Oct. 7, 2010
Final Stats
Media Book: Idaho State 0 - Northern Arizona 0 
Photo Gallery
POCATELLO, Idaho - Idaho State (5-6-2, 0-0-1 BSC) had to suspend play for 30 minutes due to lightning in its Big Sky opening game against Northern Arizona (5-3-3, 0-0-1 BSC) Thursday evening. Due to the delay the contest was only able to continue for 72:31 before it was called on account of darkness resulting in a 0-0 tie. Since the game surpassed 70 minutes it was deemed a completed contest and will remain as is in the record books.
"It was a really strange game. At this level I don't think I've ever experienced anything like that," said Head Coach Allison Gibson after the contest. "A lightning delay yes, but not getting the entire game in is different."
The last time Idaho State had a game suspended by lightning was in the program's first home contest of its inaugural season in 1998 against Albertsons College on September 12. Lightning caused the game to be stopped eight minutes into the second half with ISU ahead 5-0. Idaho State was initially awarded the victory after only playing 53:14, which was made official two days later by the school's Athletic Directors. ISU's contest against Northern Arizona is the first in program history to be called on account of darkness.
"Overall we did well. We did some good things. We had scouted them well and we did a good job of neutralizing their strengths and their long direct plays, but unfortunately couldn't produce the offense tonight," said Gibson.
Idaho State was held win-less for its fifth straight contest and has been held scoreless for 282:19, since freshman Kiley Godfrey's goal against San Jose State on Sept. 18. The Bengals have posted just two tied games this season, both at home.
An evenly matched contest, Northern Arizona led the shot count by one, out-shooting the Bengals 8-7 and ISU posted three corner kicks in the first period while NAU notched two in the second. Lumberjack Sam Monahan, a midfielder, posted a game-high three shots, all on goal. Sophomore forward Rachel Strawn led the Bengals with two shots, both on goal.
"I liked the way we defended and the way we organized," said Gibson. "We played Bailey (Williams) back, that was the whole game plan. We didn't get the outlet passes as much as I would have liked, but I think overall not giving up a goal to a team that has had tremendous success on the offensive side of things so far this year was really big for us."
Northern Arizona came to Idaho State on a four-game win streak, but ISU's defensive effort shut them out. Bengal keeper Bailey Williams, a junior, recorded five saves in her third shutout of the season with 72:31 in goal. Williams has recorded eight career shutouts to tie for the fourth most in school history with Maren Eves-Williams who played from 2004-08.
The last time Lumberjacks played at Davis Field the Bengals captured a 4-2 victory, but the Bengals were hoping to settle the score against Northern Arizona who later overcame Idaho State in the championship game of the Big Sky Conference tournament last season. Mother Nature had other plans.
Initially, rain and lightning fell on Davis Field before warm-ups were underway but luckily, the rain cleared and even some sunshine poked through the clouds allowing the contest to proceed as scheduled. The weather returned to overcast and lightning was visible 30:25 into the second half.
The players had to wait a mandated 30 minutes before being allowed to return to competition for safety reasons. While they waited the sun began to set giving both teams a sense of urgency knowing the contest could be called on account of darkness.
"We knew that coming out of the locker room we were going to get a max 15 minutes (on the field) so we had to approach it with an overtime mentality," Gibson said about ISU's strategy knowing the game could be called due to lack of light.
"Five years I have been here and this (lights for the stadium) has been the number one need for us at Idaho State," said Gibson about the program's need for stadium lights.
"I think it adds a completely different dimension. It's an event the community can come to, it becomes an event for Pocatello and I think it would be something tremendous for our program to be able to put lights in our stadium," said Gibson.
The Bengals will have no issues with darkness when they host Northern Colorado on Saturday, October 9 as the contest begins at 1 p.m.
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