POCATELLO, Idaho – Captain, and senior midfielder Mary Za delivered a two-goal performance and Idaho State battled wire to wire, but a late strike from Utah Tech handed the Bengals a 3-2 loss Thursday night at Davis Field.
Za scored once in each half, including a game tying penalty kick in the 71st minute. But with just 2:30 remaining in regulation, Utah Tech's Michelle Rodriguez netted the match-winner off a perfectly place free kick from the top of the box, lifting the Trailblazers to a victory on the road.
The loss dropped Idaho State to 2-2-2 on the season and extended a frustrating all-time trend. The Bengals are now 0-4-1 all-time against Utah Tech, still in search of their first win in the series.
"I think we gave it our best effort," said Mary Za. "Utah Tech came out really aggressive and technical, and we knew we had to be on our A game. I'm proud of the fight—we just came up a little short in those final two minutes."
Za's first goal came in the 23rd minute off a driven cross from Saydree Cooke, set up by Paige Harris. "I saw it coming through and thought, I'm ready, no matter what," Za said. "I just kind of karate chopped it in there."
Her second came from the penalty spot after twin sister, Mady Za, was taken down in the box. Za calmly buried the kick past the keeper's outstretched arms for her third goal of the season, completing her first career brace. "This was my third PK attempt after a miss last time, so I really had to focus," she added. "I'm glad I nailed it."
Utah Tech (3-2-1) opened scoring in the 13th minute via Lacy Fox, but Za quickly equalized. The Trailblazers reclaimed the lead in the 27th minute through Lataya Brost before Idaho State again tied the match in the second half. Rodriguez's final goal came following a defensive breakdown that Downey said the team has to clean up.
"If we want to win games, we can't keep giving up three goals," said head coach Dustin Downey. "The goals we're giving up are self-inflicted. It's not for lack of effort—our team worked tremendously hard—but we've got to cut down on mistakes."
Za echoed that assessment after the match. "We know better than to give up fouls right outside the 18 yard box," she said. "It was a great header by them, but we've got to make it harder on teams to earn that."
Freshman goalkeeper Hannah Wieler made five saves to keep the Bengals in it, while Steph Roper nearly equalized again in the 89th minute but pushed her shot just wide.
"We're generating a lot of scoring chances, and that's a big positive we can take," Za added. "We're really putting pressure on teams in their half. Now it's just about keeping ourselves in the game and not shooting ourselves in the foot."
Bengal Bites – Sept. 5 vs. Utah Tech
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⚽ Za x2: Senior Mary Za recorded the first multi-goal match of her career, scoring in both halves.
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🎯 Dynamic Duo: Saydree Cooke and Paige Harris each tallied an assist on Za's first-half equalizer.
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🧤 Wieler's Watch: Hannah Wieler finished with 5 saves, her fourth match this season with 4+ stops.
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⏱️ Late Drama Again: The match featured three lead changes, with the game-winner scored at 87:30.
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📚 Series Streak: Idaho State is now 0-4-1 all-time vs. Utah Tech, including two one-goal losses at home.
Up Next: Idaho State returns to Davis Field on Sunday to host St. Thomas. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
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