CBC women’s soccer team wins championship in OT + Hanford swimmer among best in state
Columbia Basin College’s women’s soccer team took its turn in the spotlight this fall, when the Hawks defeated Spokane 2-1 in overtime to win the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) championship on Sunday at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila.
Violet Duran’s goal in the 95th minute (which was in overtime) was the game-winner for CBC.
The two teams, familiar with one another since they both play in the NWAC East Region, each had a goal during regulation.
Spokane jumped out on top 1-0 in the 9th minute, as Gracie Reidt scored off an assist from Abbey Jay.
But the Hawks finally responded in the 87th minute when Janelly Verduzco (Othello) scored on a penalty kick to tie the match.
Then Duran (Southridge) scored the sudden-death game-winner in OT.
It’s was the first time in three games against the Sasquatch that CBC had won. The two teams tied 1-1 in Spokane on Sept. 20, and Spokane won 4-1 in Pasco on Oct. 14.
CBC made it to Sunday’s final by beating Lower Columbia Community College 1-0 in the semifinals on Friday.
It was Angelina Keister (Southridge) who scored the game-winner in the 87th minute.
Hawks keeper Jayauna Keister (Tacoma-Wilson) had 6 saves for the shutout, while Emma Haertling (Chiawana) led CBC with 7 shots, of which four were on goal.
Redshirt freshman midfielder Hilda Cortes-Muniz (Chiawana) was named NWAC Championship MVP for her play in the Final Four contests.
It was the CBC women’s soccer team’s first NWAC title since 2008 — and the first for Hawks head coach Omar Anderson. It was also the third consecutive year that CBC (17-1-3) has made the Final Four.
State girls swimming
Hanford senior Malia Ciolli had the best finish among area swimmers last weekend at the WIAA girls state swimming and diving championships in Federal Way.
Ciolli placed fourth in the 4A 100 breaststroke final, clocking a time of 1 minute and 8.52 seconds.
Ciolli was also part of the Falcons’ 200 medley relay team that finished sixth in the 4A finals.
Bridget Rutherford, Ciolli, Esther Mei and Noelle Landon finished in 1:55.97.
In the 3A meet, Southridge’s Linnea Haan finished seventh in the 200 IM finals with a time of 2:11.04.
Haan also placed eighth in the 3A 100 backstroke with a time of 58.22 seconds.
NWAC men’s soccer
The CBC men’s team, which won the NWAC title in 2022, finished third in this past weekend’s Final Four at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila.
The Hawks fell short in the semifinals last Friday, losing 1-0 to Peninsula.
Nil Grau scored in the 30th minute for the Pirates off an assist from Pip van der Ende to advance to the finals.
Gabriel Delgado (Southridge) led CBC with 4 shots and one shot on goal, while teammate Julian Reyes (Wenatchee) had four shots.
For the Hawks, it was their only loss of the season, as CBC finished with a 15-1-1 record.
Peninsula went on to win the NWAC title on Sunday by beating Highline 3-2 in a shootout. The Pirates outscored the Thunderbirds 11-10 in the shootout.
NWAC cross country
Chiawana grad Mary Nakamura placed fifth overall at the Northwest Athletic Conference women’s cross country championships on Nov. 11 at the Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place.
Nakamura is a freshman competing for Spokane Community College, and she covered the 5K race in 20 minutes and 3 seconds.
NWAC volleyball
CBC’s volleyball team (19-12) qualified for the NWAC’s Elite Eight for the second consecutive year after the Hawks won two matches in the regional tournament this past weekend.
CBC opened regional play by taking on host Bellevue College on Saturday.
CBC beat the Bulldogs 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 26-24, 23-25, 15-7) to advance to the championship match.
Leading the way against Bellevue was Zuri Reeser (Stanfield, Ore.) and Kaylie Christopher (Happy Valley, Ore.) with 7 kills each, while Caydence Taylor (Blackfoot, Idaho) added 6 kills.
Yajaira Meraz (Kamiakin) led CBC with 23 assists, 4 service aces, and 10 digs.
In Sunday’s regional final, CBC beat Rogue 3-1 (25-17, 15-25, 25-16, 25-17) to qualify for the Elite Eight.
In the win over Rogue, Reeser had 15 kills and 21 digs, while Christopher added 7 kills and 17 digs.
Taylor contributed 8 kills and 14 digs, while Meraz had 32 assists.
CBC now opens play against Highline at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 17, at Pierce College in Lakewood — where the Elite Eight tournament runs Friday through Sunday.
Other first-round matches on Friday include: Yakima Valley vs. Lower Columbia, 11 a.m.; Bellevue vs. North Idaho at 2 p.m.; and Skagit Valley against Linn-Benton at 5 p.m.
The NWAC title match will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19.
Prep volleyball
Kamiakin is headed back to the WIAA 4A state tournament in Yakima.
The Braves went 3-0 through the Class 4A District 8 tournament by beating Pasco 3-0, shutting down Central Valley 3-0, then beating Gonzaga Prep 3-1 in the district tourney championship last week.
Kamiakin is now 23-0 and has been dominant. In those 23 matches, the Braves have lost only 8 sets, and only Kennewick took them to the full limit in a 3-2 match.
With all of this Kamiakin is still a No. 5 seed in the tournament, and the Braves will open the event with a 9:45 a.m. Friday match against No. 12 seed Eastlake.
The 4A championship is set for 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 18.
The Braves are led by a trio of seniors: outside hitter Peyton Arland, who has committed to playing next year for Bushnell University in Oregon; setter Rylie Dolven, who has surpassed the 2,000 career assists mark this season and is committed to North Idaho College; and middle hitter Julie Whitley, who will be playing next year for NAIA powerhouse Eastern Oregon University.
Prep football
Got some updated stats from River View’s 47-20 win over Asotin last Friday in the 2B state playoffs.
Karson Rawlings had 136 yards rushing on just 10 carries, scoring one touchdown. At linebacker, Rawlings also had 7 tackles (1 for loss), a pass defense, and an interception he returned 35 yards.
Hyatt Clark passed for 212 yards and four touchdowns, two of them to Connor Harper.
The Panthers advance to the 2B state quarterfinals, where they’ll play No. 1 seed Napavine at 5 p.m., Saturday at Tenino High School.
Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.
