Oct. 8, 2009
Final Stats
Montana Box Score 
Pocatello, ID--Idaho State opened Big Sky Conference play with a dominate 3-1 victory over Montana at Davis Field Thursday afternoon continuing the Bengals winning streak to four straight. Freshman Ashley Jones assisted on all three of Idaho State's goals which were scored in the first period, giving the midfielder three assists in a half to set the single-game all-time record in program history. Two of ISU's goals in the contest were first-career goals.
"I think for us we've just looked at one game at a time, non-conference was critical for building but we all know and it's been no secret that we want to get to [the] conference [tournament]. We want to be moving the ball well and doing things well by then," said Head Coach Allison Gibson of winning four straight matches to open Big Sky play with a victory. "To come out today the way we did against Montana, who is a good team, to play the way we did and finish the goals the way we did was tremendous and I'm so proud of the girls for that."
Once again the Bengals started the competition with intensity scoring the first goal of the contest, an accomplishment they have taken into their hands in the team's last six games. Three of their last four contests have had Idaho State posting goals in under six minutes including senior defender Christina Beseris' first career goal at the 5:48 mark when she chipped the ball over the head of Montana keeper Grace Harris from 30 yards out. Both Megan Stainbrook and Ashley Jones were credited with the assist.
The Bengals continued to roll out goals as senior midfielder Annamarie Hofstetter scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway ten yards out that was placed perfectly in a chain of assists from Lauren Hough to Ashley Jones across the midfield.
"The coaches wanted me to get behind the backline and I was really trying to push for that goal and A.J. (Jones) put a perfect ball through and I just plotted it past the keeper," said Hofstetter of her third goal for the season.
Hofstetter's now ties Jones for leading the Bengals in goals this season while Jones continues to be Idaho State's point leader with 10 total as she has scored three goals and posted four assists.
Montana was able to sneak in a goal at the 20:03 mark as Kiki Blake kicked what looked like a cross that originated from the left side of the field which curved over keeper Bailey Williams' head for the goal. The goal was Blake's second of the season and was assisted by Kaitlyn Heinson.
Idaho State was not discouraged by Montana's goal as freshman Laura Perez scored her first career goal on a breakaway, smashing the ball into the bottom right hand corner with 59 seconds remaining in the first period. Jones also assisted on the goal for her third of the contest to set the single-game record.
"I'm proud of her she's an awesome play maker and she deserves all of them, they were all great balls," said Hofstetter of freshman midfielder Jones' accomplishment.
Jones beat the previous high of two assists in a half which had only been achieved 11 times, three times by Hofstetter and most recently by Lauren Ryan who posted two in the second half in ISU's 3-2 victory over Sacramento State last season at home. Senior Hofstetter holds the total assists for a game with four set in 2006 against Southern Utah.
The Bengals dominated possession the majority of the contest as they posted 30 shots with 11 on goal. Even though Idaho State posted double-figures in shots in each period with 18 in the first and 12 in the second, the Bengals did not score in the second half.
"I would have liked a better second half out of us but I think getting that late third goal was important. Mentally we kind of settled in a little bit and I think it would have been a different [second] half had we kept that 2-1 lead going into half time, but obviously I've never complained about going up two goals.
Montana keeper Harris posted seven saves in the contest while her team recorded one save. ISU's Beseris had another shot at a goal after Montana's lone goal when she hit a long chip that went past Harris and started to roll into the net. Sophomore defender Megan Stainbrook met with Harris and as the ball rolled past the keeper Stainbrook gave chase. As the ball continued to roll on goal Stainbrook attempted to shield the ball to let it roll into the back of the net, but Montana's Lauren Costa cleared it out for the save.
The Grizzlies recorded just seven shots in the matchup, four in the second half. The Grizzlies had two shots on goal in the contest with one in each period. ISU keeper Williams recorded one save in the victory.
Hofstetter led the Bengals with six shots and two on goal. Jones posted five shot with three on goal. Of the 15 Bengals seeing time of the field nine posted at least one shot with Perez leading the team for accuracy as her lone shot scored for the Bengals.
Idaho State's next match will be against Eastern Washington on Sunday, October 11 at EWU Sports and Recreation Center in Cheney, Wash. The game time has been moved to noon mountain time. Eastern Washington is also 1-0 in conference play as they defeated Weber State, last season's regular season champion, 1-0 at home.
"We haven't been shy about it we've put it right out there and said you know what we're coming back this year and we want to come back strong," said Gibson of Idaho State's strong 3-1 Big Sky opening victory.
Senior Hofstetter added, "It gives us the confidence boost we need. I guess the Montana coach was saying that's the best ISU team he's seen so that was a huge compliment for us and we have to just keep going with what we are doing and keep it rolling."
Note: The victory at Davis Field was Idaho State's 50th victory at home. Idaho State is now 50-22-12 at Davis Field. Head Coach Gibson holds the longest home winning streak of 12 games from 2006-08 from 10/7/06 to 8/22/08 that spanned three seasons and included two tied games. Gibson is the only coach in program history to have an undefeated home season in 2007 with a 6-0-2 record.
