Idaho women’s soccer team will play its final home matches this weekend with eyes set squarely on the prize.
Utah State and Nevada head to Moscow to take on the Vandals Friday and Sunday as they finish their WAC schedule at Guy Wickes Field.
A victory in either will send Idaho to the WAC Championship tournament in Fresno, Calif., in early November — the team’s goal since the preseason.
“We’ve got one of the toughest weekends of our season. It’s our last weekend of games. They know what they’ve gotta do, they know what their focus is,” coach Pete Showler said.
The focus this weekend is the preseason coaches pick to win the conference, Utah State, and an Aggie team on a three-game winning streak that has outscored opponents 7-1.
“They’re very physical, very well organized and very athletic,” Showler said. “In the past what I’ve seen from their teams are probably the most well rounded team we’ll play.”
Idaho has not beaten Utah State in years, including dropping a 2-1 double overtime decision at Guy Wicks Field in 2009.
The Vandals will be without starting goalkeeper Caroline Towles, who is suspended for her red card last Sunday against La. Tech. In her stead, freshman forward Morgan Porter, who subbed in Sunday as well, is preparing as if she will get the start.
Showler is confident in her abilities.
“She is full of energy, very athletic. She was one of the best softball players in the state of Washington, her hand-eye coordination is fantastic,” he said. “This week will be a bit tougher without the regular goalkeeper but these things are sent to test us, and the girls will work and do all they can to make things happen.”
The Nevada Wolf Pack sit at the bottom of the WAC table with only one conference victory to their name. The Wolf Pack has struggled to score goals this season, having only put 10 in the back of the net.
If the Vandals can sweep the weekend they will have an opportunity to clinch one of the top two spots in the WAC, which would not only get them to Fresno, but give them a first round bye and seed them directly into the semi-finals.
Showler said his team knows where they stand in the conference.
“They’re as aware as anybody. They’re searching the websites before we are sometimes,” he said. “They know what they’ve gotta do, they know what their focus is. We can’t concern ourselves with other people, we’ve got to do what we do and take care of what we can take care of.”