Rule Changes Break Soccer Ties

Greater Spokane League soccer standings have an odd look this season. Early in the season, Central Valley, at 0-2, actually led two teams that were 0-1.

The reason is the new points system the GSL adopted.

The old rules awarded two points for a win, one for a tie and zero for a loss. Under new guidelines, teams earn three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime loss and zero for a regulation loss.

CV lost to University in overtime on March 15. As a result, the Bears, also losers on March 13, picked up a point to jump ahead of a pair of 0-1 teams.

The league’s tie-breaking procedure also has been changed. If a match is tied after regulation, two 5-minute halves will be played to break the tie. If the teams remain tied after the overtime periods, they move to a shootout. Each will receive five penalty kicks.

If that round ends in a tie, the teams advance to a sudden-death shootout.

Referees can move directly to the shootout if darkness is imminent.

The league added regular-season overtime to prepare teams for postseason games, in which ties are broken by the overtime-shootout process.

Game summaries

Jim Morton scored two goals and keepers Rich Cullen and Aaron Walkup combined for a shutout as the Mead (3-0) defeated Shadle Park 5-0.

In other games, Gonzaga, also 3-0, struck for six goals in the first half to defeat visiting Rogers 7-0.

At Hart Field, Josh Melcher scored two goals, including the game winner, as University defeated Lewis and Clark 3-2.

At Ferris, Jame Barlow and Peter Martin scored in the second half to give Central Valley a 2-0 win.

Baseball

Whitworth and Northwest Nazarene dueled to a 10-inning, 4-4 tie on the first day of the Bombs at the Beach Spring Invitational Tournament at San Diego.

Whitworth tied the game in the ninth before Don O’Neal hit an apparent game-winning home run. However, it was nullified by an illegal substitution.

Lunch

Gonzaga University athletic director and men’s basketball coach Dan Fitzgerald and baseball coach Steve Hertz will share the head table at today’s noon luncheon of the Bulldog Club in Empire Room C of the Ridpath Hotel.

Volleyball

Eighty-eight teams, including, for the first time, teams of boys, will compete in the Club Mead Volleyball Tournament.

Competition is Saturday and Sunday, at Mead High School and Mead and Northwood junior highs. Age groups are from under-12 through high school.