After a grueling couple months for Idaho soccer, the non-conference season is now over and the Big Sky season is starting in the Kibbie Dome this weekend.
After ending the six-game drought against North Dakota, the Vandals look to build off the win going into conference play.
“Looking back at it, I think we did pretty well,” Idaho Head Coach Jeremy Clevenger said in an interview. “We definitely learned a lot about our team… We had our ups and downs and I think we came out on the other end sharp, focused and as a better team for that.”
The Vandals finished their non-conference season with a 3-7 record, which was not expected coming into the season, but was certainly a possibility with the loss of a senior class.
Hot hand:
Idaho is looking to ride its momentum for as long as it can.
Senior forward Juliana deTar scored the game-winning goal against North Dakota, her first goal of the year, Clevenger said. Now is the time for this team to act, when the iron is hot and players have found their rhythm.
Junior defender Taylor Brust seems to have made a seamless transition to the center defensive back, filling in
Sophomore forward KAthryn Blickenstaff keeps close with a North Dakota player Sunday in the Kibbie Dome.
where graduate student defender Kayleigh Frederick usually plays.
The defense seems to finally have some chemistry in the back, continuing to grow and maximizing their potential.
Freshman defender Emmy Moore said the rebuilding defense is still looking to improve turning defense into offense.
Moore said the way they will do this is by working the ball to the midfielders on the outside, opening up the field, creating more goal scoring opportunities against the Grizzlies and Bears.
Moore also said they will be looking for their “wingers”, the players on the outer edges of the midfield, expected to bring the ball up the sides and help create opportunities not only for themselves, but for the forwards as well.
Time to act:
With the loss of senior forward Myah Merino and Frederick from the lineup, the Vandal defense has had time to adjust and now their first real test is against two teams that were the best in the Big Sky in 2018.
Just one member of the 2018 defense remains. Sophomore Kathryn Blickenstaff at the right defensive back officially represents a new era.
“We told them, ‘you’re not a young player anymore.’ You have these games under your belt now against high-quality teams and the expectations are for them to continue to get better,” Clevenger said.
Grizzlies and Bears:
Montana and Northern Colorado have followed a similar path to Idaho in non-conference play.
The Grizzlies finished 1-7-5, playing seven of their nine games on the road and the lone win coming at home.
Northern Colorado is 2-8-1, playing just three out of the 11 matches at home, picking up one win in Greeley and the other at Grand Canyon University.
For all three schools, this is the time to get early momentum on the competition.
Idaho will be looking for its first win at home against Montana since 2015. Idaho has lost its last three meetings to UNC, all of which have been on the road or at a neutral site.
The Vandals last beat the Bears in 2016, in a 2-0 win. This meeting has a little added on, since the Bears ended Idaho’s season in the 2018 conference tournament.
“I think anytime the team that beats you last in the conference is always going to have a little of a bad taste in your mouth and we definitely want to avenge that,” Clevenger said. “I expect our players to be up for it.”
Idaho hosts Montana 7 p.m. Friday and Northern Colorado 1 p.m. Sunday in the Kibbie Dome.
Zack Kellogg can be reached at [email protected]