It has been a rough start this season for the young Vandals soccer team. During its first week of play on the road, Idaho was shut out in the first two games.
The season started for the Vandals at Weber State where they lost 3-0. The ladies then traveled to Pocatello, to play their cross state rivals — the Idaho State Bengals — where they were again shut out losing 2-0.
Despite the lack of performance from the young offense, Idaho coach Pete Showler has optimism that his team of half newcomers will overcome their transition period and come together to an effective end.
“Sunday’s game we showed a lot more, we played a lot more, and they embraced it a lot more,” Showler said.
One facet of the Vandal team that has showed constant strength is the defense, which has a majority of the returning players. The two new goalkeepers, Torrell Stewart and Marina Siegl, have integrated well with the returning defenders.
“I think that we are doing really well and clicking,” junior defender Emily Ngan said.
The Vandals take on the Pac-12 powerhouse Washington State Cougars on Friday for the third straight away game of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Showler and his team are not showing any nerves about taking on the highly ranked WSU team. The Cougars are currently ranked No. 32 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
“No pressure … to me the pressure will be on that team, the players that they (WSU) have and we are so young and just developing.” Showler said. “So anything we get from the game is a bonus.”
“(WSU) is a very good team, it’s going to be a tough game,” senior Mary Condon said.
“We need our midfielders to be guile and crafty to penetrate their defense.”
The Vandals will be facing off against the Cougars with two of their starters injured.
“One will be out for the season and one is just day-by-day,” Showler said. “Anytime you lose two players it’s going to have an impact, but we have a lot more depth in quality and we are able to shift things around and run with it.”
After the Vandals take on the Cougars they will continue their five away-game stretch returning to Guy Wicks field on Sep. 13 to take on Eastern Washington for the second-to-last non-conference game.
Conference play starts on Sep. 22 against Grand Canyon University at Guy Wicks field.
Coach Showler said that WAC play is what they are striving for and has no doubt that the team will have found their stride by then to take the WAC by force and make it to the WAC tournament this year.
Curtis Ginnetti can be reached at [email protected]