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Geoducks Open 2013 With 2-0 Win over Trinity Lutheran

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OLYMPIA, Wash.  –  Junior Ethan Sumlin (Littleton, Colo./Littleton HS) headed in a cross from Alberto Brand (Seattle, Wash/University HS/Highline CC) to give the Evergreen Geoducks their first goal of the 2013 season and the lead held as the green and white blanked the Trinity Lutheran Eagles, 2-0, in a non-conference men’s soccer game on Saturday afternoon at Field #3 in Olympia, Wash.

Evergreen opened up the scoring at the 31 minute mark as Brand crossed in a ball from the right side and Sumlin got a head on the ball to push it past Trinity keeper Luis Godinez.  The scored stayed at 1-0 into the halftime break, with the Geoducks holding an 8-4 advantage on shots in the first 45 minutes played.

In the second half, senior Jeff Roland (Tacoma, Wash./Mt. Tahoma HS/South Puget Sound CC) scored his first goal of the year, juking Godinez near the middle of the box before finishing on an open net.  The Geoducks again outshot the Eagles in the second half by a tally of 8-5.

The Geoducks strong offensive showing was aided by a solid defensive outing, including three saves by senior keeper Collin Harlow (Kirkland, Wash./Juanita HS/Shoreline CC) as he earned the shutout.

The season opening win is the first for Evergreen since a 5-1 win over Great Falls on Aug. 20, 2007.  It’s the first season-opening shutout for the Geoducks since a 5-0 win over Willamette on Sep. 3, 2004.

Evergreen takes the pitch again next Saturday for a scrimmage against Fraser Valley.  Their next counting match comes on Aug. 31 as part of a doubleheader with Rocky Mountain that will feature the Geoduck women’s soccer team.

Box Score

Geoducks Gear Up For Fall

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OLYMPIA, Wash. – Having opened fall camp on Monday, the Evergreen Geoducks are working hard to get ready for the fall sports season.

The Evergreen men’s soccer team starts the 2013 season as the favorite to take second place in the Cascade Conference standings this season after earning a trip to the conference title game last season.  The Geoducks will be led by 2012 CCC Defensive Player of the Year Brady Espinoza (Pasco, Wash./Walla Walla CC) and 2012 CCC Newcomer of the Year Willie Spurr (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt HS). The green and white open up the 2013 season on August 17 with a home match against Trinity Lutheran.

The Geoduck women’s soccer team was predicted ninth in the preseason conference poll and will be led by senior midfielder Sophie Krauza (Las Vegas, Nev./Centennial HS), who earned Honorable Mention All-CCC honors as a junior.  Also returning will be senior goalkeeper Kaitlin Mackenzie (Lake Stevens, Wash./Shoreline CC) after posting a 2.48 GAA with a .698 save percentage last season.  The team opens up the season on Aug. 31 when they play host to Rocky Mountain in an NAIA non-conference match.

A new era in Evergreen volleyball begins this season as Angela Spoja takes over as head coach following a successful run at Tacoma Community College. Selected 10th in the CCC coaches’ poll, the Geoducks will be led by seniors Cassidy Watkins (Tucson, Ariz./Trevecca Nazarene Univ.) and Brittany Covert (Chino Hills, Calif./Northern Michigan Univ.).  Watkins averaged 2.95 kills per set in 2012 while Covert put down 1.88 kills per set and secured 0.61 blocks per set as a junior.

The Geoducks will open the 2013 season on Aug. 22, taking on traditional power Carroll (Mont.) as part of the Red Lion Cascade/Frontier Challenge in Spokane, Wash.

While not on campus yet, the Geoduck cross country program looks to rebound this season under head coach Chris Ertman.  Aaron Jones (San Bruno, Calif./Capuchino HS) should be the number one runner for the men’s squad while sophomore Jamie Cummins (Lopez, Wash./Lopez HS) will lead the Evergreen women.  The Geoducks are set to open the season on Sep. 7 at the Apple Ridge Run in Yakima, Wash.

Geoducks Honor Own at Annual Recreation and Athletics Banquet

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OLYMPIA, Wash. – With the 2012-13 year nearly behind us, the Evergreen Geoducks took an opportunity to look back and honor extraordinary achievements at the annual Recreation and Athletics Banquet on May 30 at the CRC Gymnasium.

Following a catered dinner, Evergreen Director of Recreation and Athletics Matt Newman took an opportunity to honor retiring Vice President for Student Affairs Art Costantino, presenting him with a lifetime season ticket, as well as a lifetime pass to work out at the CRC.

Each of the Geoducks varsity sports, as well as aquatics, The Outdoor Program, Challenge Course and CRC Operations and Event Staff, had the opportunity to reflect on the last year and hand out awards for outstanding achievement.

Evergreen Student-Athletic Advisory Committee handed out an inaugural Contributor Award, which allowed Geoduck student-athletes to recognize an individual for all their support of Evergreen athletics.  The initial award went to Chris Balske, Director of Sports Medicine, for his endless support of Geoduck athletes.

The Geoducks also handed out participation awards to all the student-athletes.  First year varsity athletes received a felt letter while second year letter winners were awarded a Speedy Q. Geoduck pin.  Third year letter winners received a scarf while five four year letter winners were awarded an embroidered blanket.

Graduating seniors from across Recreation and Athletics were also honored for their academic achievement, receiving a portfolio that can be used as they enter the professional world.

The final awards presented were the Student-Athlete of the Year awards, which were presented by Assistant Athletic Director Monica Heuer.  Senior Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS) was named Female Student-Athlete of the Year after a record-breaking career as a member of the women’s basketball team.  Sophomore Les Jones (Tacoma, Wash./Mt. Tahoma HS) was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year after setting three school records during the indoor and outdoor track and field season.

School Record Ends 2013 Season on High Note

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PORTLAND, Ore. – Running the final meet of the 2013 season, freshman Wes Jones (Tacoma, Wash./Mt. Tahoma HS) made the most of it, obliterating his current school record and setting a new personal best in the 800m at the USA Milers’ Club Open Meet on Wednesday evening at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore.

Jones took fourth in the race with a time of 1:53.92, nearly three seconds faster than his previous best set earlier this month at the Pacific Twilight Meet in Forest Grove, Ore.  The new record time would have qualified him for the 2013 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, setting him up for a trip to nationals next season.

Twin brother and sophomore Les Jones (Tacoma, Wash./Mt. Tahoma HS) also competed on Wednesday night, taking sixth place in the 1500m run with a time of 4:10.54.

The Geoducks conclude a 2013 season that saw four school records fall, three involving Les Jones and two involving Wes Jones.

Results

Evergreen Selects Spoja as Next Volleyball Coach

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OLYMPIA, Wash. – Following a nationwide search, The Evergreen State College has selected Angela Spoja as the fifth volleyball coach in school history.

Spoja joins Evergreen after a successful eight-year run at Tacoma Community College.  A three-time NWAACC Coach of the Year, she led the Titans to a record of 155-60, including undefeated marks in league in both 2007 and 2010.

“I am excited to be joining the Evergreen family,” said Spoja.  “I am anxious to start building a winning volleyball program that reflects the college and the community and I’d like to thank the administration and student-athletes for giving me this opportunity.”

A two-year letterwinner at Eastern Washington University, she also oversees operations for The Edge Volleyball Club and South Sound Volleyball Club in Tacoma, Wash.  Following her collegiate career, she was a member of the American Volleyball Professionals (AVP) from 1997-2009.

“Angela emerged from a very strong pool of applicants as the top candidate,” said Matt Newman, director of recreation and athletics.  “She positions us very well to move forward with a solid volleyball program, something our student-athletes and supporters deserve.”

The Geoducks open up Cascade Conference play on Sep. 6 when they play host to Concordia.