Idaho claimed full stake of the Big Sky Confernence Regular Season title for the second year in a row Friday. The Vandals won 3-0 over Idaho State on a muddy, wet Guy Wicks Field.
“It was rough,” senior forward Kavita Battan said. “You’re slipping, you’re sliding. It felt like you were running in quicksand.”
Friday’s game marked senior night and all three goals were scored by seniors. Senior midfielder Elexis Schlossarek contributed two goals.
She scored a few minutes into the first half.
Senior midfielder Clara Gomez scored next on a cross.
The whole team celebrated after Gomez’s goal.
Another kick from Schlossarek found the top left corner of the net in the 83rd minute off of another cross.
“I’m overall really proud of our players to come out and honor our seniors and put the effort in that they did today to seal up our second back to back regular season championship within the Big Sky,” Idaho head coach Derek Pittman said. “I thought the mentality from the get-go was exactly what we needed. The intensity and quality of the play created a lot of chances.”
Idaho was already guaranteed a portion of the Big Sky title as of Oct. 23. Sunday’s win secured the title, in addition to Eastern Washington’s 3-2 loss to Montana Sunday.
“We said from day one, we wanted to be a team that nobody wanted to play against,” Pittman said.
Pittman said Schlossarek is a tremendous leader.
“She’s really helped push not just her teammates and herself but even our coaching staff to be better. I can’t thank her enough for her dedication,” he said.
Schlossarek was pleased with the outcome.
“It’s probably the best way to go out on this field that has treated us so well over the past couple years,” she said. “I think last year we were the total underdogs so no one knew who we were, but I think this year there was a target on our back. People gave us the best games they had.”
Big Sky Conference playoffs begin Nov. 2. The regular season champs usuallytypically host the first round of the playoffs. Guy Wicks was deemed unsatisfactory, so Eastern Washington will play host in Cheney.
Ella Fredericks can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @ellabfred