Set Piece Perfection. Bengals Win Late, Ellsworth Ties Records

By Matt Gittins, ISU SPORTS INFORMATION

POCATELLO, Idaho – A 77th minute goal from Allyssa Kenney helped the Idaho State soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Southern Utah Friday afternoon at Davis Field.

With the score level at one, the senior made her run to the back post off the corner kick from Vanessa Cabilan. She collided with the ball sending it past the defense for the game winner.

"You do whatever you can at that point," Kenney said. "It's scrappy and you have to find a way to get the ball into the net."

"She's (Kenney) our target because she is so good in the air," Head Coach Allison Gibson said. "It was that pressure that she put on the goalkeeper that opened that opportunity to drop in the right spot."

The victory improves ISU's record to 4-3-1 in conference and 7-7-1 overall.

The Bengals opening goal came in the 21st minute from Amanda Ellsworth.  The senior found herself in between multiple defenders off a corner kick from Maria Sanchez. She calmly collected the bouncing ball and turned and fired past the badgering defenders and oncoming keeper for her 13th goal of the season.  It is her 36th goal of her ISU career which ties the Big Sky Conference career record.  She also ties the all-time conference point record with 81.

"It's something that I will reflect on later," Ellsworth said. "I am just excited that we got the win at home. I've been double teamed ever since I was a freshman so I am used to the physical play. One thing I always try to do is to keep calm in those situations. You have to stay within your game."

"You don't have to talk to about the records with her," Gibson said. "I think it motivates her and fuels her. I encourage her to chase every record and break them all.  She is enough of a team player that she will get the job done."

The ISU defense allowed just one goal on a penalty kick against the Thunderbirds.

"We had an excellent week of training and then came out here and executed our game plan like coach wanted it done," Keeper Sheridan Hapsic said. "Coach Gibson challenged me this week that I had more in me than I was showing the team. She challenged me to bring that out and go for every ball. That's what I did all throughout training and that's what I tried to do today."

Idaho State outshot Southern Utah 19 to seven and controlled the majority of the possession throughout the match.

"I really truly think we are one of the best teams in this conference," Head Coach Allison Gibson said. "If we can keep it out of the back of the net we can play with anyone. We proved that again today."

The Bengals return to action Sunday afternoon at noon with a match against Northern Arizona.  The six seniors will be honored before game time in their final appearance at Davis Field.