POCATELLO, Idaho – With a composed finish from redshirt sophomore forward Samantha Fenske and a clutch performance between the pipes from freshman goalkeeper Hannah Wieler, Idaho State Women's Soccer secured a 1-0 win over CSU Bakersfield on Sunday afternoon at Davis Field.
The Bengals improved to 2-0-1 with the result, marking their best start to a season since 2012 and the first time the program has gone unbeaten through its first three matches in 13 years.
"It was a massive team effort," said head coach Dustin Downey. "We had some players out with injury or illness, so the bench had to step up and play big—and they did. That's the reason we got the result we did."
Fenske broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, finishing off a crisp sequence from Paige Harris and Samantha Steele. Harris played the final ball into the box, and Fenske calmly slotted home her first goal as a Bengal.
"We were relentless in the attack, and that's what led to the 1-0 finish," Fenske said. "Once we got one, we didn't stop. That's what we're trying to keep doing—stay relentless in the attack and defense and never give up on anything."
But the match belonged just as much to Wieler, who turned in a defining performance in her young career. The freshman made four saves on the day—including a diving stop on a penalty kick in the 56th minute—and earned her first career shutout in the process.
"Hannah made a huge PK save and kept us in the game," Downey said. "You can't say enough about how well she played today."
Wieler was quick to credit her team's organization but said she felt confident on each decision she made.
"PKs are always a mind game," she said. "I wanted to make the goal look big and just commit. I had my eye on the ball and I thought, 'That's me. I'm getting that.'"
She also denied two dangerous crosses during second-half pressure from the Roadrunners, helping the Bengals preserve the lead through a physical and testing final 45 minutes.
"You can only defend for so long," Downey said. "That first 10 minutes after halftime, we didn't take care of the ball. It was our offensive execution that needed to be sharper. Credit to Bakersfield—they're gritty and they pushed us."
The Bengals finished with a 14-9 shot advantage and a 6-2 edge in corner kicks, with several key contributions from the bench. Downey praised players like Harris and Steele for making immediate impacts, and lauded the depth across the roster.
"Paige came in and gave us a ton of energy," he said. "Gets an assist, Fenske gets her first goal—it was just a great sequence from players who were ready to deliver."
Wieler echoed the team's mindset.
"Our key word today was hunger," she said. "And we just have to stay hungry."
The Bengals will now shift focus to their first road trip of the season, facing West Coast Conference opponent Oregon State and perennial WAC contender Seattle U next week.
"You're playing a couple powerhouses," Downey said. "It'll be a test, especially for our younger players. But I really like where our upperclassmen are right now. We'll lean on their leadership to guide us through it."
Up Next:
Idaho State visits Oregon State on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. MT, followed by a Sunday showdown at Seattle U. You can follow both games with LiveStats or stream on ESPN+.
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Bengal Bites:
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🧱 First Career Shutout: Freshman goalkeeper Hannah Wieler notched her first career clean sheet, making 4 saves—including a game-changing penalty stop in the 56th minute.
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🎯 Fenske Finishes: Redshirt sophomore forward Samantha Fenske scored her first career goal in the 39th minute, capping off a sharp sequence and giving ISU the lead for good.
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👟 Setting the Table: Paige Harris and Samantha Steele each tallied their first assists of the season on Fenske's goal. Harris sparked the play with pace and vision, while Steele delivered the final touch to set up the finish.
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📈 Historic Start: The Bengals improved to 2-0-1, marking their first 3-match unbeaten start since 2012.
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⚔️ Controlling the Game: ISU outshot Bakersfield 14-9, including a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks, and held 55% of the possession.
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🧠 Young Core, Composed Performance: ISU's back line featured multiple underclassmen but held firm through 90 minutes, helping secure the team's first shutout of the year.
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🟨 Staying Composed: Idaho State kept its discipline while CSU Bakersfield racked up 12 fouls and 2 yellow cards.
