It’s good to be home.
The Idaho women’s soccer team returned home from a monthlong road trip for a 2-0 win against Northern Colorado Friday and a 5-1 against North Dakota Sunday.
Friday’s game came with a fight. Both teams went into halftime with no points on the board. Sophomore midfielder Megan Goo put the first point on the board in minute 55.
Freshman midfielder Emma Eddy capped off scoring minutes later with the second goal at minute 58. Eddy led the team with six shots on goal. Friday’s goal was her second of the season.
Idaho head coach Derek Pittman said the team moved the ball well.
“We talked a little bit about the chances that we had created, but we knew we needed to be a little bit more composed around the box to be able to hit the target,” Pittman said. “The movement on the first goal, from Clara to Madi and then Goo sticking with it, just great mentality to stay in there and not give up. The same goes for Emma with the ball in over the top.”
Sunday’s game had the same hustle.
Sophomore Kayla Watanabe scored the only point of the first half at minute 28.
Idaho gained momentum in the second half.
Senior defender Madison Moore scored off a throw-in at minute 56, to put the Vandals up 2-0.
Minutes later, senior forward Kavita Battan scored in minute 61.
Senior midfielder Elexis Schlossarek capitalized off a penalty kick and scored one more for the Vandals. Eddy swooped in and added one last point to end the game against North Dakota.
Pittman noticed spots for improvement.
“It wasn’t as sharp as we were against Northern Colorado, but I thought we went about our business the right way and we got the job done today,” he said. “I thought we were very focused, I’m really happy with that. Especially in the second half, we came out with the energy to get ourselves up by a few goals to finish things off.”
Pittman said the game was a team effort.
“I think hands down, Friday was our best game up till this point of the season as far as complete 90 minutes on the defensive side and the offensive side so we wanted to make sure we focused on ourselves today and came out and put in that same type of effort,” he said. “For a long periods of time, maybe 60 or 70 minutes we were very focused and did a great job today.”
The Vandals play Sacramento State 3:30 p.m. Friday in Sacramento.
Meredith Spelbring can be reached at [email protected]