SPRINGFIELD, Oregon — Go crazy, Spring Creek.
One of your own is a key contributor of the Cascade Collegiate Conference champion women’s soccer team, following former coach Kami Crowe to her Alma Mater.
Spring Creek High School Class of 2018 graduate Kaitlyn McLeod is not only a solid midfielder as a sophomore for Eastern Oregon University (La Grande, Oregon), she played a huge hand in the Lady Mountaineers’ ability to reach Friday’s conference title game.
On Tuesday, Nov. 12, No. 2 Eastern Oregon dug out a 1-0 victory over No. 7 Carroll College (Helena, Montana).
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In a defensive struggle, McLeod broke the scoreless ice with the only and game-winning goal in the 66th minute.
Despite outshooting Carroll 22-8 and 13-3 on goal, McLeod’s deflection from an assist by teammate Cailin Koupal was the only kick that counted.
McLeod’s goal was her third of the season — coming on strong late.
She notched her first-two scores of the year on back-to-back days, poking one on Nov. 2 in a 5-0 blasting of Warner Pacific University (Portland, Oregon) and another on Nov. 3 in an 11-0 thrashing of Multnomah University (Portland, Oregon).
McLeod has also dished a pair of assists on the year, passing her first on Sept. 20 in a 1-0 blowout of Northwest Christian University (Salem, Oregon) and notching her second dime a week later on Sept. 27 during a narrow, 2-1 win over College of Idaho (Caldwell).
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, EOU faced No. 8 Corban University (Salem, Oregon) in the conference semifinal after the Lady Warriors pulled off a huge upset in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round — knocking off No. 1 Oregon Tech by a final score of 1-0.
In the matchup between the Lady Mounties and the Lady Warriors — EOU cruised.
Just before halftime, junior Camie Edgington roped a shot from outside the box for a 1-0 lead in the 41st minute.
In the second half, EOU added two more scores — freshman Lindsay Balkenbush intercepting a pass and winning a one-on-one versus the Corban goalie for a two-score cushion.
Junior forward Morgan Farrington — a 1st-Team All-CCC selection — capped the 3-0 victory with the sealing score in the 78th minute.
The championship match featured No. 2 versus No. 3.
Eastern Oregon was pitted against No. 3 Rocky Mountain College (Billings, Montana), which survived its semifinal game by the skin of its teeth.
The Lady Battlin’ Bears endured in a 2-1 victory over Southern Oregon University (Ashland, Oregon) in double overtime.
On Friday, Nov. 15, the Lady Mountaineers struck quickly.
Just 59 seconds into the conference title match, Farrington notched her 11th goal of the year for a 1-0 lead.
Eastern Oregon took the advantage to the break, but Rocky Mountain made an answer.
In the 58th minute, senior Lauryn Gamache knotted the contest with a goal from an assist by senior Alyssa Schneider.
However, the championship-determining goal followed just more than a minute later.
Eastern Oregon capped its Cascade Collegiate Conference run with a ball off the foot of senior midfielder Jenna Jensen at the 59:18 mark.
The remainder of the contest played out scoreless, EOU capturing the CCC championship by a final score of 2-1 — the victory marking the Lady Mountaineers’ second 2-1 win over Rocky Mountain.
EOU also beat the Lady Battlin’ Bears 2-1 on Oct. 18 in Billings, Montana.
Up Next
Eastern Oregon has booked a position in the 36th annual NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship, a 32-team bracket.
The opening round will take place Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, No. 23 — seeds, teams and locations of the games still to be announced.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Kaitlyn McLeod
Eastern Oregon's Kaitlyn McLeod, middle, runs downfield during a 2-0 victory over Carroll College on Oct. 4, in La Grande, Oregon.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Eastern Oregon's Kaitlyn McLeod warms up before a game versus College of Idaho on Sept. 27, in Caldwell, Idaho. She dished an assist in a 2-1 victory.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Eastern Oregon's Kaitlyn McLeod, a 2018 graduate of Spring Creek High School, moves without the ball Tuesday, Nov. 12, against Carroll College during the quarterfinal of the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament in Springfield, Oregon. McLeod scored the lone goal of the game in the 66th minute and lifted the Lady Mountaineers to a 1-0 win. EOU then beat Corban University 3-0 on Wednesday, Nov. 13, and won the CCC championship Friday, Nov. 15, with a 2-1 victory over Rocky Mountain College.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Eastern Oregon's Kaitlyn McLeod (15) looks for open space against Carroll College during the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament on Nov. 15, in Springfield, Oregon.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Eastern Oregon's Kaitlyn McLeod, right, celebrates with a teammate on Nov. 2 in a 5-0 victory over Warner Pacific University, in La Grande, Oregon. She scored her first goal of the season in the contest, adding her second on Nov. 3 in an 11-0 thrashing of Multnomah University.Â
Kaitlyn McLeod
Eastern Oregon's Kaitlyn McLeod, right, handles the ball against a Carroll College defender on Oct. 4, in La Grande, Oregon. EOU won the contest 2-0.
Kaitlyn McLeod Signing
Spring Creek senior Kaitlyn McLeod signs her national letter of intent on April 19, 2018, at Spring Creek High School to play collegiate soccer for Eastern Oregon University, in La Grande, Oregon. Back row, from left: Spring Creek girls soccer coach Kami Crowe, Spring Creek High School Principal Keith Walz, Elko Indar coach Ramon Zugazaga and Jesus Eskandon. Front row, from left: mother Kathy McLeod, Kaitlyn McLeod and father Joe McLeod.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Spring Creek midfielder Kaitlyn McLeod takes a shot on Nov. 2, 2017, against White Pine, in Winnemucca. McLeod was named a Division 3A 1st-Team All-League and 1st-Team All-State midfielder for the second straight season.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Spring Creek senior Kaitlyn McLeod, right, heads in a corner kick from senior teammate Ashley Child in the 64th minute on Nov. 2, 2017, against White Pine, in Winnemucca.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Spring Creek's Kaitlyn McLeod knocks in a penalty kick during the first half on Sept. 29, 2017, against Elko, at Adobe Middle School. The goal was the only score of the game and the Lady Spartans beat the Lady Indians, 1-0.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Spring Creek senior Kaitlyn McLeod drills a kick on Sept. 23, 2017, against South Tahoe in Spring Creek. McLeod scored a goal and made two assists.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Spring Creek senior Kaitlyn McLeod celebrates after scoring on a header from a corner kick by senior Ashley Child on Sept. 20, 2017, against Lowry, in Spring Creek. The goal gave Spring Creek a 2-1 lead, which proved to be the final score.Â
Kaitlyn McLeod
Kaitlyn McLeod
Kaitlyn McLeod
Spring Creek's Kaitlyn McLeod heads a ball near midfield on Nov. 3, 2016, at Lowry High School next to White Pine's Whitney Prengel. McLeod scored the Lady Spartans' first goal of the game to force overtime off of an inbound pass from junior Bailey Powell on a corner kick in the 63rd minute.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Spring Creek junior Kaitlyn McLeod nails a long direct kick in the 60th minute on Oct. 25, 2016, against Elko, at Adobe Middle School. The shot found the net in the upper-left corner of the frame, giving the Lady Spartans a three-goal lead and eventual final score of 3-0. McLeod earned 1st-Team All-North and 1st-Team All-State selections of the Division 3A as a midfielder.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Kaitlyn McLeod dribbles the ball past midfield in the first half of a game against Fallon on Oct. 21, 2016.
Kaitlyn McLeod free kick
Kaitlyn McLeod takes a free kick late in the second half in a game against Lowry on Oct. 12, 2016.
Kaitlyn McLeod run
Spring Creek forward Kaitlyn McLeod makes a run toward the box against Fallon on Sept 23, 2016.
Kaitlyn McLeod penalty kick
Kaitlyn McLeod scores a goal on a penalty kick in the second half in a game against Sparks on Sept. 17, 2016.
Kaitlyn McLeod shot attempt
Midfielder Kaitlyn McLeod attempts a shot in a game against Truckee on Sept. 16, 2016.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Spring Creek sophomore Kaitlyn McLeod leaves a South Tahoe defender and the goalkeeper with a fantastic move. She finished the play with a cross to senior teammate Linsey Bessert, who scored in the 39th minute. Spring Creek lost 5-2.
Spartans tie Greenwave
Sophomore midfielder Kaitlyn McLeod heads the ball on Oct. 23, 2015, toward the Fallon goal.
Kaitlyn McLeod
Spring Creek sophomore Kaitlyn McLeod shoots a free kick late in the second half Oct. 21, 2015, against Lowry. McLeod gave the Lady Spartans a 3-2 win with a shot that just barely flew over the hands of the Lowry goalkeeper in the 76th minute, McLeod’s second score of the game. She assisted on Spring Creek’s other score by senior Aspen Morrow.
Spartan showed potential despite loss
Sophomore Kaitlyn McLeod heads the ball against South Tahoe on Oct. 10, 2015.
Spring Creek Cup
The Spring Creek girls soccer team poses after winning the Spring Creek Cup. The Lady Spartans defeated Lowry 1-0 in the final. Back row, from left: Manager Teagan Ashby, Lindsey Morrill, Aubrey Stugelmayer, Dea Mitton, Aliyah Tsosie, Natalie Billin, Kate Meisner, Shannon Hatch, Kaitlyn McLeod, Haley Allen, Bailey Powell and Ashley Child. Front row, from left: Michelle Harden, Linsey Bessert, Dakota Green, Lauren Spalding and Aspen Morrow.Â
Spring Creek girls lose in double overtime
Freshman Kaitlyn McLeod (21) scores a goal from quarter field in a past game.
