ISU Faces Minot State Saturday at Home Opener

GAME NOTES | AUDIO | VIDEO | LIVE STATS

BENGAL OVERVIEW
The Bengals (2-0-0) play their home opener at Davis Field Saturday against Minot State at 1 p.m. Live stats for the competition will be available at www.sidearmstats.com/isu/wsoc/scoreboard.aspx. Tune into KISU 91.1 FM or click the audio link at www.isubengals.com to listen to Matt Steuart and Sam Corbett with the play-by-play. In a new addition this season, ISU soccer games will also be available through video streaming via eisnlive.com.

ABOUT IDAHO STATE
The 2012 Idaho State women's soccer team returns a core of experienced players across the board with 18 total returners including five seniors and seven juniors. The squad also returns six sophomores, many of whom saw considerable playing time in their freshman seasons last fall. Notable returners include Big Sky Co-Newcomer of the Year and Big Sky All-Conference Honorable Mention honoree Amanda Ellsworth and all-conference honorable mention selections Rachel Strawn and Mikaela Carrillo.

The top goal scorers from the 2011 season will be back in 2012. Ellsworth led ISU last season with seven goals, 15 points, 40 shots and three game-winning goals while Strawn scored two. In her freshman campaign, Allyssa Kenney was one of the top scorers for the Bengals with three goals on the season while Kiley Godfrey matched Strawn with two.

LAST WEEK IN BENGAL SOCCER
Idaho State opened the 2012 season on the road against North Dakota State and New Mexico State at the Holiday Inn Classic in Boise, Idaho. The Bengals defeated North Dakota State 3-2 in overtime Friday before defeating New Mexico State 2-0 Sunday afternoon. The Bengals are now 2-0-0 on the season as the team preps for the home opener against Minot State Saturday.

STRAWN NAMED BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After scoring three goals and helping lead ISU to wins against North Dakota State and New Mexico State at the Holiday Inn Classic in Boise, Idaho, senior forward Rachel Strawn has been named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week for matches played Aug. 17-20. Strawn's goals, including the overtime game winner against North Dakota State has led ISU to a 2-0-0 start to the season. Strawn was also named to TopDrawerSoccer.com's Team of the Week as well as College Sports Madness Big Sky Player of the Week.

BENGALS SELECTED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON POLL
The Idaho State women's soccer team has been selected to finish seventh in the 2012 Big Sky preseason poll. ISU received 39 points in the poll after finishing the 2011 season with a 2-5 conference record. ISU finished ahead of Eastern Washington, North Dakota and Southern Utah.

ABOUT MINOT STATE
This is the first meeting between the two programs. The contest will count toward ISU's season record but will be an exhibition match-up for Minot State. Minot State, a Division II program, went 10-8 overall last season. A member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Beavers were selected 10th in the preseason poll. Sophomore midfielder Zoe Fisher and senior goalkeeper Marie Torres were named NSIC Players to Watch for Minot State.