As the Idaho soccer team gears up for Portland State and Sacramento State, Idaho’s difference between this year’s team and last year’s is drastic, starting with the record.
The Vandals stand at 6-4-1 with a 2-0 Big Sky Conference record after wins over Idaho State and Weber State last weekend. At this time last year, Idaho was just 2-9 and finished 4-14-2 – two less wins than they already have this year.
With 20 goals already this year, the Vandals have two more than all of 2014 and a whopping 14 more than they had at this time just a year ago. The higher totals from last year also apply to the team’s assists (27 compared to 6 at this time last year) and points (67 compared to 18).
After the wins over Idaho State and Weber State last weekend, Idaho is now tied with Eastern Washington and Sacramento State for first place in the conference.
“I thought our players did an excellent job on the road,” Idaho coach Derek Pittman said. “Idaho State and Weber State are two very difficult teams to play against. Our players showed tremendous focus and discipline in executing the game plan.”
After junior forward Kavita Battan’s two-goal performance against ISU, the junior from Vancouver, Washington, finds herself in fourth place in the Big Sky in goals with six total. Right behind her is freshman forward Kayla Watanabe (four goals) in fifth place and sophomore forward Olivia Baggerly (three) in 10th.
“I think we’re very fortunate that we have three very good attacking players,” Pittman said. “Kavita has been fortunate to score the majority of the goals but you have another threat in Kayla Watanabe as well as Olivia Baggerly.”
Baggerly and junior midfielder Clara Gomez both have seven assists, which leads the Big Sky and is seventh most in the nation.
“I think (Battan, Watanabe and Baggerly) as an entire group have been tremendous for us and they work great,” Pittman said. “Their relationship is continuing to get better as far as reading where each other are going to go and what each other are looking for, how to play off each other. They become a very big threat because you can’t focus on just one of them.”
Portland State will be first up this weekend, a team that defeated Idaho 3-1 last year. The Vikings are tied for sixth in the conference at 1-1 with a 3-7 overall record.
“Portland State has traditionally been one of the top teams in our conference,” Pittman said. “They came off a good win against Southern Utah and lost very narrowly to Northern Arizona. They’re going to be a tough opponent and they’re going to be coming in here trying to get their second win in conference. We expect it to fully be a battle with them on Friday.”
The Hornets of Sacramento State come in with a 4-6 overall record and 2-0 in conference. Being tied with Idaho at the top of the Big Sky standings makes it a critical game early in conference play. Sacramento State will play the third team tied for the Big Sky lead — Eastern Washington — Friday.
The match against Portland State starts at 3:30 p.m. Friday and then the Vandals play Sacramento State at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both games are at Guy Wicks Field.
Ben Evensen can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @BenE_VN