Alumni Update – Clutch

Thursday, October 5, 2023

This week in a quick update we are going to highlight a handful of clutch performances by some alumni, featuring Marissa Bankey, Mercedes Cullen, Baylee Trejo, Chelsea Le, Eric Shaporda, Clayton Crockett and the CCS contingent.

We start on the west side at Seattle Pacific where Marissa Bankey – a defender – was named the OFFENSIVE Player of the Week for leading her side in a 3-2 comeback victory against Central Washington. Originally down two, she would add the equalizer and then provide the game-winning strike.

Earlier in the week Mercedes Cullen was the key component for SPU, posting seven saves as they snared a 1-0 victory on the road against Northwest Nazarene.

Closer to home the Whitworth men grabbed two key road wins thanks in part to Eric Shaporda and Clayton Crockett. He netted the equalizer at Willamette in a 3-2 comeback win Saturday and on Sunday netted the final tally in a 3-1 win against Linfield with Crockett providing a pair of assists in the match, including on Shaporda’s strike.

They weren’t the only Pirate alum making headlines. Baylee Trejo followed Emmy Moore’s standout week last week with one of her own, scoring the game-winner in a 2-1 win at Willamette and set up the lone goal in their 2-1 loss at Linfield.

The CC Spokane ladies continues to roll in the NWAC East and Saturday was the Spokane Sounders show against Wenatchee Valley for a 7-0 win. Walker tallied a goal and two assists with Gracie Reidt providing a goal and assist and Kaiti Low tallying as well. The fun continued onto Wednesday’s matchup against one of the other contenders for a 3-1 win with Walker setting up the opening goal.

Last but not least in another Wednesday night contest, Chelsea hit a highlight reel goal for the Zags on the road in Portland. The 25-yard rip was the equalizer in a late 2-1 comeback win but was also a monumental first career goal for Le, who came back this season from her second ACL tear (that originally seemed career ending) since joining the Zags.