CONNOR’S PICKS
For a preview of this week’s prep football games, see CDN’s weekly football forecast.
Girls soccer: Sehome at Lynden
4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, Bender Fields
Each of these teams was among the top eight in Class 2A a year ago, with Lynden reaching the state quarterfinals for the first time in program history and Sehome reaching its first state title game since 2018.
Lynden lost a handful of seniors key to its historic run, but the team has 15 underclassmen from last season’s roster returning. Sehome, on the other hand, lost just two seniors following its 1-0 loss to Columbia River in the 2A state championship.
This matchup’s burning question: Can Lynden reload and continue to compete for a spot in the 2A state tournament this year? Sehome surely can. We will find out when the teams open their seasons against one another on Tuesday.
WWU: Women’s soccer vs. Cal State Los Angeles
12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, Harrington Field
The reigning NCAA Division II national champions’ home opener. Need I say more?
No. 1 nationally-ranked Western Washington University women’s soccer retained 22 players from last year’s title-winning squad, eight of whom were freshmen last season. Among those now-sophomores is Morgan Manalili, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 2022. Claire Henninger, Western’s mainstay in the net, is back for her sixth season with the Vikings.
The Vikings’ opponent, No. 24 Cal State Los Angeles, also reached the national tournament last season, finishing 11-4-6 overall. This is a must-attend contest for soccer fans in Whatcom County.
Recreation: Run with the Chums 5K
8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, BP Highlands (Birch Bay)
The 11th annual Run with the Chums 5K returns to the BP Highlands as a part of Whatcom Water Week.
Last year’s event had more than 300 participants, and the event is held “in celebration of healthy water, healthy habitat and healthy people,” according to its website.
In addition to the 5K fun run, there is the Smolt Spring Obstacle Course for kids, which features various obstacles meant to “simulate the challenges smolt salmon face as they travel downstream to the ocean.”
FULL CALENDAR
Friday, Sept. 1
Football
Nooksack Valley at Mountain View, 4:30 p.m., McKenzie Stadium
Lynden Christian at Lakeside (9 Mile Falls), 7 p.m.
Granite Falls at Meridian, 7 p.m.
Sehome at Mount Baker, 7 p.m.
Port Angeles at Blaine, 7 p.m.
Ferndale at Lynden, 7 p.m.
New Westminster (British Columbia) at Squalicum, 7 p.m., Civic Stadium
WWU
Volleyball at Cal State LA, 5 p.m., Coussoulis Arena
WCC
Volleyball vs. Columbia Bible College (preseason), 7 p.m., WCC Pavilion
MLB
Seattle Mariners at New York Mets, 4:10 p.m., Apple TV
Recreation
Chuckanut Coastal Paddleboard Tour, 12 p.m., Larrabee State Park
LQBTQ+ Stand-up Paddleboard Session, 5:30 p.m., Community Boating Center
Saturday, Sept. 2
Football
Chief Sealth at Bellingham, 1 p.m., Civic Stadium
WWU
Cross country at Puget Sound Invitational, 11 a.m., Fort Steilacoom Park
Volleyball at MSU Denver, 2:30 p.m., Coussoulis Arena
Men’s soccer at Chico State, 7 p.m., University Soccer Stadium
WCC
Men’s soccer vs. Evergreen State College (preseason), 6:30 p.m., Orca Field
WNBA
Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces, 6 p.m., Fox/Amazon Prime Video
MLS
Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV
MLB
Seattle Mariners at New York Mets, 4:10 p.m., Root Sports
Recreation
PITCH Regatta, 10 a.m., Bellingham Yacht Club
Kayak the Cove Tour, 10 a.m., Larrabee State Park
Chuckanut Coastal Paddleboard Tour, 12 p.m., Larrabee State Park
Sunday, Sept. 3
NWSL
OL Reign vs. Orlando Pride, 3 p.m., Paramount+
MLB
Seattle Mariners at New York Mets, 10:40 a.m., Root Sports
Recreation
PITCH Regatta, 10 a.m., Bellingham Yacht Club
Chuckanut Coastal Paddleboard Tour, 12 p.m., Larrabee State Park
Ride the Teal Wave, 12:30 p.m., Community Boating Center
Monday, Sept. 4
WWU
Women’s soccer at Concordia, 1 p.m., Eagles Field
MLB
Seattle Mariners at Cincinnati Reds, 1:10 p.m., Root Sports
Recreation
Kayak the Cove Tour, 10 a.m., Larrabee State Park
Tuesday, Sept. 5
Volleyball
Meridian at La Conner, 6 p.m.
Boys tennis
Sehome at Lynden, 4 p.m., Lynden Middle School
Girls soccer
Bellingham at Lynden Christian, 4:30 p.m.
Sehome at Lynden, 4:30 p.m., Bender Fields
Bear Creek at Meridian, 5 p.m.
Shorecrest at Squalicum, 6 p.m.
MLB
Seattle Mariners at Cincinnati Reds, 3:40 p.m., Root Sports
Wednesday, Sept. 6
Volleyball
Nooksack Valley at Mount Vernon, 7 p.m.
Blaine at Anacortes, 7 p.m.
Lynden at Sehome, 7 p.m.
Mount Baker at Bellingham, 7 p.m.
La Conner at Lynden Christian, 7 p.m.
Boys tennis
Squalicum at Ferndale, 4 p.m.
Bellingham at Oak Harbor, 4 p.m.
Lakewood at Sehome, 4:30 p.m.
WCC
Women’s soccer vs. Bellevue College, 5 p.m., Orca Field
Men’s soccer vs. Bellevue College, 7 p.m., Orca Field
WNBA
Seattle Storm at Atlanta Dream, 4 p.m., Fox/Amazon Prime Video
NWSL
OL Reign vs. Racing Louisville FC, 7 p.m., CBS Sports
MLS
Seattle Sounders at Austin FC, 5:30 p.m., Apple TV
MLB
Seattle Mariners at Cincinnati Reds, 3:40 p.m., Root Sports
Thursday, Sept. 7
Football
Blaine at Sehome, 7 p.m., Civic Stadium
Volleyball
Lakewood at Squalicum, 7 p.m.
Oak Harbor at Meridian, 7 p.m.
Ferndale at Lynden Christian, 7 p.m.
Mount Baker at Sultan, 7 p.m.
Girls soccer
Anacortes at Lynden Christian, 4:30 p.m.
Burlington-Edison at Sehome, 4:30 p.m.
Squalicum at Ferndale, 7 p.m.
Lynden at Bellingham, 7 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Sedro-Woolley, 7:30 p.m.
Girls swim
Bellingham at Anacortes, 2:55 p.m., Fidalgo Pool
Lynden at Ferndale, 3:30 p.m., Forge Pool
Oak Harbor at Sehome, 3:30 p.m., Arne Hanna Aquatic Center
WWU
Men’s soccer at Concordia, 6:30 p.m., Eagles Field
MLB
Seattle Mariners at Tampa Bay Rays, 3:40 p.m., Root Sports
Recreation
Kayak the Cove Tour, 10 a.m., Larrabee State Park
Chuckanut Coastal Paddleboard Tour, 12 p.m., Larrabee State Park
Friday, Sept. 8
Football
Mount Baker at Wenatchee, 4 p.m., Apple Bowl
Meadowdale at Bellingham, 5 p.m., Civic Stadium
Seaquam (British Columbia) at Squalicum, 7 p.m., Civic Stadium
W.F. West at Lynden, 7 p.m.
Meridian at Chelan, 7 p.m., Sargeant Field
Lynden Christian at Archbishop Murphy, 7 p.m.
Connell at Nooksack Valley, 7 p.m.
Ferndale at Oak Harbor, 7 p.m.
Girls soccer
Friday Harbor at Meridian, 6 p.m.
WWU
Volleyball at Ferris State, 9 a.m., Auraria Event Center (Colorado)
Volleyball at Concordia-St. Paul, 1 p.m., Auraria Event Center (Colorado)
WNBA
Seattle Storm at Dallas Wings, 5 p.m., Ion
MLB
Seattle Mariners at Tampa Bay Rays, 3:40 p.m., Root Sports
Recreation
Chuckanut Coastal Paddleboard Tour, 12 p.m., Larrabee State Park
LQBTQ+ Stand-up Paddleboard Session, 5:30 p.m., Community Boating Center
Saturday, Sept. 9
Football
Cleveland at Bellingham, 1 p.m., Civic Stadium
Volleyball
Gulls Nest Varsity Volleyball Tournament: Sehome, Ferndale at Everett, 8 a.m.
Girls soccer
Granite Falls at Nooksack Valley, 12 p.m., Nooksack Valley Elementary
Lynden Christian at Cedar Park Christian, 12 p.m.
Bellingham at Squalicum, 1 p.m.
Cross country
Sehome XC Invite: Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Lynden Christian, Meridian, Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley, Squalicum at Sehome, 10 a.m., Civic Field
WWU
Volleyball at TBD (pool play), time TBD, Auraria Event Center (Colorado)
Women’s soccer vs. Cal State Los Angeles, 12 p.m., Harrington Field
Men’s soccer at Point Loma, 1 p.m., PLNU Soccer Field
WCC
Women’s soccer vs. Peninsula College, 12 p.m., Orca Field
Men’s soccer vs. Peninsula College, 12 p.m., Orca Field
MLS
Seattle Mariners at Tampa Bay Rays, 1:05 p.m., Root Sports
MLB
Seattle Mariners at New York Mets, 4:10 p.m., Root Sports
Recreation
Run with the Chums, 8:30 a.m., BP Highlands
Kayak the Cove Tour, 10 a.m., Larrabee State Park
Chuckanut Coastal Paddleboard Tour, 12 p.m., Larrabee State Park
Sunday, Sept. 10
WNBA
Seattle Storm vs. Los Angeles Sparks, 12 p.m., Fox/Amazon Prime Video
NFL
Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1:25 p.m., Fox
MLB
Seattle Mariners at Tampa Bay Rays, 10:10 a.m., Root Sports
Recreation
Bellingham Bay Paddle and Scavenger Hunt, 10 a.m., Community Boating Center
Chuckanut Coastal Paddleboard Tour, 12 p.m., Larrabee State Park
CDN’s sports calendar is published online each Thursday and in print on Fridays. To submit an event for consideration, email connorbenintendi@cascadiadaily.com.