The Cascade Collegiate Conference opens Friday with a full slate of contests, including several matchups between INW26 teams. Several programs for the region are also in the mix for the top spots in the league based on the preseason poll.
CCC WOMEN
Heading into the season the College of Idaho is the lone women’s team from the CCC in the NAIA Top 25. The Yotes are currently ranked at 17. Eastern Oregon received votes.
Carroll (6-4-2 CCC in 2022, 6th) – The Saints head into the season unbeaten in official preseason competition having blanked Northwestern College 2-0, fellow CCC member Providence 3-0 and DII Black Hills State 1-0. Their latest contest was a 2-2 draw against DII MSU Billings. Emily Funseth led the team in scoring with three goals in those contests.
College of Idaho (9-1-2, 3rd) – The Yotes, who reached the second round of the NAIA tournament a year ago, went 4-1-1 in their preseason slate, opening with a 5-0 win against Jessup before a narrow 2-1 loss to juggernaught Embry-Riddle AU. They then travelled to Tennessee where they played Cumberland to a 2-2 draw and rolled against Shawnee State 9-0. They capped their prep last week with 4-2 and 3-0 home wins against Hope International and Pacific. Natasja Davis led the way in the preseason with five goals while Eden Makaafi and Maddie Smith each had three.
Eastern Oregon (8-2-2, 4th) – The Mountaineers are unbeaten going into their campaign despite playing all four on the road. On a trip to Tennessee they downed Milligan 3-1 and tied Tennessee Wesleyan 0-0. They ventured off to Kentucky a few days later and snared a 1-0 win over 20th ranked Campbellsville. They wrapped things up a bit closer to home, playing a 1-1 draw against Hope International at College of Idaho. Scoring has been scarce thus far, making the performance of keeper Rylee Schei all that more important as she has allowed just two goals in four games.
Providence (3-8-1, 10th) – Throwing out a blowout loss to DI Eastern Washington, the Argos come into the season with a 1-2 record. They have a 4-2 win against Northwestern College, but both losses were to fellow CCC members Rocky Mountain and Carroll.
Rocky Mountain (3-6-3, 8th) – The Bears opened things up in preseason with a big win against fellow CCC member Providence but were blanked in their other two official outings against Vanguard and Hope International on a trip to California.
Preseason Poll (released by CCC 8.7.23):
1 College of Idaho (10 first place votes); 3 Eastern Oregon (1 FPV); 7 Carroll; 8 Rocky Mountain; 11 Providence
THIS WEEK
Friday
Providence @ Rocky Mountain
Eastern Oregon @ Northwest
College of Idaho @ Evergreen
Southern Oregon @ Warner Pacific
Oregon Tech @ Multnomah
Bushnell @ Corban
Saturday
College of Idaho @ Northwest
Eastern Oregon @ Evergreen
Carroll @ Rocky Mountain
Southern Oregon @ Multnomah
Oregon Tech @ Warner Pacific
Sunday
Carroll @ Rocky Mountain
CCC MEN
Carroll (5-8-0, 9th) – It was a light preseason for the Saints, but they played quality opponents. They battled DIII Whitworth to a scoreless draw in Spokane and fell at DII MSU Billings 1-0. Juan Muniz Navarrette was in goal for both.
College of Idaho (9-3-1, 4th) – The Yotes spent their preseason on the road. They opened in California with a narrow 1-0 loss to Jessup and a 2-2 draw against Simpson. They then made a shorter trip to Walla Walla, getting a 3-2 win against DIII Whitman. Four different players have accounted for their goals.
Eastern Oregon (6-6-1, 7th) – The Mountaineers opened their preseason slate at home with a 2-2 draw against DII Northwest Nazarene before heading to Arizona where they played Ottawa University to a scoreless draw and fell to Embry-Riddle and Arizona Christian.
Providence (2-10-1, 12th) – The Argos kicked off the preseason slate in Arizona with a pair of losses to Ottawa University and Embry-Riddle before returning ‘home.’ Playing in Billings, the Argos downed Ave Maria 4-2 and Jamestown 1-0 in the next two outings. Five different players have tallied their goals.
Rocky Mountain (8-5-0, 6th) – The non-conference slate was a success for the Bears as they kicked things off at home with a 3-0 win against Ave Maria. They then headed to Florida where they stunned number 9 Keister in a 2-2 draw and then tied Webber International 3-3. They returned home for a 3-2 win against Jamestown. Angel Mange and Igor Soares have each scored three goals.
Walla Walla U (0-13-0, 14th) – The Wolves only have one preseason game on the ledger, a 7-0 road loss at DIII Whitworth.
Preseason Poll (released by CCC 8.7.23):
4 College of Idaho; 5 Rocky Mountain; 7 Eastern Oregon; 11 Carroll; 12 Providence; 14 Walla Walla U
THIS WEEK
Friday
Providence @ Rocky Mountain
Eastern Oregon @ Northwest
College of Idaho @ Evergreen
Carroll @ Walla Walla U
Oregon Tech @ Multnomah
Southern Oregon @ Warner Pacific
Bushnell @ Corban
Saturday
Eastern Oregon @ Evergreen
College of Idaho @ Northwest
Southern Oregon @ Multnomah
Oregon Tech @ Warner Pacific
Sunday
Carroll @ Rocky Mountain
Providence @ Walla Walla U