Gonzaga women continue sizzling streak

The streak is still alive for the Gonzaga women.

The Bulldogs blanked the Boise State Broncos 3-0 Tuesday afternoon at Gonzaga’s Martin Field, courtesy of first-half goals from Christine Soma, Jamie Blanche and Lauren Zuckerman, to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games.

The Bulldogs won seven consecutive matches in 2005. The current streak includes a tie with Idaho State last Friday.

Soma recorded her third assist of the season on Blanche’s goal. The senior midfielder is second on the career assist ranks at Gonzaga, four shy of the school record set by Sara Streufert, who played for Gonzaga from 1997 to 2000 and had 15 career assists.

The Bulldogs (7-2-1) continue their non-conference schedule Friday and Sunday with respective road games at Oregon State and Oregon.

They open West Coast Conference play Oct. 13 with a match at Portland.

Their first WCC home match is Oct. 25 against Santa Clara.

Whitworth’s streak ends

The Whitworth men saw their shutout victory streak come to an end with a 2-1 overtime loss to top-ranked Puget Sound over the weekend.

The Pirates’ six-game shutout streak began with a 1-0 non-conference victory over Cal Lutheran on Sept. 9 and extended through their first five Northwest Conference matches.

Whitworth (7-2-1, 5-1-0), ranked fourth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas Division III West rankings, remains on top of the standings with 15 points because it has played more games than Puget Sound.

The Pirates will have another shot at the Loggers (9-0, 4-0) when the teams meet in Spokane on Oct. 27.

Jensen earns honor

Eastern Washington junior Abby Jensen was named Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three goals in the Eagles’ last two games.

Jensen, a Sandpoint native, scored a goal in EWU’s loss to Washington and had two goals for the Eagles in their win over San Jose State.

In the game against San Jose State, senior Cyeeta Mott tied the school record in career goals (11, tied with Jennie Summers) and broke the EWU records in points (27) and game-winning goals (5).

Eastern Washington is off to its best start in school history at 4-4.

Climbing the ranks

The Gonzaga men moved up to sixth in the NSCAA/adidas Division I Far West regional rankings after a 1-1 double overtime tie on Saturday at Portland in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams.

The Washington State women (6-1-2) are ranked seventh in the Division I West poll after a win and a tie last weekend.

Whitworth’s women are ranked third in the D-III West after a 1-0 loss to top-ranked Puget Sound and a 2-1 overtime win over Pacific Lutheran.

Notes

Gonzaga goalkeeper Vito Higgins, the school’s career saves leader with 249, was named the WCC co-player of the week along with Portland’s Michael Gavin. … North Idaho’s men fell 4-1 last week to Salt Lake Community College, the Cardinals’ first loss of the season. The defending Region 18 champions are 5-1-1 overall and 1-1 in the Scenic West Athletic Conference.