Coming off two tough losses to open the season, the Idaho soccer team will be fighting for its first win this weekend as it takes on Eastern Washington Friday at home and Gonzaga, Idaho coach Derek Pittman’s former team, in Spokane Sunday.
Jackson Flynn | Argonaut
Sophomore Kavita Battan, right, dribbles through defenders in practice Wednesday. Idaho is seeking its first win this season playing Eastern Washington Friday at Guy Wicks Field and Gonzaga Sunday at Spokane. The Vandals are 2-0 on the season.
“They are going to be coming in flying high with some confidence and try to nip one off us here at home,” Idaho coach Derek Pittman said of Eastern Washington. “We have got to prepare ourselves to play in another hard, aggressive match and put our best foot forward to hopefully come away with a win.”
The Vandals will be playing their second of nine home games at Guy Wicks Field on Friday, but Pittman doesn’t think home field advantage has an effect on his team’s preparations one way or the other.
“We are focused on Eastern. I don’t think it necessarily matters playing on the road or at home to our players, other than the fact that it is an awesome opportunity for us to play in front of another great crowd,” Pittman said.
One thing that may have helped the team’s confidence going into this week was its impressive showing against two tough teams, TCU and Seattle U.
“Both of those teams were top 100 in the NCAA, and we had played Seattle U and not played very well last year — losing 2-1 in overtime (this year) really showed that we are a brand new team,” sophomore Elexis Schlossarek said.
But just because the Vandals are coming off two physical games last weekend, it does not mean they will be any less physical. If they would have had to play a game the day after the 2-0 loss to the Horned Frogs, they could have and would have happily, Pittman said.
In the context of the physicality last week, De Anza College transfer Kat Comesana left the game late in the first half with a leg injury and did not return. There is still no timetable on her return.
“She went in hard on a tackle and unfortunately, came out on the wrong end of it. But she’d do it again if asked — that’s the way our kids play,” Pittman said. “I know Kat, she’s got a tremendous mentality — she will do whatever it takes to get back on the field as soon as the doctors will let her.”
In addition to playing Eastern Washington on Friday, the Vandals will also be playing a team they saw last spring in the Gonzaga Bulldogs — the program that Pittman spent four years with as an associate coach before taking the Idaho job last February.
“I know (Gonzaga coach) Amy (Edwards) and she will have her team prepared to come into that game and play really hard and compete, but honestly I haven’t given two thoughts to Gonzaga I am solely focused on Eastern Washington,” Pittman said.
The familiarity between the Gonzaga and Idaho teams isn’t just on the coaching side either. Some of the girls on the Gonzaga and Idaho teams have gotten to know each other, which makes them a great team to measure themselves against, Schlossarek said.
Pittman said the tough competition should help the team be ready for Big Sky play when it rolls around.
Joshua Gamez can be reached at [email protected]