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OGDEN, Utah – The Idaho State soccer team picked up a hard-fought 1-0 win at Weber State on a dreary Sunday afternoon at the Wildcat Soccer Field. Every minute of the match was a battle; the Bengals finished final 35 minutes with just 10 players following a red card assessed to ISU early in the second half.
Idaho State (7-10-0, 4-3-0 BSC) trailed Weber State (5-8-2, 3-4-1 BSC) in shots and shots on goal as the Wildcats doubled ISU's shots 16-8 and nearly tripled the Bengals' total in shots on goal, 10-4. But ISU goalkeeper
Shawna Hennings came up huge for the Bengals, making 10 saves in 90 minutes.
"We stuck to our game plan despite the weather conditions," Head Coach
Allison Gibson said. "We were able to dominate big parts of the game."
Idaho State was the aggressor in the first half registering all eight of its shots in the first 45. The first 40 minutes were scoreless on both sides, but in the 41st minute the Bengals were able to end the scoring drought. Junior defender
Baylee Smithson, who had just subbed into the match 10 minutes prior, connected on a cross from sophomore
Meaghan Bare and placed the ball past WSU goalkeeper Sydnie Brough for her first career goal. The Bengals controlled play for the final four minutes and entered the break with the lead.
In the second half, Weber State took advantage of ISU's 10-player field crew and fired off 14 shots including 10 on goal. Hennings saved all 10 for her second double-digit save effort of the season. The Wildcats were unable to find the back of the net, and Idaho State earned the 1-0 win.
"A small part of our ability to keep the lead had to do with my staff dealing with the situation and making adjustments on the fly," Gibson said. "But the biggest key came from the 'never say die' attitude this team showed to overcome that adversity and fight with everything they had."
Idaho State continues Big Sky conference play at home next weekend as it faces Southern Utah Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. followed by Northern Arizona Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. Both matches will be at Davis Field and they mark the final home matches of the season for Idaho State.
NOTES
- ISU's 1-0 halftime lead marked the fourth time this season the Bengals have led at the break. Idaho State is now 4-0-0 in games in which it has led after 45 minutes of play.
- Baylee Smithson's goal marked the first of her career. She also took two shots in the match which are the only two of her career so far.
- Meaghan Bare's assist marks the second of her career. She now has three career goals and two assists for eight career points.
- Shawna Hennings' 10 saves mark the second time this season the goalkeeper has made double-digit saves. She recorded 11 saves at Hawai'i on Aug. 27.
- ISU's 1-0 win marked the third time this season the Bengals have shutout their opponent.
- Idaho State now sits alone in fourth place in the Big Sky soccer rankings with three games to go. Idaho, Eastern Washington and Sacramento State claim the top three spots.
