EL PASO, TEXAS – Idaho State (0-1) lost 2-1 in the season opener against UTEP (2-1) in a late-night game in El Paso, Texas Friday night. The Bengals fell behind early and trailed by two before freshman
Lauren Bollinger scored her first career goal.
The Miners quickly took control from the kick off and pushed the ball into the offensive zone. Vic Bohdan fired the first shot of the game and starting goaltender
Laule'a Akana-Phillips denied the opportunity, but the rebound went right back to Bohdan who ended the tie just two minutes and 38 seconds into the game.
The remainder of the half was relatively quiet as ISU took just three shots and UTEP added three more. The Bengals were unable to challenge the Miner's keeper Alyssa Palacios in the first; she was not forced to make any saves. Likewise, UTEP only put one more shot on goal in the first period.
The Miners struck quickly again in the second half. In the 51st minute, Bohdan crossed to Cayla Payne who secured the second goal for UTEP.
Eleven minutes later, Idaho State cut the lead in half on Bollinger's first career goal.
Corinne Sanderson took the initial shot, which was blocked away by Palacios before Bollinger sank the redirect. It was the second assist of Sanderson's career.
Both teams upped their shot totals in the second half with ISU recording six shots and UTEP collecting nine to outshoot the Bengals 14-9 on the night. Palacios made four saves in the second half and Hogarth, who started the second half for ISU, made one.
Makena Bambei led the team with three shots and
Meaghan Bare added a pair of her own.
Brooke Kortekaas,
Delaney Johnston, Sanderson and Bollinger each had one shot.
The Bengals travel to Albuquerque, N.M. for a matchup with New Mexico Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. The game will offer a live stream and live stats which can be found
here.
