Awarded as Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week was junior goalkeeper Cris Lewis. The award came on the heels of a supreme defensive performance from Lewis and the Vikings. In two games against Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona, Lewis gave up just one goal despite having to defend a combined 47 shots. In Sunday’s game against the Lumberjacks, Lewis had nine saves and stymied a Northern Arizona offense that had been averaging better than two goals per game.
In brief
Awarded as Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week was junior goalkeeper Cris Lewis. The award came on the heels of a supreme defensive performance from Lewis and the Vikings. In two games against Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona, Lewis gave up just one goal despite having to defend a combined 47 shots.
In Sunday’s game against the Lumberjacks, Lewis had nine saves and stymied a Northern Arizona offense that had been averaging better than two goals per game.
Placed sixth of 12 teams at the Bronco Fall Invitational played in Boise, Idaho was the women’s golf team. Playing in their last fall tournament of the season, the Vikings finished just eight shots behind tournament champion Wyoming, who won in a tiebreaker.
Junior transfer Stephanie Johns continued to demonstrate her talent as she finished in eighth place after shooting 75,74 in the two-day tournament. Sophomore Alexia Brown and junior Danielle Ranallo also finished in the top 25.
The Vikings finished in front of the four other Big Sky schools that competed in the event, including Montana State, Weber State, Montana and Idaho State. Portland State will resume tournament play in Fresno, Calif., on Feb. 23.
Slighted for the Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week by the Conference bigwigs was Portland State special teams star Danny Urrego.
In any other conference Urrego, the Vikings punter and kicker, would be receiving recognition for a solid season handling the majority of the kicking duties. Instead Urrego is disregarded, as Northern Arizona standout kicker Robbie Dehaze has received player of the week honors four consecutive weeks. Urrego might benefit from kicking in the high-altitude air of Flagstaff as Dehaze has, but even without that advantage the senior from Fort Lauderdale is putting up impressive statistics.
Urrego is averaging better than 42 yards per punt, scoring 7.5 points per game and has connected on nine of his 14 field goal attempts this season. Hopefully he will get some recognition at some point this season.
Served dinner to several thousand homeless and low-income individuals were the city’s darlings, the Portland Trail Blazers, as part of their annual Harvest Dinner at the Rose Garden.
Players, staff, coaches and other volunteers all worked at the event to combat the increasing poverty and hunger problems in Oregon.
In addition to a holiday-style dinner, visitors also received free haircuts, services for their pets, cell phone time and flu shots. The Blazers participated in the event as part of their Make It Better program.
