Despite losing a pair of matches against Seattle U, the Idaho soccer team still secured its place in the WAC Tournament Friday by virtue of a pair of Cal State-Bakersfield losses.
The Vandals scored first and early in their Sunday match against Seattle putting a point on the board after just
59 seconds.
“It was unfortunate that we lost but there were moments that showed we can compete against Seattle,” junior Katie Baran said.
Idaho will need that confidence to compete against Seattle again as it will play the Redhawks for the third match in a row in the first round of the tournament.
Idaho soccer coach Pete Showler said that from what he saw in his team this weekend, they can and will compete well against Seattle this Friday in the WAC Tournament, which will be in Las Cruces, N.M. Last year, Idaho lost in the first round of the tournament against Texas State.
Seattle shut out the Vandals during the first game on Friday. The two-game series, which ended the regular season, was the most important for the Vandals this season. In order for Idaho to keep its fourth-place seed in the tournament, Idaho had to either do better than or match Cal State-Bakersfield in play. Both teams are behind fourth-place Grand Canyon but the Antelopes are ineligible for postseason play.
Bakersfield lost its first match against Missouri-Kansas City on Friday then lost to last-place New Mexico State on Sunday allowing Idaho to keep their invite. The news about Bakersfield’s loss came during the second half of Idaho’s match to a cheering team as they were losing late in the match.
“We were elated (when we found out) then we made some changes, got everybody into the game. The seniors will now be going to the WAC Tournament for the fourth year in a row,” Showler said.
Idaho’s early goal came off the head of Baran, her third goal of the season tying freshman Alyssa Pease for the top team scorer, with the assist coming from freshman Kavita Battan. Idaho held the lead until the 25th minute when Seattle put their first point on the board.
“Alyssa Pease pressured the keeper, popped out wide. Kavita (Battan) was in and I was like ‘I got to go, I got to go.’ It was just a perfect ball and to be honest, it hit my head and my head band came over my eyes so I didn’t know if it went in,” Baran said.
Seattle got on the board in the 25th minute off an unassisted shot from Kiana Kraft. Seattle took the lead in the 54th minute and held the lead putting the game out of Idaho’s reach with their third goal in the
78th minute.
But by that point Idaho knew it had the spot in the tournament and the mood of the match remained high during and after the team’s regular-season finale.
Curtis Ginnetti can be reached at [email protected]