Oct. 5, 2006
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID--Despite a 21-7 shot advantage, Idaho State couldn't find the back of the net as the team dropped its first-ever overtime loss at home to Portland State 1-0 Thursday afternoon in the team's Big Sky Conference opener.
The loss drops the Bengals to 4-7-0 overall, 0-1-0 in Big Sky play. The win is Portland State's first victory of the season as the team improves to 1-10-1 overall, 1-0-0 in league play.
ISU keeper Lyndsay Gensler jumped high to save a PSU shot in the 95th minute by Sarah Smart, but lost the ball as she collided with a Portland State defender. Viking forward Kari Otani took advantage of the loose ball and put it in the back of the net for the game-winner.
"It was a very unfortunate loss," said ISU head coach Allison Gibson. "It's hard to take. Sometimes you have to have a little luck on your side in soccer and unfortunately luck wasn't on our side today. We'll bounce back from this."
Each team has numerous opportunities to score during regulation. Portland State hit either the cross bar or post on multiple occasions, while Idaho State just missed several different attempts.
Salina Karia recorded Portland State's first shot of the game when she hit the crossbar in the 12th minute. The Vikings had another opportunity in the 74th minute when Dolly Enneking hit the post.
ISU nearly scored in the 68th minute of the contest when a Chantal Kim shot that was about to cross the goal line was cleared by a PSU defender. Tia Burns then came close to putting in a score with just four minutes left in regulation, but PSU keeper Cris Lewis made a diving save to keep the Vikings in the game.
Natalie Graham, Chantal Kim, and Michelle Okumura led the Bengal attack with four shots each. Kim led ISU with four shots on goal, while five others registered one.
Idaho State recorded a season-high 21 shots compared to Portland State's seven. The Bengals also had 10 shots on goal. ISU registered nine corner kicks to PSU's two.
Gensler played all 95 minutes in goal for ISU, collecting one save. PSU's Lewis recorded nine saves in the shutout.
"We know what we are capable of," Gibson said. "We very well could have won this game today. We have to take this game as it is and get ready for Sacramento State on Saturday."
Idaho State continues play on Oct. 7 as the team continues Big Sky play against Sacramento State at Davis Field.
