Bengals Hit the Road for Final Conference Road Swing

Game Notes | Live Stats

POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State soccer team is gear up for its final road swing of the season. The Bengals visit Northern Arizona on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. before heading to Cedar City, Utah to face the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. ISU is still searching for its first conference win after losing 2-1 to visiting Montana on Oct. 16.

SCOUTING NORTHERN ARIZONA
NAU is 7-8-1 overall this season with a 2-4-1 mark in conference play. The 2014 Big Sky tournament champions were picked to win the conference this season and are currently in ninth place in the BSC.

The Lumberjacks return 11 letter winners and eight starters from last year's squad that finished third in conference with a 5-2-3 conference record and a 12-6-4 overall record. Senior forward Haley Wingender leads the 'Jacks nine goals, good for a third-place tie in the conference, to go along with four assists (tied for seventh in conference play).

NAU averages 2.0 goals per game with a .516 shots on goal percentage. The Lumberjacks average 13.3 shots per game with a .150 shot percentage.

Northern Arizona is coached by Head Coach Andre Luciano who is in his 15th year and carries a 119-128-41 overall record at NAU.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
Southern Utah is 7-7-1 overall this season with a 2-4-1 mark in conference play. The Thunderbirds knocked off league-leading Eastern Washington on the road Oct. 18 in Cheney, Wash. with a 1-0 final score.

The Thunderbirds are led by sophomore forward Ally Thimsen who has five goals on the season. Southern Utah averages 1.68 goals per game with a .500 shots on goal percentage. The Thunderbirds average 12.8 shots per game with a .109 shot percentage.

SUU is coached by Head Coach Becky Hogan who is in her third season with the Thunderbirds.

LAST MATCH: ISU FALLS TO MONTANA 2-1
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State soccer team fell to visiting Montana 2-1 Friday evening in front of almost 500 at Davis Field. Idaho State is still searching for its first conference win with three matches left in the season.

The Bengals struggled in the first half to control the ball and consequently were fighting off multiple advances from the Griz during the first 45. Montana outshot Idaho State 9-3 in the first half and was able to convert early, scoring in the 2nd minute to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore forward Maria Sanchez was able to break free a few times for two shots including one on goal, but the 2nd-leading scorer in the nation wasn't able to convert. ISU headed into halftime facing a 1-0 deficit.

The Bengals used their entire allotted time during the break and returned to the field just as the clock struck zero. ISU was reinvigorated to start the second half, but a minor breakdown in the 54th minute led to Montana's second goal.

ISU regrouped and recharged, maintaining possession and controlling the ball. The Bengals strategically attacked the Griz, running down loose balls in UM territory and forcing corner kicks as the Bengals recorded a season-high 13 corners. Those opportunities paid off as sophomore defender Kayla Mizo snuck in for a header off the loose ball from freshman midfielder Tristan Spooner in the 85th minute for her first career goal.

The remaining five minutes were a whirlwind of sprints and mini-battles for loose balls. Despite a few last-ditch efforts, ISU was unable to score the game-tying goal to send it to overtime and fell 2-1 to the visiting Griz.