A goal for Koelzer
Record in her sights
Eastern Washington University will honor the six seniors on its roster Friday when it closes its 2008 season at home with a 3:30 p.m. matchup against Big Sky Conference rival Montana.
Although the Eagles (3-11-3, 1-4-1 BSC) have been eliminated from postseason play, their season finale still holds plenty of personal intrigue as senior forward Lauryn Koelzer attempts to become the school’s single-season goal-scoring leader.
Koelzer, who scored 60 goals in two seasons at Walla Walla Community College before transferring to EWU two years ago, is tied with Cyeeta Mott for the single-season goal record with six, but could finish her career alone at No. 1 with a goal against the Grizzlies (6-9-2, 3-2-1), who still have a chance to make the four-team Big Sky tournament field.
Koelzer, with 12 points this fall, is also ranked No. 2 behind Mott (16) on the Eagles’ single-season points list.
Koelzer insists she will not alter her approach to Friday’s match
“There isn’t any added pressure,” she said. “It really didn’t hit me that I was in position to break the (goals) record until recently, but it’s really exciting.”
Koelzer has been an offensive standout for Eastern since first arriving on campus and ranks third on the school’s career goals list with nine and fourth on its career points list with 20.
“Lauryn has done more than we have ever asked her to,” EWU coach George Hageage said. “She has really carried the offense on her shoulders. She definitely has a nose for the goal.”
Eastern’s other seniors who will be honored during their final game are Jocelyn Bement, Lillian Bourret, Maia Fastabend, Abby Jensen and Ashley Renz.
UI, Zags end at home
The University of Idaho women (1-14-2, 0-4-1 Western Athletic Conference) close out their campaign at home with of conference matches against San Jose State (4-9-4, 1-3-1) at 3 p.m. Friday and Hawaii (6-6-4, 2-2-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Among the Vandals’ seniors who playing their final home games are Kelsey Manning, Hayley Henry, Aimee Goss, Nicole McAllister, Amanda Triller and Ali Buswell.
Gonzaga will also honor its seniors – Lacey Castleberry, Lauren Dascenzo and Kelcey Goddard – when the Bulldogs (7-9-2, 2-3-0 in the WCC) close out the home portion of their schedule with a West Coast Conference match against 14th-ranked San Diego (13-3-2, 5-0-0) at 11:30 a.m. Friday.
The Zags wrap up their season Nov. 8 by traveling to Santa Clara to take on the Broncos (4-11-3, 1-3-1).
Pirates continue climbing
The Whitworth University men’s and women’s teams continued their climbs in the NSCAA/adidas Division III polls this week.
The Pirates men (12-2-1, 8-2-1 Northwest Conference) vaulted from 20th to 14th, while the women (11-4-1, 7-4-1) inched up one spot – from 16th to 15th – despite suffering a 2-0 loss to sixth-ranked Puget Sound on Sunday.
Corner kicks
Whitworth’s Caleb Barnhill, a senior forward, leads the NWC with an average of .62 goals per game, and in total goals, with 10. His 22 total points also top the league. … Whitworth’s Eddy Prugh, a freshman forward, was named the NWC offensive player of the week after scoring the Pirates’ only goal in a 1-1 tie at Pacific Lutheran and then booting the winner in a 3-2 victory at Puget Sound. … All three goals scored by Gonzaga sophomore Sheridan Jones this fall have won matches. … Zags goalkeeper Lauren Ames posted her sixth shutout of the season in Sunday’s 1-0 win over San Francisco, the third-highest single-season total in school history.