CHENEY, Wash. — Classes are back in session and five EWU teams are back in action this week. Football and Soccer both host conference foes, while volleyball hits the road for a pair of games. Golf wraps up its second competition of the year and cross-country will be on the road for its third meet of the season.
Football — Get Tickets (Saturday vs. Idaho: 1 p.m.)
After taking down then-No. 15 UC Davis on the road last week, the Eagles find themselves in the national rankings for the first time this season,
coming in at #19 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and 25th in the ACFA FCA Coaches Poll to become the seventh Big Sky team in the polls.
The schedule doesn't get any easier as #4/#6 Idaho comes to Cheney on Saturday afternoon, a week removed from handing Sacramento State their first Big Sky loss since 2019. The Eagles lost to the Vandals 48-16 in the Kibbie Dome last year, but stormed away for a win in Idaho's last trip to The Inferno, 71-21 in 2021.
Wide Receiver Efton Chism III continues to seek history. The EWU wideout is just 97 receiving yards from 2,000 in his career and has already vaulted into the top 10 all-time in total receptions. He leads the team with 30 catches for 294 yards and 2 TDs through four games.
Saturday will be Welcome Weekend as Roos Field as we welcome students back to campus for the first football game during the 2023-24 academic year. Get tickets and learn more about game promotions at our Football Tickets Page.
Soccer- Get Tickets (Thursday vs. Montana: 3:30 p.m.)
The Eagles are back at EWU Soccer field for the first time in nearly three weeks for the conference home opener. Eastern hosts Montana on Thursday (Sept. 28) at 3:30 p.m. in the team's lone game this week.
This past week, EWU earned its first Big Sky win, topping Weber State, 2-1, on Sunday (Sept. 24). The Wildcats scored first, but the Eagles responded with two scores to get the road win.
Maddie Morgan knocked in her conference-leading 13th goal, while
Riley Arribas netted her first score of her Eastern career.
Kiara Matson showed grit in the second half, making five saves and keeping the lead for EWU.
The Eagles faced Idaho State in the team's first conference game, falling 3-2 to the Bengals. Morgan scored in the game, along with
Gillian Martin, but the team could not make up a two-goal deficit in the second half.
Morgan holds a seven-goal lead on the conference leaderboard and is two away from tying the single season school scoring record. The senior is also tied for fourth with three assists this season, while leading the conference in shots(33) and shots on goal(23).
Volleyball
Eastern Washington has two Big Sky road games on the schedule this week, starting with a trip to Pocatello to play Idaho State on Thursday (Sept. 28) at 6 p.m. Pacific Time. The Eagles next head down to play Weber State on Saturday (Sept. 30) at 5 p.m.
Conference play began last week and Eastern went 0-2 in its first games. The Eagles dropped a tough matchup against defending champions, Northern Colorado, on Thursday, 0-3. The team hosted Montana on Saturday,
falling 0-3 to the Grizzlies.
Sage Brustad leads the Big Sky in points per set this season, averaging 4.75. The senior is second in kills per set (3.92) and aces per set (0.51). She leads with 26 total aces overall. Kate Hatch continues to be a steady presence for Eastern, averaging 8.33 assists per set to rank fourth on the conference leaderboard. On the back line, Makenna Collins is a key element, leading the team and ranking seventh in the Big Sky with 3.75 digs per set.
Golf
Eastern Washington begins competition at the Big Sky's inaugural 54 for IX Tournament in Saratoga Springs, Utah. The tournament began Monday with two rounds, finishing today with the final 18. Currently, Eastern is in seventh place on the leaderboard, with freshman Gabriella Ilardi tied for 15th in the field.
For the tournament, the Eagles have Brooke Mahler, Kami Twining, Carisa Padilla, Ilardi and Meghan Singh participating. The tournament is the second competition of the 2023-24 season for Eastern.
Cross-Country
Eagle runners will split up this weekend, competing in two meets on Saturday, Sept. 30. Select competitors will head to Louisville, Ky. for the Live in Lou Classic hosted by the Louisville Sports Commission. View meet information here. Others will head to Walla Walla to compete at the Whitman (College) Invitational.
The Eagles look to build off their last meet, on Sept. 15 when they previewed the 2023 Big Sky Championship course in Missoula, Mont. Eastern finished second (men) and fourth (women).
Tickets for the 2023 EWU Football season are now available! Visit goeags.com/tickets or call the EWU Athletics Ticket Office at 509-359-6059 to secure yours today.
New for the 2023-24 season, the EWU Women's Sports Pass gives fans access to over 30 Eagle Athletics events, including volleyball, soccer and women's basketball for only $5 per game! Learn more and get yours today at goeags.com/tickets or call 509-359-6056.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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