Title chase

Temperatures may be dropping across the Big Sky, but for the Portland State soccer team, the race for a championship and a spot in the Big Sky Tournament is just beginning to heat up.

The Vikings (6-7-2, 2-1-1) are tied for second with two other teams and only one point behind first-place Sacramento State (8-3-4, 2-0-2).

This weekend is crucial for the Vikings. If they wake up Monday morning with two more victories in the win column, it sets the Vikings up for a season finale at Sacramento State on Friday, Nov. 2 with a Big Sky championship on the line. But the Vikings have to take care of business first.

Today they will travel to Northern Arizona (6-5-5) to face an upstart Lumberjack squad that has battled to a 1-2-1 record in the Big Sky.

“It’s always difficult to play them at their place,” said head coach Tim Bennett. “We played them down there in a tournament last fall, so we have some experience. But they are a young team, very well coached, and they like to battle. It’ll be a war.”

By the time the Vikings take the pitch against Northern Colorado at PGE Park on Sunday, the Big Sky standings will have shaken a little. The Bears (6-7-2, 2-1-1) are one of the other two teams tied for second with Portland State, but Northern Colorado will face first-place Sacramento State on Friday before coming to Portland.

Northern Arizona vs. Portland State 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26

Northern Colorado at Portland State1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 28PGE Park