Vandals’ fifth overtime game of the season nets similar result
After trailing in-state rival Idaho State for more than 70 minutes on Idaho’s Senior Day, the Vandal soccer team was lifted from the loss column by two of the youngest players on the roster.
Nathan Romans | Argonaut
Junior forward Reagan Quigley jumps past a Weber State defender during Idaho’s 3-2 double overtime loss Friday at Guy Wicks Field. Quigley scored her first career goal to tie up the game in the 76th minute.
Forward Olivia Baggerly and midfielder Chloe Bell, both freshman, scored within minutes of each other to tie the game late in regulation and send it into overtime.
In overtime, neither team was able to take a distinct advantage. The rivals ended the day with a 2-2 draw. A draw awards a team one point in the Big Sky Conference standings.
“Any point in this league is massive,” Idaho coach Derek Pittman said. “It was very important for us to grind out a tie against a very good Idaho State team.”
The point the team earned with the draw brings their season total to 14, which may prove to be key, as a mere five points separates the first place team (Montana) with the fourth place team (Eastern Washington). Idaho sits tied for second with Portland State.
The Vandals (4-11-2 overall, 4-1-2 Big Sky) will be back on the field Friday when they travel to Sacramento, California, to take on Sacramento State (8-9, 3-5) to begin their final weekend of Big Sky play.
Baggerly is tied with sophomore defender Gabby Leong and sophomore forward Kavita Battan for the team lead with three goals. The equalizing goal by Bell in the 82nd minute was her second of the season. In total, Idaho has had seven different players score goals this season.
Despite the draw, the Vandals may have been lucky to even get that result.
“In the first half we didn’t play our best,” Pittman said. “Idaho State created some quality chances and could have been up by even more, but we rebounded in the second half. I was worried it was going to be too little too late, but our players stood up for themselves and fought back for the draw — I am proud of them.”
Josilyn Daggs attempting a shot looking for a header Sunday on Senior Day against Idaho State University
With the team having played nearly an extra half in the four overtimes this weekend, getting rest is key before they take the field Friday.
“We have to get ourselves ready for Sacramento State, another team that is desperate to stay in the mix for a conference tournament position,” Pittman said. “They are going to be coming out flying and doing the best they can to possibly knock us down a rung and keep themselves alive.”
The Vandals have been tested often in the extra period this season, this was the Vandals’ fifth overtime game of the season. Pittman credited the team’s mental and physical toughness as a reason they were able to get the result they did. He also said fan support played an important role in Idaho’s success.
“I am very proud of our players not only physically, but mentally as well,” Pittman said. “We have to be tough mentally to be able to get positive results, and so the mental and physical preparation they put in each day has been phenomenal.”
Joshua Gamez can be reached at [email protected]