It was a tight finish on the women’s side, but a 4-1 win for Spokane (11-1-2) in the Tri-Cities against Columbia Basin (10-1-3) with three matchdays remaining proved to be the tipping point for the Sasquatch as they ran things out against the bottom three. With a two-point difference the defending NWAC Champions grabbed the East Division crown that they missed out on last year by three points to Columbia Basin, who finished second this time around. North Idaho (8-2-4) again finished third, edging out Walla Walla by two points thanks to a 1-1 draw at home against the Warriors in the season finale. It is the third consecutive season the trio made the postseason.
The men’s side was not as dramatic with defending NWAC Champions Columbia Basin (11-0-1) running away with things with Walla Walla (6-2-4) finishing second. The division title is the fourth consecutive (excluding the Covid season) for the Hawks. It was a bit of a close race for third, though, but a loss for Spokane (5-4-3) at Wenatchee Valley (6-4-2) on the penultimate matchday proved costly as they both posted victories in their final games on Wednesday, leaving the Knights two points clear for the final berth and a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
The First Round of the NWAC Playoffs kicks things off Wednesday November 1 with the Quarterfinals on Saturday November 4 at the home sites of the four division champions. The Final Four is at the Starfire Complex November 10 & 12.
WOMEN’S NWAC PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Nov 1…. Saturday, Nov 4
E2 Columbia Basin v W3 Pierce 1:00… Winner @ S1 Chemeketa TBD
E3 North Idaho @ W2 Clark 11:45… Winner @ N1 Peninsula 12:00
S3 Clackamas @ N2 Skagit Valley 6:00… Winner @ W1 Lower Columbia 12:00
N3 Bellevue @ S2 Lane 2:00… Winner @ E1 Spokane TBD
MEN’S NWAC PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Nov 1…. Saturday, Nov 4
E2 Walla Walla v W3 Tacoma 2:00… Winner @ S1 Rogue 5:30
E3 Wenatchee Valley @ W2 Clark 2:15… Winner @ N1 Peninsula 2:15
S3 Lane @ N2 Bellevue 2:00… Winner @ W1 Highline TBD
N3 Everett @ S2 Portland 2:00… Winner @ E1 Columbia Basin 1:00
WOMEN’S RECENT RESULTS
Saturday, October 7
Treasure Valley 0-6 Walla Walla
Blue Mountain 0-4 Columbia Basin
North Idaho 1-0 Wenatchee Valley
Spokane 5-1 Yakima Valley
Wednesday, October 11
Walla Walla 0-1 Blue Mountain
Wenatchee Valley 0-3 Yakima Valley
North Idaho 1-1 Spokane
Saturday, October 14
Treasure Valley 0-9 North Idaho
Yakima Valley 3-2 Blue Mountain
Spokane 4-1 Columbia Basin
Wenatchee Valley 0-1 Walla Walla
Wednesday, October 18
Treasure Valley 0-0 Wenatchee Valley
North Idaho 0-0 Columbia Basin
Spokane 5-1 Blue Mountain
Yakima Valley 0-2 Walla Walla
Saturday, October 21
Blue Mountain 4-1 Treasure Valley
Yakima Valley 1-5 North Idaho
Columbia Basin 1-0 Walla Walla
Spokane 14-0 Wenatchee Valley
Monday, October 23
Columbia Basin 5-0 Treasure Valley
Wednesday, October 25
Walla Walla 1-1 North Idaho
Wenatchee Valley 0-2 Blue Mountain
Columbia Basin 3-1 Yakima Valley
Treasure Valley 0-1 (forfeit) Spokane
MEN’S RECENT RESULTS
Saturday, October 7
Treasure Valley 0-6 Walla Walla
Blue Mountain 1-6 Columbia Basin
North Idaho 2-4 Wenatchee Valley
Wednesday, October 11
Walla Walla 4-0 Blue Mountain
North Idaho 0-0 Spokane
Saturday, October 14
Treasure Valley 0-0 North Idaho
Spokane 0-4 Columbia Basin
Wenatchee Valley 1-1 Walla Walla
Wednesday, October 18
Treasure Valley 2-5 Wenatchee Valley
North Idaho 0-3 Columbia Basin
Spokane 1-0 Blue Mountain
Saturday, October 21
Blue Mountain 1-1 Treasure Valley
Columbia Basin 1-1 Walla Walla
Spokane 1-4 Wenatchee Valley
Monday, October 23
Columbia Basin 11-0 Treasure Valley
Wednesday, October 25
Walla Walla 1-1 North Idaho
Wenatchee Valley 3-1 Blue Mountain
Treasure Valley 1-4 Spokane