Coming off a 5-0 loss against the nationally ranked Washington State Cougars, Idaho’s soccer team is feeling confident and looking strong as it gets ready to play its fourth consecutive road game.
The team is traveling to Fargo, N.D., to take on the North Dakota State Bison at their newly appointed soccer pitch — the 13,000 seat outdoor Dacotah Field.
Like the Vandals, the Bison are fielding an inexperienced team.
Idaho coach Pete Showler is focusing on his team and what it needs to do to execute in the game and land its first goal of the season. He is not allowing the fact that he is playing a more evenly matched team factor into his game plan.
“Obviously, we watch the scouting reports or film from any opponents, but really we need to better execute at what we do,” Showler said.
That has been the motif of Showler’s coaching — to focus on what his young team needs to do to improve its individual game and the team as a whole.
Since the Vandals failed to score in their last three games, the team has been focusing on moving the ball as a team down the pitch and hitting their marks when needed.
Freshman midfielder Gabby Leong said that since last Friday’s match in Washington, they have focused on getting to the ball first and not letting the ball drop or fall into the opposing team’s possession.
On the defense, the Vandals have been working on guarding their corners and not allowing the offense to work the cross shot, junior defender Emily Ngan said.
The Vandals allowed three goals off of crosses from the post against WSU, a mistake that they are hoping to shut down this week and in the future.
“We are excited to go to Fargo, not only is it a place that we can cross off of the list but it is a place where we know we can compete,” Showler said.
Last year, the Vandals played the Bison on home turf and defeated them 2-0. Now both teams have many new players and the Bison have home field advantage , but the Vandals are confident they will pull off their first victory of the season.
This will be the fourth straight away game for the Vandals. Leong said that the team is dealing with the stress of traveling well on the field but it is sometimes hard for the team to keep up with their classes.
Doing well in class as well as on the field has always been a top priority for Showler. Last year the team had an average grade point average of 3.58 and he demands his players stay students first.
“They seem to be keeping up at practice and spirits are high,” assistant coach Chelsea Small said. “Traveling does take its toll but they are keeping themselves healthy and practicing hard every day, so you cannot tell.”
The Vandals will play their first home game at Guy Wicks Field at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, against Eastern Washington.
Curtis Ginnetti
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