Vandal soccer did it. The team achieved its preseason goal and clinched qualification in an unprecedented second consecutive WAC tournament.
The Vandals punched their ticket to Fresno with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Nevada Sunday at Guy Wicks field.
It wasn’t without the proverbial drama and adversity that has seemingly enveloped the program all season. An almost demoralizing 3-0 loss to Utah State days prior, a game in which Utah State scored all of their goals in the second half, meant that Idaho faced a must-win scenario when they hosted the Wolf Pack.
“It’s all or nothing. You can’t leave anything out there — win or go home basically,” coach Pete Showler said. “We have to get the win, it’s as simple as that.”
The Vandals took their qualification for the WAC tournament down to the final 10 minutes of the conference season after battling Nevada to a 1-1 draw late in the second half. Bailey Hewitt became the hero for Idaho scoring in the 81st minute.
“I think you could see that everyone was working for everyone out there. We were all working hard for it, it could have been any of us,” Hewitt said. “We got one for the Vandals, and it’s enough to get us to the WAC tournament.”
Showler agreed that his players pulled through to achieve their goal.
“Today was about a battle and getting a win, and they did it,” Showler said. “We don’t have to play pretty soccer to win games. That’s good for their confidence and that’s good to see.”
The victory also means that Idaho sent its only departing senior, Allison Paige, out with a victory on Senior Day. The England native was honored with the flying of the English flag and the playing of the British national anthem prior to the match. She also garnered her first start of the season, playing the first six minutes.
“She’s been a huge part of why this program is where it’s at,” Showler said. “She’s as big a part of the win as anybody.”
The Vandals can finish no worse than fifth in the conference, and have an outside shot at finishing with a top-two spot in the league which includes a first round bye in the conference tournament.
The Vandals head to Fresno Nov. 4 to kick off the tournament.
“We are ecstatic, this has been our goal all year long. We’ve had our ups and downs but we battled through and we knew today that it was in our own hands,” Small said. “If we want it we’d be through and we came out today and put in our full 90 and got the result.”
The Governor’s Cup is still up for grabs, and Idaho faces Boise State in Boise to vie for its third straight trophy in the series.