The Idaho Vandals gained a bit of ground back up on Eastern Washington Friday in the Big Sky Conference thanks to a 2-0 home win in a rematch of last year's conference tournament final against Northern Colorado. Meanwhile, league leading Eastern Washington and Montana played to draws on the road. The Bengals of Idaho State also ended a 13-game Big Sky losing streak.
Eastern Washington 0 :: 0 Portland State #####
Mallory Taylor made five stops and defender M'Kenna Hayes made a huge game-saving header off the line in the 59th minute for the Eagles defense, which has posted shutouts in two of their first three Big Sky outings and allowed just one goal. The hosts frustrated Eastern's offense, only allowing four shots on the day while the Vikings took 14. MORE [+]
Northern Colorado 0 :: 2 Idaho #####
The visiting Bears returned to Moscow where they captured the Big Sky title in penalties after a 1-1 draw against regular season champion Idaho, who had won the previous match in Colorado 2-0 earlier in the season. A year ago, the Vandals took the lead early in the 12th minute only to see the Bears answer in the second half. This year, the contest went into the second half scoreless before the Vandals got on the board... twice.
Clara Gomez set up the opening goal in the 56th minute when she ran down a long ball from Kelly Dopke into the corner before sending the ball in to Madison Moore, who blasted a shot off the post. The rebound, though, found Megan Goo for the go-ahead goal.
Looking to avoid what happened in the final last November, the Vandals added a second goal immediately within three minutes to take control of the contest. This time it was Josilyn Daggs hitting Elexis Schlossarek, who scored in the final, as she flew up the sideline, allowing her to freshman feed Emma Eddy for the insurance tally. MORE [+]
Montana 1 :: 1 Sacramento State #####
Two minutes into the contest the Grizzlies avoided being stuck in a hole on the road when Chanelle Pederson was in position to make a goal-line clearance after Kayla Collins had beaten goalkeeper Kailey Norman one-on-one. A shot from Ashlee Pedersen (Spokane, WA / Shadow WFT) in the 51st minute helped break the stalemate when the rebound off the save fell to Madison Adams for her second goal in as many games. Norman made five saves in regulation and seven overall, but the hosts pulled even with four minutes remaining when Kassidy Kellogg nodded in a cross from Mikayla Reed. MORE [+]
North Dakota 1 :: 2 Idaho State #####
After a rough start last week in which they were outscored 5-0 on opening weekend, the Bengals welcomed North Dakota, picked in the preseason to finish at the bottom of the table with ISU, and ended their 13-game losing streak in Big Sky play that dated back to the 2014 tournament final.
Twelve minutes into the match Nikolina Musto gathered a loose ball and beat a defender to score the opening goal of the contest. The Fighting Hawks, though, answered via Veronica Kessler in the 24th and the two sides went deadlocked deep into the second half.
With 11 minutes left on the clock Tristen Spooner launched a lengthy free kick from the left midfield touchline that rebounded inside the box before finding its way to Meaghan Bare (Coeur d'Alene, ID) for the game-winner. MORE [+]
Northern Arizona 1 :: 3 Weber State #####
The Wildcats used a penalty converted by Morgan Quarnberg in the 10th minute and an own goal in the 22nd to take command of the contest in the first half. Three minutes after the intermission Paige Stevens pushed the lead to three on a breakaway. Lindsay Doyle spoiled the shutout in the 87th minute.
Coming Up #####
Sunday, October 2
Eastern Washington @ Sacramento State 12:00
Weber State @ Southern Utah 1:00
Northern Colorado @ Idaho State 1:00
North Dakota @ Idaho 1:00
Montana @ Portland State 1:00
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