Oct. 18, 2007
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID - Idaho State rang two great chances off the post in the first half and the crossbar in the second half, settling for a frustrating 0-0 double overtime tie with Northern Arizona. The overtime tied the record for most overtimes in a season for ISU with seven, and it set the record for most overtime periods in a season with 13.
ISU however, didn't want any part of that record, and the Bengals (5-4-5, 0-1-2 Big Sky) controlled the play for the most part, especially in the second half. The Bengals had their best opportunity with just over 15 minutes left in the first half, when Natalie Graham broke through and took a shot from 12-yards out that Northern Arizona (6-4-5, 1-1-1 Big Sky) Liz Winkleblech blocked, injuring herself on the play. With Winkleblech down, Graham kicked the ball across the goal mouth to Michelle Okamura, who took a shot that hit the right post, and bounded right to leading scorer Jana Boehler, whose shot into an open net was cleared away by Karla Lee.
Winkleblech, who has played every minute for NAU in goal and picked up her 10th shutout, took about five minutes to recover, and she remained in the game, although she didn't take any more goal kicks and was visibly wincing in the second half at times. Either way, NAU's sturdy keeper had six saves to keep ISU at bay, although with 15 minutes left, Chelsea Cox beat her on a header off a free kick, but the ball hit the crossbar.
NAU's best chance wasn't even on net, as Brenna Boies caught Maren Eves out of her goal and chipped her. Eves was beaten dead to rights, but the ball just hit the outside netting. NAU in the second half had a cross hit the backside of the crossbar, but the ball was already ruled out of play.
Eves picked up her third shutout for ISU with three saves. The Bengals have not allowed more than one goal in any of their last nine games. Head coach Allison Gibson was frustrated with the result after the game. "You would like to think with 15 shots we would have put one of those in," she said after the game. "Still, we are OK, but we need to get a result here soon, and Northern Colorado is the next opportunity to go for that. We can't put pressure on ourselves for a win, because that's when you play tight, and that's what I want to get across to the girls, just go out and play and have fun, and let the game come to them."
Jana Boehler had five shots to pace the Bengals, and Boies and Sarah Neatherton had two each for the Lumberjacks.
The tie puts the Bengals in seventh place with two points, and NAU is now in a four-way tie for second with four points, although Sacramento State and Portland State have games tomorrow against Montana and Eastern Washington respectively. Idaho State, who is 4-0-1 at home this season and 7-0-2 in their last nine at home, host Northern Colorado on Saturday at noon. The Bears lost at Weber State 1-0 on Thursday.
NOTES: The 0-0 tie was ISU's first 0-0 tie since the 0-0 deadlock against Utah in the 2003 College Cup, and the first conference 0-0 tie since the 2000 season when ISU and Cal State Northridge tied 0-0 ... Eves lowered her goals against to 0.93 ... the five ties is the most in school history ... going back to last season, the Bengals have played 13 overtime games out of their last 25.
