MONMOUTH, Ore. – The three Western Oregon University soccer seniors in Alyssa Tomasini, Alexie Morris and Melinda Ortega will be honored during the Wolves home game this Saturday against No. 10 Northwest Nazarene.
Below are recaps of each senior's career so far during their time at WOU.
Alyssa Tomasini
Tomasini spent her entire career with the Wolves after arriving from Camas, Wash., and attending Camas High School. She was named to the GNAC Academic All-Conference Team this season. The forward has played in seven games this season, posting five goals and an assist. Tomasini was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring a hat trick against Humboldt State in a 4-1 win. She also added goals against Saint Martin's and Linfield. It was a season to remember for Tomasini and the Wolves in 2019 as she was among the GNAC leaders in several categories. Tomasini led the team in points (25), goals (9) and assists (7) while starting all 19 games. She posted four game-winning goals and had a goal in six games, collecting multiple goals in three games. She had at least a point in nine games and was named to the All-GNAC First Team after finishing the season as the conference leader in both goals and points. Some of her numbers from that season were the best in a while in program history with her point total the most since 2001, goals the most since 2008 and her assists were the most since 2002. Tomasini played in all 17 games that included 16 starts as a sophomore in 2018, she led the team in points with seven coming away with two goals and three assists. Played right away as a true freshman in 2017 seeing time in 15 games that included 13 starts. Tomasini tallied two goals and an assist for five points. For her career, Tomasini has played in 56 games, scored 18 goals and added 12 assists. Plans after WOU, Tomasini is a community health major with a minor in human biology. After graduation, she plans to move to Nashville, Tenn., where she was accepted into the accelerated nursing program at Belmont University.
Alexie Morris
Morris spent her entire career with the Wolves after arriving from Everett, Wash., and attended Kamiak High School. The midfielder was tabbed to the GNAC Academic All-Conference Team this season. Morris has played in five games this spring season and recorded a shot in the win over Humboldt State. As a junior in 2019, Morris played in 11 games that included a pair of starts. She posted three shots and played all 90 minutes against Simon Fraser. As a sophomore in 2018, Morris saw time in 16 games that included nine starts. She led the team with three goals which were scored over a five-game span that season. Morris saw time right away as a true freshman in 2017 playing in all 16 games that included three starts. She recorded a pair of assists. For her career, Morris has played in 48 games, scored three goals and added two assists. Plans after WOU, Morris is an exercise science major and is planning to attend graduate school to become a physician assistant.
Melinda Ortega
Ortega spent her entire career with the Wolves after arriving from Lawndale, Calif., and attended Lawndale High School. The midfielder/defender has started all eight games this spring in helping the back row to solid wins over Saint Martin's, Humboldt State and Linfield. She opened the spring season with three shots (two on goal) against Carroll. During the 2019 season, Ortega played in five games, picking up an assist against Academy of Art. As a sophomore in 2018, Ortega played in nine games that included two starts and recorded an assist against Pacific. She played right away as a true freshman in 2017 seeing time in four games. For her career, Ortega has played in 26 games and tallied two assists. Plans after WOU, Ortega is majoring in psychology with a minor in forensic psychology. She plans to become a youth correctional counselor.
WOU has gone 3-5 this spring season picking up wins over Saint Martin's, Linfield and Humboldt State. Tomasini leads the team with 11 points, picking up five goals and an assist. Hannah Rispler tallied a goal against Linfield, while freshmen Camille Darland, Piper Matson, Liz Parker and Lilly Nowatzke have all scored their first collegiate goals this spring. In goal, Morgan Mihelich has picked up a pair of wins this season, while Emily Wheeler has the other victory. Kendall Rooney and Cassidy Flammang have all seen time in goal this spring.
It will be the second time this season the teams have played each other matching up back on Mar. 29 in Nampa with the Nighthawks taking the 4-0 victory. Northwest Nazarene is 10-0-0 on the season having just defeated Saint Martin's in two games this past week in Lacey. NNU won the first game (3-2) and then claimed the second game (2-0). Of their 10 wins, six have come via shutout. In the earlier meeting, it was just a 1-0 game at the half and remained 1-0 until the 62nd minute.
McKenzie Buell and Ashley Parton lead the team with 17 points as Buell has five goals and seven assists, while Parton has seven goals and three assists. Sierra Sanchez gives the team three players with double-digit points adding 11 with five goals and an assist. Ten players have a goal this season for the Nighthawks. In goal, Alexis Montoya has started nine games, going 9-0 with 12 saves and five shutouts. This will be the final game of the regular season for the Nighthawks.
WOU holds a 21-11-6 record in the series since 2000, with each team winning a game and tying two games over the previous four meetings. In 2019 during the game in Monmouth, the teams played to a 0-0 tie.
WOU and NNU will play on Saturday at 1 p.m. Live video will be available for the game and can be found here.
