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MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho State soccer team fell 3-0 to Idaho Friday afternoon to Big Sky regular-season champion Idaho at Guy Wicks Field in Moscow, Idaho. Given the loss the Bengals' season has concluded; ISU needed a win in addition to a Northern Colorado or Portland State tie or loss to make the conference tournament.
"Given the conditions of the field, I was so proud of my team for the way they handled themselves and the elements," said Head Coach
Allison Gibson. "We left everything on that field today. This team continues to amaze me."
Idaho State (7-13-0, 4-6-0 BSC) kept Idaho (10-4-4, 7-1-2 BSC) at bay in the first half despite the Vandals having a 12-6 edge in shots and a 4-1 edge in shots on goal over the Bengals. ISU's back line forced the Vandals in to four first-half offside violations, while goalkeeper
Shawna Hennings made four first-half saves to thwart the Vandals offensive attempts. Both squads were unable to find the back of the net in the first 45 minutes and the Bengals went into the break tied for the fifth time this season.
Coming out of the break, Idaho State was the aggressor, firing off three shots to Idaho's one in the first five minutes. But the Vandals shifted the momentum and took three shots over the next six minutes. In the 57th minute, UI's Elexis Schlossarek finished a shot from Kavita Battan to break the tie and take the 1-0 lead.
10 minutes later, Idaho's Clara Gomez headed a cross from Josilyn Daggs to give the Vandals the 2-0 lead. Idaho's final goal came in the 84th minute as Schlossarek once again finished a crossed ball, this time to the top left past Hennings.
The Bengals were able to get one shot off in the final six minutes but were unable to find the back of the net, giving Idaho the 3-0 victory.
"Like I told my team today following the game, their resolve, dedication and courage this year has truly paved the way for the near future of ISU soccer," Gibson said.
Idaho State finishes the season with a 7-13-0 overall record with a 4-6-0 mark in Big Sky Conference play, good for eighth after being picked to finish 11th in the preseason polls. Although ISU's postseason hopes will not be fulfilled this year, the Bengals have a bright future ahead with 26 of 28 players returning for the 2017 season.
"We took large strides this year," Gibson said. "The incredible growth and maturity of this team coupled with the depth of talent our incoming 2017 class will propel us back to the top of the conference."
