With COVID-19 restrictions lightened since the 2020-21 academic year, fans of Eastern Oregon University athletics can rejoice knowing most of EOU’s sports programs are proceeding with minimal schedule disruption. While some, unavoidable, ongoing health concerns may cause schedule shifts as the academic year progresses, baseball/softball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer, wrestling and volleyball are moving ahead with, and in some cases finishing out, their respective 2021 and 2022 schedules.
Starting off, both men’s and women’s basketball recently began with the October 9 alumni games. Men’s had their first full game Saturday, October 23, against Montana Tech in a 92-82 win. Men’s has two upcoming games with a November 5 match against Whitman, hosted in Walla Walla, Washington, and a November 9 against Idaho State, hosted in Pocatello, Idaho. The games begin at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., respectively. The final men’s game of the season is set for February 15, 2022, against Warner Pacific, hosted in Portland, with a total of 34 for the men’s season.
Women’s basketball had their first full game Friday, October 22, against UC Merced in an 88-70 win, also starting the Simpson Basketball Classic series of games. Women’s basketball has two upcoming games with the same November 5 match against Whitman, set for 6:00 p.m. and the opening for LC Women’s Basketball tournament against Rocky Mountain College on Friday, November 12, at 1:00 p.m. hosted in Leweston, Idaho. The LC tournament concludes Saturday, November 13, against Montana Tech, while the following Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Classic games, hosted in Caldwell, Idaho, run November 26-27 against Simpson Calif and Rocky Mountain College, respectively. The final women’s game is also set February 15 against Warner Pacific, with 33 games total.
Wrestling recently opened their season with games on October 30, Blue vs Gold wrestle-off starting the men’s seasons and a match against Big Bend Community College starting the women’s season. Both teams have an upcoming home game against Southern Oregon University, beginning at 5:00 p.m. for women’s and 6:00 p.m. for men’s. 21 games are scheduled total for men’s and 15 for women’s.
Cross country’s six-event season will be coming to a close soon. Both men’s and women’s started the 2021 season with CWU International on September 11, bringing EOU into fifth place overall during the event. Cross country has its next major event Friday, November 5, with the CCC championships in Klamath Falls. The final event of the season is set for Friday, November 19, with the NAIA National championships in Vancouver, Washington.
Similarly, Volleyball will soon be ending its 31-game season with three matches to go. Volleyball opened August 20 in a 3-0 win against Grand View. The upcoming events are set Friday, November 5 at 1:00 p.m. against Northwest, hosted in Kirkland, Washington, and Saturday, November 6, at 5:00 p.m. against Evergreen State, hosted in Olympia, Washington. The final event of the season is the CCC Volleyball tournament from Tuesday, November 9, through Saturday, November 13, hosted in Springfield.
Likewise, football will wrap up soon with only two of ten games remaining. Football kicked off its season back on August 28 against Montana Tech, with a 26-24 win. The upcoming game is set for Saturday, November 6, at 1:00 p.m. against the College of Idaho and hosted by Caldwell. The final game of the season is a November 13 home game against Southern Oregon University, set for 1:00 p.m.
Closest to finishing, however, is EOU soccer. Women’s soccer started their season August 10 against Columbia Basin while men’s soccer started later on August 20 against Whitman. Both teams are set to finish the season with the CCC Soccer tournament, hosted in Springfield, beginning Tuesday, November 9, and running until Friday, November 12. No start times have been scheduled yet. Men’s had a total of 19 games, with one cancellation while women’s had a total of 20 games with one postponement.
Moving on to upcoming schedules, both baseball and softball are set for the end of winter term, 2022, with 36 games each. Baseball has its first event set for February 25 against Lewis and Clark State, hosted in Leweston. The final game is set for April 30 against Corban and hosted by Ugene.
Softball has its first event set slightly later on March 4 against Bushnell and hosted by Ugene. The final game is also set for April 30 but matched against Carroll College and hosted all the way out in Helena, Montana.
As of drafting, neither lacrosse or track and field have published their upcoming 2022 schedules nor given any recent updates for next year’s seasons. For additional information regarding the EOU athletics schedules, specific event details and ongoing schedule changes and restrictions, please visit the EOU athletics webpage.
EOU Athletics: https://eousports.com/index.aspx
