Host of former Bulldogs holding own at next level

SANDPOINT — Spokane Community College likes Sandpoint soccer, as evidenced by five former Bulldogs logging strong minutes for the men’s and women’s teams from the Northwest Athletic Conference this season.

Dawson Mulder, a freshman defender and former 4A IEL MVP, has played in 11 games and started six, moving up to score one goal on the year for the Sasquatch (14-2-2), who are playing in the NWAC Final Four this weekend at the Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington.

Joining Mulder will be freshman forward Amos Crossingham, who has appeared in eight games and has been logging quality minutes off the bench on the run to the Final Four, which included an overtime win over Tacoma last weekend. The Sasquatch will face Whatcom, from Bellingham, in the semis on Friday at Starfire, with the winner advancing to the championship game of the 24 team league on Sunday night.

“Very cool for these two,” wrote their high school coach Adam Tajan in an email. “Amos is getting significant minutes as an outside attacker. Dawson has adjusted to a new role as a defender. He’s been starting at left back for the entire second half of the season. Both are loving it and playing well.”

Three former Bulldogs recently capped a strong season for the Sasquatch women’s team, which went 13-5-2 with the help of the Sandpoint trio.

Sophomore Riley Couch started 18 games as a defender, managing eight assists displaying the passing touch that has always been a strength of her game. Freshman Taylor Ward started 19 games at defender, and sophomore Ashly Busch started five games as a mid and scored a goal.