Oct. 30, 2003
Stats
Pocatello, ID--Four different Bengals scored goals as Idaho State University defeated Northern Arizona 4-1 in Big Sky Conference women's soccer action Thursday afternoon at snow-swept Davis Field. With the win the Bengals clinched a berth in the Big Sky Conference Tournament for the fourth straight season.
Despite an inch of snow on the field and below freezing temperatures for the first time all season, the Bengals looked right at home. Just 9:42 into the game freshman Jessie Bobert took a through ball from Heather Jones and outraced the defense towards the NAU goal and beat keeper Andrea Berra to give the Bengals a 1-0 lead. The goal was Boberts' team-leading fourth of the season.
The Bengals increased that lead in the 26th minute when Northern Arizona's Megan Robertson fouled Ashli Kimenker in the Lumberjack penalty area, giving ISU a penalty kick. Senior Janel Smith took advantage, scoring her second goal of the season for a 2-0 ISU advantage, which the Bengals would take into the locker room.
But the Lumberjacks came out of halftime ready to go. Just 3:49 into the second half, Lisa Van Gorder headed a Sierra Cristiano corner kick past Shannon Boyle for her first goal of the season. That cut the ISU advantage in half and looked to give the Lumberjacks the momentum.
However just 1:29 later ISU struck back. Heather Jones picked up a loose ball in the penalty area and beat Berra for her third goal of the season to put ISU back up by two goals at 3-1.
"For us to come back and score like that really relieved the pressure on us," ISU Head Coach Gordon Henderson said. "It was a really big goal."
Freshman Jennifer Loo then put the icing on the cake when she stole a ball fumbled by Berra and put her third goal of the season in the back of the net for the final margin in the 69th minute.
"I'm satisfied and relieved after today," Henderson added. "Overall I think we just adapted to the conditions better. I've just got an immense amount of pride in this team. For us to have the injuries that we've had, lose seven in a row, including the first two in conference, then win four in a row just shows some real grit and determination. I think you have to learn how to win and over the last few years we have done that."
With the win ISU is now 8-8-1 overall and 4-2 in Big Sky Conference play. They will await the winner of the Northern Arizona-Weber State game on Saturday to see where they will play next. The winner of that game will host the conference tournament on Thursday, November 6 and Saturday, November 8. Game times will be announced next week. NAU is now 7-7-3 and 4-1.
