The game had just started, and the Idaho Vandals already had the ball in the back of the net. In the third minute, the Vandals won a corner kick, and graduate outside back Alyssa Peters trotted over to the corner flag.
Peters used her signature right-foot delivery, and the ball met the head of graduate midfielder Hannah Alfaro-Black, who guided the header into the net, giving the Vandals the early lead. The Vandals would then hold the Rebels off for 87 more minutes and took a hard-fought 1-0 win over UNLV.
Head coach Jeremy Clevenger was pleased with the 90-minute performance his team put on.
“It’s something we’ve been working on and trying to have a 90-minute performance. We were able to weather the storm and get the game back in our favor. To have a 90-minute performance is good for us going to the conference.”
The game-winning goal was Alfaro-Black’s second game-winner of the season. It was important to get the Vandals going early.
“We’ve been focusing on our first and last five minutes of each half, to get a goal early and do what we’ve been working on was really nice,” Alfaro-Black said. “I knew that on the corner if the ball came to me, I was going to go up for it.”
That goal also set a milestone for Peters. Her corner kick assist was the 22nd assist of her Vandal career, tying the program record in assists.
“That’s super cool,” Peters said. “I knew I was close. I didn’t know it was a tie. (It’s) super special (to get the assist) in front of the fans and all my teammates. It’s a super awesome thing to be a part of and have everyone here in (a) great environment. I’m happy to help my teammates get goals and win games.”
After the early goal, the Vandals went on the offensive and began to connect passes and dictate the tempo of the game. UNLV was under pressure most of the half but started to gain a little bit of momentum towards the end of the half. A couple of saves by redshirt freshman Paula Flores kept the Vandals’ 1-0 lead intact and they took the lead into the locker room.
After halftime, UNLV began the second half strong, forcing three consecutive corner kicks and continuing their momentum from the end of the half. The Vandal’s defense cleared the danger, and after that scare, they began to search for a second goal. The Vandals had two great chances to extend their lead but were unable to get the chances in the back of the net.
The Vandals looked the more dangerous side for most of the second half. They held off the Rebels, earned a 1-0 win, and moved into conference play 6-3-1.
Idaho now heads into conference play with some confidence, confidence that Alfaro-Black thinks will help them this season.
“I think it’s always good to go into conference coming off a win,” Alfaro-Black said. “We know conference is no joke, and that these teams are physical, and want to win just as much as we do so we just need to go in there and get the ball in the back of the net and play as a team.”
This is a special moment for Coach Clevenger as he gets to see her reach this milestone and watch her provide assists for the Vandals.
“She’s a special player,” Clevenger said. “Her deliveries are, are amazing. We’ve been very dangerous on set pieces. These last three or four games, she’s so good on the ball, and she can set up her teammates. I’m happy for her, it’s a great accomplishment.”
The Vandals will be back at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome on Friday, September 27, at 6 p.m., to open conference play against the 2-4-3 Sacramento State Hornets.
The Vandals look to keep their undefeated home record going and get conference play started on the right foot.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected]