Gray earns bareback paycheck

Cheney bareback rider Ryan Gray missed a big check but did pick up $2,000 at the Pace Picante ProRodeo Challenge in Omaha, Neb., this weekend.

Gray, who is sitting in the top five of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association bareback standings, placed third in the first round of the tournament-style rodeo to earn $2,000. The top eight of the 12 contestants in each event advanced to the semifinals, where Gray was knocked out.

Sandpoint’s Rowdy Buechner, who led all bareback riders in points accumulated in the 12 qualifying rodeos, didn’t participate due to an unknown injury.

Tonasket bull rider Zach Oakes advanced to the finals and picked up $4,000. He won $1,000 by finishing fourth in the first round and $3,000 for placing third in the semifinals.

Moses Lake barrel racer Rose Miller made it to the semifinals but did not earn any money because only the top four of the eight qualifiers from the first round picked up a check.

Buechner did advance to the Pace Picante ProRodeo Classic in Dallas next month because of the amount of points he piled up in qualifying. Gray also advances because he placed in the top four of the Pace Chute-Out in Reno in June. The top four in the Omaha and Reno rodeos earned a trip to Dallas as well as the top four in combined qualifying points who did not make the top four in either Reno or Omaha.

The Pace series, which includes 12 qualifying rodeos before the culmination of the winter rodeos (Reno), summer rodeos (Omaha) and a championship (Dallas), is basically a made-for-television event that offers big payouts for competitors.

Despite not competing in Omaha, Buechner remained in the top 10 of the world standings. The top 15 advance to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December. Neither Gray nor Buechner has made the NFR before.

College women’s soccer

Jennie Summers scored just 54 seconds into the match as Eastern Washington knocked off Idaho 1-0 in non-conference action in Moscow.

Summers, who is now the all-time goal leader at EWU with nine career tallies, dribbled through the Vandals defense and banked a shot of the post and in for the games only goal. Summers is also tied with senior Beth Russell for the all-time Eastern record for career points, with 21.

Idaho (2-9) outshot Eastern (3-6-2) 18-10, but senior goalkeeper Tiera Como made four saves to earn her fourth shutout of the season.

“Washington State got a goal in the 89th minute from Haley Thompson-Miller as the Cougars knocked off Montana 2-1 in a non-conference matchup in Pullman.

Montana (2-7-1) scored first with Mahlleace Tomsin scoring in the 10th minute.

But the Cougars (7-3-1) tied the game behind Megan Hyte’s fifth goal of the season in the 40th minute.

“Cristin Leverson scored in the 39th minute as Gonzaga set a program record by winning its sixth straight matchup, a 1-0 victory over Portland State in non-conference action on a muddy, slippery Martin Centre Field.

Leverson ran onto a pass from fellow forward Nanda McCormick and fired a shot past Viking goalkeeper Niki Brooks as GU improved to 4-0 at home this year.

The Bulldogs (8-2-1) outshot PSU (3-6-1) 17-5, and Gonzaga goalie Ashley Haugen made one save to record her 17th career shutout.

“Megan Shannon had two assists then scored in the seventh minute of the first overtime as Pacific Lutheran withstood a Whitworth rally in the second half to beat the Pirates 3-2 in Northwest Conference action in Tacoma.

The Lutes (6-3, 4-2) led 2-0 in the second half before Marissa Williams and Ashley Fisk scored twice in a 1-minute, 13-second span to tie it for the Pirates (3-4-2, 2-3-1).

Men’s college soccer

Niko Varlamos scored in the 101st minute as No. 11 Whitworth earned a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Pacific Lutheran in NWC action in Tacoma.

Matt Miller put the Lutes (6-4, 3-2) up in the 64th minute, but Todd Sabrowski scored for the Pirates (8-1-1, 5-0-1) in the 84th minute to send the game into overtime.

“Gonzaga’s West Coast Conference matchup against San Diego was postponed due to an unplayable field.

After heavy rain three games in the past four days, officials deemed Martin Centre Field unplayable. Any makeup date and location will be determined by the West Coast Conference.

“Robbie Findlay’s goal in the 41st minute sent No. 15 Washington (6-2, 0-1) to a 1-0 loss to Oregon State (5-2-4, 1-0) in Pac-10 action in Corvallis, Ore.

Hockey

Cam Humphrey scored twice as Castlegar beat the Spokane Braves 2-1 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action at Planet Ice.

Evan Witt scored Spokane’s only goal and Ryan Skier made 31 saves for the Braves (1-4-3-1).