Oct. 12, 2007
Final Stats
Portland, OR - The venue was different, but the result was identical to last year, as Idaho State lost their conference opener to Portland State 1-0. Last year ISU dropped their opener 1-0 in overtime at home before coming back to win five straight and the league title, and eventually the conference tournament.
However, ISU was trying to avoid that, but the Bengals could not dent the Viking net, as Portland State (5-6-1, 1-0-0, 3 pts) goalkeeper Cris Lewis picked up three saves in earning the shutout. Idaho State (5-4-3, 0-1-0, 0 pts) outshot PSU 11-6, but the Vikings were economical, putting five of their six shots on net.
The Vikings got the only goal of the match at the 32:52 mark of the first half with Krysta Whiteaker, who had come on as a sub just 10 minutes earlier, beat ISU keeper Maren Eves to a loose ball in the box and poked it past her for her first goal of the season. Dolly Enneking and Suzanne Hinton both assisted on the goal. That would be all that ISU allowed, as the Bengals have now not allowed more than one goal in any of their last seven games.
Idaho State had opportunities to equalize, with Lauren Ryan beating Lewis but having the ball saved by the PSU defense early in the second half. The Bengals also couldn't muster anything on two late second half corners, a set piece they have scored four goals on this season.
The Bengals, who suffered their first loss in their last six games, now travel to preseason top pick Sacramento State for a noon Mountain Time match of key importance. The Hornets improved to 7-3-2 and 1-0-0 in the league with a 2-1 double-overtime home win over Weber State. The Wildcats head to Portland State.
NOTES: It was the third time this year ISU has been shutout ... ISU is 5-1-3 when scoring at least one goal ... ISU dropped to 1-4-3 on the road and neutral this season ... ISU went 1-0-1 last year vs. Sacramento State, winning in overtime in the regular season, and then tying and eventually winning in sudden-death penalty kicks in the conference tournament championship game.
