ISU Soccer Searches for First Conference Win Against Eastern Washington Sunday Afternoon

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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State soccer team returns to the pitch Sunday afternoon against Eastern Washington at 1 p.m. at Davis Field in the second conference game for both squads. The Bengals are looking for their first win in conference play following a 2-1 loss to Idaho in the conference opener Sept. 25.

ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON
The Eagles are 7-1-1 overall and 1-0-0 in the Big Sky and have scored at least two goals in seven games this season.
 
Eastern returns 11 letter winners and five starters from last season's team that finished sixth in the Big Sky with an 8-9 overall record. Notable returners for the Eagles include sophomore forward Chloe Williams and fellow sophomore forward Savannah Hoekstra; Williams was named first-team all-Big Sky a season ago, and Hoekstra earned honorable mention honors.
This season, the Eagles are led by Williams who has netted seven goals and recorded two assists on the year.

Eastern averages 1.8 goals per game with a .478 shots on goal percentage. The Eagles average 14.9 shots per game with a .119 shot percentage.

The Eagles are coached by Chad Bodnar who enters his second season with Eastern and carries a 15-10-1 overall record.

LAST MATCH: BENGALS DROP CONFERENCE OPENER TO IDAHO, 2-1
The Idaho State soccer team lost a hard-fought battle to Idaho Friday evening as the Vandals prevailed 2-1 at Davis Field.
 
In the first half, both teams played nearly evenly as the Bengals (1-8-1, 0-1-0 BSC) registered seven shots including four on goal, and the Vandals (5-4-1, 1-0-0 BSC) fired seven shots with three on goal. Idaho State controlled the ball for much of the first part of the first half, but in the 12th minute Idaho broke free as Kavita Battan ran on to the through ball from Olivia Baggerly and knocked one past sophomore goalkeeper Shawna Hennings.

The Bengals weren't able to capitalize on later opportunities and left for halftime facing a one-goal deficit.

Following the halfway mark, both teams hit the pitch with increased aggression as three yellow cards were issued in the second, one to Idaho State and two to Idaho. Despite the physical play, shot counts increased in the second with 11 shots for ISU and 13 for Idaho.

In the 57th minute, the Bengals' pressure paid off as sophomore forward Maria Sanchez rebounded a blocked ball from senior midfielder Lauren Bermudez' earlier header and fired the ball past Idaho goalkeeper Amanda Poertner for her ninth goal of the season.

ISU and Idaho continued match each other as the game remained tied for nearly 30 minutes. Hennings made a career-high nine saves and kept Idaho State in the game from the goal line, but Idaho capitalized on a rebounded shot in the 86th minute. Hennings blocked a shot attempt, but Battan was there to clean up the rebound and knocked the game-winner into the back-center of the goal.