this week with two matches at home. The Eagles host Northern Colorado this Friday, Sept. 27 on the EWU Soccer Field at 3 p.m. Pacific time followed by another match on Sunday, Sept. 29 against Montana at 1 p.m. PT.
Following a 4-2 deficit against North Dakota State at home last Friday, the Eagles closed the non-conference season with an overall record of 3-5-1.
HOW TO WATCH
All home matches for the Eagles are streamed for free on Pluto TV Ch. 534 or on
WatchBigSky.com. Fans can also catch the
live stats here.
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES
The Eagles are ranked third in the Big Sky Conference behind Sacramento State and Northern Arizona who have a record of 6-1-2 and 3-4-1, respectively.
Sariah Keister leads the team with five goals, one of them being a game-winner versus Nevada, and has recorded 13 shots on goal thus far. She is currently ranked second in the Big Sky for goals scored behind Sacramento State whose leading goal scorer has scored six.
Saige Lyons is currently ranked first for assists in the Big Sky with four.
Brooke Flores has scored two goals for the Eagles, both of them ending as game-winners, and is ranked first for game-winning goals in the Big Sky.
Eastern has had six different players score at least one goal and four different players with at least one assist. Goalkeeper
Kelsee Winston has recorded 33 saves and one shutout and has started all nine matches recording 848 minutes of play.
KNOWING YOUR OPPONENT – NORTHERN COLORDAO
The Northern Colorado Bears are 0-4 in their last four competitions with their last match ending in a 1-0 deficit against South Dakota. They are coached by Tim Barrera who enters his 21
st season at the helm as his team currently has a record of 2-8-1.
Juniors Taylor Bray and Cara Quinn lead the team with two goals and one assist with both of Quinn's goals resulting in game-winners. The team has had six different players score at least one goal with Kaitlyn Meeder leading the team in assists with two.
SERIES HISTORY – NORTHERN COLORADO
The Eagles have an all-time series record of 5-9-3 against the Bears with
Chad Bodnar having a record of 2-4-1 since becoming head coach.
Their last time out was in the Big Sky Quarterfinals when Eastern lost 3-1 in a neutral site in Ogden, Utah. The Eagles scored first in the match, but the Bears were able to come back and score three goals to win the match. Last year during the regular season, the Eagles lost 3-1 on the road against the UNC Bears.
KNOWING YOUR OPPONENT – MONTANA
Montana is coach by Chris Citowicki who enters his second year at the helm. Their current record is 1-5-3 following a loss from Saint Mary's last week. Montana won the Big Sky Tournament after defeating Northern Colorado 1-0 last season.
The Grizzlies have a two-game losing streak as they get ready to face Idaho before traveling to Cheney to compete against the Eagles. They have had three different players score one goal each, including McKenzie Kilpatrick's game-winner, and two players with one assist each.
Goalkeeper Claire Howard has recorded 39 saves and has a 1.24 goals against average with a .765 save percentage.
SERIES HISTORY – MONTANA
The Eagles have an all-time record of 7-14-2 against Montana with
Chad Bodnar being 2-3-1 overall as head coach.
Last year they tied in a double overtime match in Missoula 0-0. The Eagles have a win streak of two against Montana at home and have not allowed them to score a goal since 2016.
WHAT'S NEXT
After this weekend, EWU gears up to face Idaho on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. PT at the EWU Soccer Field.
