Pocatello, ID – In a challenging weekend of Big Sky Conference action, Idaho State Soccer faced off against Sacramento State and Portland State, showcasing resilience but ultimately falling short against the Hornets and drawing against the Vikings.
The Bengals opened the weekend in Sacramento against a formidable Hornets squad. Idaho State started off sluggish in the Sacramento heat, going down 0-1 in the 9
th minute of period 1. Sacramento State would then go on to score 2 more goals in a strong fashion taking advantage of the Bengals defensive miscues and outshooting them 8-3.
In period 2, ISU tightened up their slow play as
Paige Harris drew a penalty kick in the 62nd minute. She stepped up and with ice in her veins calmly beat Palmatier to the left, narrowing the gap 1-3. However, the Hornets responded just minutes later, scoring again in the 67th minute to reclaim a three-goal lead at 1-4. The Bengals continued to push, but their efforts fell short as Sacramento State secured the victory.
Idaho State then traveled to Hillsboro Stadium to face off against Portland State in a grueling match that saw both teams grind out a 0-0 draw on Sunday afternoon. The Bengals displayed defensive tenacity, with goalkeeper
Trinity Hale leading the charge with an impressive 10 saves to hold the Vikings at bay.
The Bengals fought hard against a relentless Portland State offense who mustered a season high 24 shots (10 on goal). In the first half, Idaho State held their ground as PSU's Aliayha Saldana and Ocean Rideout peppered the Bengals' defense with shots.
Trinity Hale was unfazed, making multiple crucial saves to keep the score level. Hale's steady presence in goal has been a standout for the Bengals this season, and today was no exception.
On the offensive side,
Camille Kollar and
Payton Reed worked tirelessly to create chances, but the Viking defense proved difficult to crack. Reed came close to scoring in the 36th minute with a shot that forced a diving save from PSU's Eden Millan, yet the score remained even.
The Bengals' defense stood firm, with
Talia Coury and
Taylin Butterbaugh putting in full shifts on the back line. Their resilience proved crucial as the Vikings sought a late-game winner that never materialized. With both sides tallying a combined 29 fouls, the game was a physical battle from start to finish, showcasing grit and determination from the Bengals.
BENGAL BITES
- Trinity Hale recorded a career high 10 saves versus Portland State. With her 6th shutout of the season, she sets the ISU record for most by a freshman. She leads the Big Sky in that category as well as is 5th in total saves (48) and goals average allowed (1.27)
- With her goal against Sacramento State, Paige Harris continues to lead the Bengals attack (as a freshman nonetheless), totaling 3 goals and 6 points in 2024 (leads in both categories). Harris ranks 8th in conference in total goals scored.
UP NEXT
Idaho State will head down to Ogden next Sunday for an afternoon showdown versus the Weber State Wildcats. The match will be played on
Sunday,
October 13th, at
3:00 PM.
