WOMEN'S SOCCER MATCH NOTES: With a Cascade Collegiate Conference women's soccer postseason playoff berth still a possibility, The Evergreen State College hits the road for its final four regular season contests. And this week's road trip is, by far, its longest of any in a league that is known for lengthy bus travel. On Thursday, the Geoducks will take a bus 509.8 miles from Olympia to Caldwell, Idaho, where at 2:30 p.m. (MDT) Friday they will face the College of Idaho Coyotes. Next, they board the bus for a 635.3-mile trip from Caldwell to Billings, Mont., where at 2 p.m. (MDT) Sunday they play the Rocky Mountain College Bears. Following that, the team gets back on the bus for an 860.5-mile drive back to Olympia. Trip total: approximately 2,005 miles.

FOLLOW THE GEODUCKS:
College of Idaho live stats and video stream - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/yoteathletics/
Rocky Mountain video stream - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCispsWUvjqU72MxGD8-aNvg

ABOUT THE GEODUCKS: After recording a pair of 1-1 double overtime ties with Carroll and Great Falls last week, the Geoducks enter the final four-game stretch of the season with a 2-5-3 overall record, including a 0-4-3 mark and three points in the conference table. The Geoducks, who are 1-4-0 in road games in 2016, sit at the bottom of the standings but could easily climb back into the eight-team conference playoff picture with a couple of wins this weekend. Evergreen has scored 10 goals and allowed 16 in its 10 total matches, but has allowed only three goals in its last three contests. After scoring a goal in both of last weekend's matches, senior forward Ellie Engel (Sandpoint, Idaho/Sandpoint HS/North Idaho College) has taken the team scoring lead with seven points from three goals and one assist. Junior midfielder Haleigh Ryneski (Wasilla, Alaska/Bonney Lake Wash. HS) has a pair of goals and is the only other Evergreen player with more than one. Engel is tied with freshman midfielder Delaney Rice (Arcata, Calif./Arcata HS) for the lead in shots with 19, and Engel leads the team with 10 shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Kayla Baskett (Seattle, Wash./Holy Names Academy) has a 1.55 goals against average, one shutout and averages 4.60 saves per match, fourth best in the conference. She has played all but 29 minutes in goal for the Geoducks this season.

DEFENSIVE STRENGTH: Evergreen's defense has been well anchored by goalkeeper Kayla Baskett and its two central backs, senior Loren Switzer (Olympia, Wash./Capital HS) and freshman Taylor Germer (Vancouver, Wash./Heritage HS). Those three are among the six players who have started every game for Evergreen – Ellie Engel, Haleigh Ryneski and freshman midfielder Maddie Lockwood (University Place, Wash./Curtis HS) are the others – and have played nearly every minute this season.

ABOUT THE COYOTES: College of Idaho is 6-5-1 overall and, with seven points from a 2-4-1 record, is tied for seventh place in the conference standings. The Coyotes, 2-3-0 in home matches, have scored 25 goals in their 12 contests but have a 1.51 goals against average. The leading scorer is Jamiece Yizar with 14 points from six goals and two assists. Katelyn Benavidez has four goals and four assists to her credit, while Allie Boyd is next in assists with three. Goalkeeper Brittany Houghton is third in the conference with 4.92 saves per match but does have the high 1.51 goals against average.

RECENT RESULTS: College of Idaho has won three, Evergreen has taken one and there has been one tie in the last five matches between these programs. The 'Yotes garnered a 3-1 victory last year in Olympia, a year after the teams tied 2-2 in Caldwell. The most recent Evergreen win in the series came in 2013, a 2-1 decision in Olympia.

ABOUT THE BEARS: Rocky Mountain, which hosts Northwest University on Friday, occupies sixth place in the conference standings with 12 points from a 4-3-0 record, and it is 7-6-0 overall. While they are just 3-4-0 at home this season, the Bears come into the weekend with wins in three of their last four matches. Mhari Smith leads the team with 11 points from five goals and one assist, and she is the reigning CCC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week. Goalkeeper Lia Unterholzner averages 3.85 saves per match, fifth best in the conference, but the Bears have allowed 26 goals, while scoring 20, in their 12 matches.

LAST YEAR: In the only previous match between these programs played last year, Rocky Mountain took a 4-1 victory in Olympia.

EVERGREEN 1, CARROLL 1 (2 OT): The Geoducks battled the defending conference and conference tournament champion Carroll Saints on nearly even terms last Friday afternoon before settling for the double overtime draw on a rain-drenched Geoduck Pitch. The Saints scored seven mintues into the game but couldn't break down the Evergreen defense after that. Meanwhile, the Geoducks came out strong in the second half and drew even on a goal by Ellie Engel in the 63rd minute. Engel beat the Carroll goalkeeper to a loose ball and slid it home before herself sliding into the right post. Evergreen keeper Kayla Baskett finished with 10 saves.

EVERGREEN 1, GREAT FALLS 1 (2 OT): In a match played Sunday morning at Tumwater High School's stadium, Evergreen got on the board first at 72:38 on a nice solo effort by Ellie Engel, one of nine Geoducks seniors honored prior to the game. Engel dribbled through several defenders before shooting from about eight yards out, beating Great Falls keeper Kyra Dorvall to the upper right corner of the goal. Less than four minutes later, at 76:53, the Argos knotted the score at 1-1 when Malena Lennon ran onto an Evergreen back pass and shot past Geoducks keeper Alison Mackey, who was left with no chance. Besides Engel, other Evergreen seniors honored before the game were Stephanie Yoder, Vanessa Zamora, Laura Barnes, Jasmine Berlin, Loren Switzer, Kayla Baskett and Mackey.