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BOISE, Idaho –\The Idaho State soccer team fell 2-1 in its season-opener Friday evening at Boise State. The Bengals fell behind 2-0 before netting their first goal midway through the second half, but the 2-0 deficit proved too large to overcome.
"We played so incredibly well tonight, and I am so proud of the way we followed the game plan," Head Coach
Allison Gibson said. "We had missed several opportunities that could have shifted the balance of the game but were unable to finish them tonight."
ISU was able to defend during the most crucial times of the game – the first and last five minutes of the half – but the Bengals suffered minor breakdowns midway through the first and second halves that led to Broncos goals. In the 36th minute, BSU's Raimee Sherle danced through traffic and ripped a shot from 15 yards out for the Broncos' first goal. Both teams remained scoreless for the remainder of the first, sending the Bengals into the locker room facing a 1-0 deficit.
In the second half, Boise State once again broke free in the 63rd minute as Eva Herrera headed in the Broncos' second goal putting ISU in a 2-0 hole. Just under five minutes later, the Bengals responded as sophomore
Tristen Spooner eluded the defense to knock sophomore
Nikolina Musto's corner kick into the back of the net, cutting BSU's lead to one. Neither team was able to shake away for another score giving Boise State the 2-1 season-opening win.
"We never let up and knew that if we stayed the course the tide would turn for us," Gibson said. "The goal came from a beautifully served corner from Nikki and Tristen had the grit to finish inside the six-yard box."
Idaho State returns to Davis Field for its home-opener Sunday, Aug. 21 against Houston Baptist at 1 p.m.
