Media Book: Idaho State 3 - Sacramento State 0
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POCATELLO, Idaho - Freshman
Allyson Stainbrook scored her first career goal on a header with 2:21 remaining to give Idaho State (6-9-2, 1-3-1 BSC) its first Big Sky victory, upsetting second ranked Sacramento State (6-8-1, 3-2-0 BSC) 1-0 Thursday evening. Idaho State improved to a tie for sixth in the league standings while Sacramento State fell to third. The contest was Idaho State's final home game of the season.
A. Stainbrook's goal caught Sacramento State off guard connecting on the first throw in after her substitution for teammate Kiley Godfrey with three minutes left in the second period. Sophomore Rachel Strawn made the throw in upon which A. Stainbrook headed the ball to the back of the net 39 seconds after stepping on the pitch. Strawn was credited with the assist for her fifth of the year and ninth of her career.
"It feels so amazing. I love this feeling. It's been a long time coming," said Head Coach Allison Gibson of the Bengals victory that ended an eight game winless streak. "I'm so proud of my girls. That was a battle out there. It got a little brutal to be honest, but I told my girls at the end I'm so glad they kept their heads. That's a game you can easily lose your head in with the tension and closeness of the game. They did a great job and played through it."
Freshman goalkeeper Carly Hutchings also shined on senior day when she faced 15 shots and recorded six saves in her first career shut-out. Even more impressive, Hutchings notched her first shutout on her second career start. Hutchings posted her first career start against Montana replacing junior keeper Bailey Williams.
"Bailey has obviously done a tremendous job for us, but it got to a point that as a coach I had to make a change," said Gibson of the keeper switch. "Things weren't working on the field and it was the one spot I hadn't changed. It was a really tough decision, not because of Carly but more because of Bailey and who she's been for us. I definitely thought Carly deserved the opportunity and she proved right today and stepped up. She made some big saves and oh man, they were awesome. I'm so happy for her."
Idaho State honored four players in the final home contest of their careers at Davis Field. ISU recognized redshirt junior Taylor Powell and seniors Lauren Ryan, Lauren Hough and Karissa Henage-Fisher. Ryan posted a game-high six shots against the Hornets with three on goal. Powell notched two shots while defenders Henage-Fisher and Hough held the backline.
"I'll be honest I cried like a baby in the locker room," said Gibson about the emotional impact of winning ISU's game on senior day. "The '07 class was my first recruiting class and for Karissa, Ryan and Hough to be with me for four years and go through the ups and downs and trials and tribulations and everything we did, I was so grateful for them for staying and being a huge part of this program. Those three have left everything they have on this field. I'm so grateful for them and for them to get the win and see the smiles on their faces it makes it all worth it for me."
The Bengals will hit the road tomorrow as they travel to play Portland State at PCC-Rock Creek on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m.
--www.isubengals.com--
