The Bengals Return Home After Back-to-Back Wins on the Road

POCATELLO, Idaho - Idaho State women's soccer returns to Davis Field for their last two home games of the 2026 season. They will face Northern Arizona on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7:00 p.m. and Northern Colorado on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1:00 p.m.

The Bengals enter the week 4-7-4 overall and 2-2-2 in conference. Idaho State is coming off back-to-back wins on the road against Montana and Portland State, and hope to continue their winning streak this week at home. 

Idaho State continues to generate offensive attacks, taking 13.73 shots per game, which ranks third in the conference. The Bengals are also ranked third in the Big Sky in shutout percentage, at 0.400 and have a 68-52 advantage in saves vs. their opponents.

The Bengals open play on Thursday against a Northern Arizona team that is ranked first in the Big Sky with a 4-0-2 record in conference and 8-4-4 record overall. On Sunday they will battle a Northern Colorado team that has an overall record of 7-5-4 and is ranked second in conference with a 4-0-2 record in Big Sky play. 
 

HOW TO FOLLOW

Idaho State vs. Northern Arizona
Date: Thursday, Oct. 29
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Pocatello, ID - Davis Field
Stream: ESPN+
LiveStates: isubengals.com
 

Idaho State vs. Northern Colorado
Date: Sunday, Nov. 1
Time: 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Pocatello, ID - Davis Field
Stream: ESPN+
LiveStates: isubengals.com
 

Series History

Northern Arizona

Thursday will mark the 32nd all-time meeting between Idaho State and Northern Arizona. 

Recent results:

• 10/10/2021 - at Northern Arizona - L, 0-2
• 10/02/2022 - vs. Northern Arizona - L, 0-1
• 10/01/2023 - at Northern Arizona - L, 1-4
• 10/27/2024 - vs. Northern Arizona - L, 0-2
• 10/19/2025 - at Northern Arizona - T, 2-2

NAU leads the series 19-8-4 overall, with all but three of the games played in the Big Sky Conference. Idaho State is looking for their first win over Northern Arizona since 2012. 
 

Northern Colorado

Sunday will mark the 22nd all-time meeting between Idaho State and Northern Colorado.

Recent results:

• 10/24/2021 - at Northern Colorado - L, 1-2
• 10/23/2022 - vs. Northern Colorado - W, 2-0
• 09/29/2023 - at Northern Colorado - T, 1-1
• 09/29/2024 - vs. Northern Colorado - W, 1-0
• 10/17/2025 - at Northern Colorado - L, 0-3

UNCO leads the overall series 10-9-2 while Idaho State leads 5-3-1 at home and 2-0-0 in a neutral setting. 
 

Players to Watch - Idaho State Bengals

• #1 Saydree Cooke - Cooke leads the team with 10 points, consisting of three goals and four assists. She is ranked 7th in the Big Sky in assists and has taken 31 shots.
• #4 Emma Casenave - Casenave recorded her first career goal against Montana just 14 seconds after coming into the game.
• #11 Syleena Hogan - Hogan put the first point on the board for the Bengals in their 2-0 victory over Montana, recording her first career goal. 
• #19 Samantha Fenske - Fenske leads the team in shots and shots on goal with 14/32 and continues to be an offensive threat.
• #21 Stephanie Roper - Roper consistently generates attacking opportunities and has taken 24 shots this season. 
• #23 Daphne Egelhoff - Egelhoff has started all 15 games this season and continues to lead the team in minutes played. 
• #26 Aliya Garrett - Garrett has won Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week twice and has recorded 49 saves. She has also recorded six shutouts, ranking third in the Big Sky and 58th in the nation.
   

Quick Scout - Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona enters Thursday's matchup 8-4-4 overall and 4-0-2 in conference, currently ranked first in the Big Sky. The Lumberjacks haven't lost a game since they faced Arizona, 0-3, on September 10th, and have yet to take a loss in conference play. 

The Lumberjacks have an advantage against their opponents in corners 80-73, goals 21-10, and shots 257-202. NAU is ranked first in the Big Sky in goal differential (11), save percentage (0.886), shots per game (16.06), and shots on goal per game (7.19) ranking 94th, 4th, 39th, and 45th in the nation, respectively. Northern Arizona also ranks second in the conference in goals-against average (0.625) and shutout percentage (0.563) which ranks 22nd and 25th nationally. 

Micala Boex leads the Lumberjacks with 18 points, consisting of seven goals and four assists as well as 39/93 shots on goal. In conference she is ranked first in shots and shots on goal, second in points, fourth in goals, and sixth in assists. Nationally, Boex ranks first in shots per game (5.81) and fourth in shots on goal per game (2.44). The Lumberjack's strong offense also includes Valerie Llamas and Ava Hinske. Llamas has recorded four goals and 17/33 shots on goal. Hinske has recorded three goals, an assist, and 12/20 shots on goal. 

In goal, Lexi Saveski ranks first in the Big Sky in save percentage (0.886) and second in goals against average (0.621) and shutouts (8), which ranks 10th, 28th, and 18th in the nation. She has also recorded 70 saves and started 15 games for the Lumberjacks. 
 

Quick Scout - Northern Colorado

Northern Colorado enters Sunday's matchup 7-5-4 overall and 4-0-2 in conference, currently ranked second in the Big Sky. The Bears are on a 3-game win streak and haven't lost a game since September 25th at Boise St. (0-3). 

The Bears have an advantage in corners 84-70 and saves 83-59 vs. their opponents. Northern Colorado is ranked third in the conference in assists per game (1.13), corner kicks per game (5.25), and total assists (18). 

Madeline Mori has contributed four goals and an assist, along with 10/20 shots on goal. Mori ranks ninth in the Big Sky in game-winning goals (2).  Ava Marshall ranks 10th in conference in goals (4) and has also contributed 12/21 shots on goal. Lexi Tuite leads the team in shots and shots on goal, with 12/27. The Bears have seven players in double digits for shots taken and six players who have scored a goal, giving them diverse attacking opportunities. 

Goalkeeper, Thordis Melsted ranks first in conference in goalie minutes played (1426:41), second in total saves (82) and saves per game (5.13), and third in save percentage (0.804), and shutouts (6), ranking 62nd, 28th, 49th, 80th, and 58th in the nation, respectively. She has started all sixteen games for the Bears.

Bengal Bites

• Idaho State ranks third in the conference in shots per game (13.73) and in shutout percentage (0.400).
• The Bengals have a 68-52 advantage in saves vs. their opponents.
• Aliya Garrett is ranked third in the conference in shutouts (6) and 58th nationally.
• Garrett has been named Big Sky Defensive Player of the week twice this season. 
• In the Big Sky, Garrett ranks third in shutouts per game, seventh in goals against average, and eighth in saves and saves per game. 
• Daphne Egelhoff is now third all-time at ISU in minutes played, with 4453:37, passing Chrissy Nelson. 
• Saydree Cooke is ranked 7th in the Big Sky in assists (4).
• Cooke now ties Maria Sanchez for sixth all-time in ISU program history for total assists (12). 
   

Up Next

Idaho State women's soccer will travel to Utah next week for their last regular season game of 2026. The Bengals will face Weber State on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 1:00 p.m.