Nov. 6, 2009
Final Stats
Big Sky Tournament Semifinal Box Score: Eastern Washington 
Portland, OR--Idaho State outshot the Eagles 21-to-10 in the Bengals dominant 2-1 victory over Eastern Washington in the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference Tournament. Senior Jana Davis-Boehler scored both of Idaho State's goals in the second half of the contest, her first two goals of the season. The Bengals advance to the Championship game on Sunday for the program's fifth appearance. Idaho State improved to 10-7-0 while Eastern Washington ended its season 7-9-2.
Davis-Boehler's pair of goals in the second half is an Idaho State school record making her the 14th Bengal in school history to record two goals in a half. Though the goals were her first marks for the year she improved her career total to nine by the end of the day.
The 5-3 senior came up big for the Bengals as she ended a stalemate and tacked on a game-winner. Idaho State's first goal was scored at the 37:40 mark. Kacey Ball helped set up the goal as she hit a cross from the far right that resulted in a shot from Davis-Boehler. Her first shot was deflected off an Eastern Washington defender which bounced back toward the senior. Davis-Boehler recollected the ball for a second shot that hit the back of the net.
Originally Davis-Boehler decided not to play her final season of eligibility as she finished her degree in her four years while redshirting the 2006 season due to medical issues. However she decided to play her final season while enrolled in the physician's assistant graduate program at Idaho State. With her focus on school Davis-Boehler could only compete in Idaho State's six home games. The Bengal flew out to Portland late last night and earned her ticket to the tournament in fashion.
"She's done a great job for us this year, every minute that she has stepped in for us. We knew we needed her speed, we needed her leadership, we needed her experience," said head coach Allison Gibson of senior Davis-Boehler's return to compete. "The best part of it is that in '06 she didn't get to play in this tournament. So that is another reason why I really wanted her to have this opportunity to cap her career off with an opportunity to play the tournament. To have her go into the championship game is awesome."
After ISU's first goal the Bengals kicked it into high gear spending nearly all their time on the Eagle's side taking shot after shot at Eastern Washington's keeper Lisa Dimak. Idaho State recorded 12 shots in the second half alone with two off the crossbar, the first by Megan Stainbrook, the second by Lauren Ryan.
Davis-Boehler went on to post her second goal 14:35 second after her first to give Idaho State a 2-0 advantage. The senior had three shots in the contest. Sophomore Alex Hansen assisted on the goal. Hansen's last career goal occurred in Idaho State's 2-1 overtime home opener victory in 2008 to defeat Utah State when she assisted on the game-winning goal with 16 seconds remaining.
Eastern Washington was held to three shots on goal in each period and was held to ten shots for the contest. The Eagles nearly recorded their first goal at the 74:43 mark when a shot by Brittany Sparks skirted past ISU keeper Bailey Williams, however defender Karissa Henage-Fisher was standing at the far right post and was able to kick it out of the goal for a defensive save.
The Eagle's only goal was scored by Brittney Doran off a penalty kick with 7:35 remaining in the second. The penalty was awarded to EWU when Williams was whistled with a foul as she came out to the top left corner of the box to block an oncoming shot by Doran that took the Eagle to the ground.
Doran's penalty kick shot went to the right post, the same side Williams dove, but with her small 5-5 frame the shot was just out of reach for the Bengal keeper. Doran recorded two shots during the contest, both on goal. Williams recorded four saves in the contest.
"We knew what we had to do and we knew our opponent well. We knew we could beat them but we had to come with the right tools and ready to go, and we did just that," said Gibson. "I'm disappointed in the penalty kick because I would have loved the 2-0. We'll take it either way, but I think that it would have shown how much we truly dominated."
The first half saw the ball jockey back and forth on each side of the field, but the Bengals were more aggressive as they outshot the Eagles 9-to-4 posting two shots on goal. The Bengals best chance in the first half came from freshman Laura Perez who had a solid shot at the 25 minute mark. Annamarie Hofstetter crossed a ball 30 yards out to a streaking Perez who cut through two defenders for a one-on-one opportunity. Perez's shot which was released from the top of the box skidded wide right just past the post.
Idaho State will play Northern Arizona in the championship match as the Lumberjacks advanced on penalty kicks over the regular season title winner and tournament host Portland State. Portland State jumped out with an early goal in the first five minutes, but Northern Arizona responded in the second period. The match remained tied at 1-1 after two overtime periods. Northern Arizona was able to advance as they outscored Portland State 4-3 in the penalty kick shootout.
The championship match will be held on Sunday, November 8 at the PCC-Rock Creek beginning at 12:00 p.m. MT. Idaho State is 1-1 against Northern Arizona in Big Sky tournament contests, however Idaho State's last meeting with NAU in the conference tournament resulted in an ISU 1-0 victory where the Bengals advanced to the championship game. Idaho State went on to capture its third straight Big Sky Tournament Title.
Note: Idaho State posted four corner kicks, two in each period, to Eastern Washington's only corner in the first period ... Lauren Ryan led Idaho State with four shots.
