Coming off one of the best seasons in Idaho Vandals’ soccer history, the women’s soccer team added eight players to help chase the Big Sky championship. With the loss of star midfielder Savannah Foster, the Vandals needed to make a splash to try and replace her. By doing that, they brought in a familiar name.
Victoria (Tori) Peters, the sister of current Vandals’ defender Alyssa Peters, signed to the team back on Nov. 11, 2022. Tori hails from Bremerton, Washington, where she attended Klahowya Secondary School; With the help of Peters, Klahowya was able to capture the 1A Washington state championship in 2021. Peters, in three seasons as the team captain, scored 37 goals and added 24 assists.
Peters also had a successful club stint where she played for Washington Premier FC ECNL. She was the captain of the squad, helping guide her team to the national playoffs in 2019 and 2022. In 2021, she was named to the ECNL all conference Second team.
Coach Jeremy Clevenger raved about Peters’ ability to play both sides of the ball. “Tori is a very talented two-way player,” he said in a press release. “She is great in the attack but also can be a lockdown defender.” Foster was very good in possession, keeping the ball and setting up her teammates, which is what the Vandals will look for her to continue doing.
Next, the Vandals get their lone Idaho signee, Payton Oelkers from Meridan, Idaho. Oelkers played for Powerhouse Mountain View high school and was a part of Idaho Rush Premier. She scored six goals, six assists and was named MVP of the team last season. Oelkers also earned a 5A all-state honorable mention in 2022.
Clevenger praised Oelkers’ attacking ability and ability to play multiple positions “Payton will be a fun attacking player to watch,” he said. “She brings a lot of flare and creativity onto the soccer field.” With the Vandals struggling to score goals last season, Oelkers will bring a great attacking presence to this team.
Next, the coaching staff headed back to Washington to add to the defense with the addition of outside back Izzy Thoma. Thoma hails from Snohomish, Washington, where she played at Glacier Peak high school and played for Crossfire Premier ECNL. Thoma comes with loads of experience. Having been a 4-year starter at Glacier Peak, she got the captions armband her senior season.
Thoma helped lead Glacier to four straight conference championships and two post-season appearances in 2019 and 2021. For Crossfire, she helped them reach the elite eight at the ECNL national tournament in 2022. Thoma was highly successful in school and club and will bring that to the Vandals. “Izzy is exactly what we look for in our outside backs,” Clevenger said. “She is very athletic, great on the ball, and will get forward into the attack.”
Defensive midfielder Sara Rodgers also hails from Snohomish Washington. She played for Snohomish High School and was club teammates with Thoma at Crossfire. Although she was a defensive mid, she scored 34 goals over four years. “Sara is a true holding midfielder that does it all,” Clevenger said. “Sara is very clean and simple on the ball. I rarely see her turn the ball over. Rodgers will add a strong holding midfielder to back up the likes of star midfielder Jayd Sprague.”
The final signing from Washington was Kahvayli (KV) Miller from University Place Washington. She suited up for Curtis Senior High School and, like Rodgers and Thoma, at Crossfire. She was dubbed a two-time defensive MVP in high school and will build the Vandals’ defense even stronger. “We are very excited about the addition of KV to our program,” Clevenger said. “KV is flat-out a baller in the backline; she is a defender that can do it all.”
In need of a forward, the Vandals went to Aliso Viejo, California, to get Emma James. James played high school soccer at Aliso Niguel High School, and club for Slammers FC HB Koge ECNL. James was a four-year varsity player, captaining Aliso Niguel for two seasons.
James helped lead the team to a South Coast League Championship in 2020. In her club career, James was a part of several championship teams. She won three Surf Cup titles in 2016, 2021 and 2022. She also won the Southwest Conference and ECNL National Tournament in 2021. “Emma is a great addition to our program,” Clevenger said. “Emma is a versatile attacking player that loves to get up and down the line.” James will add to the likes of Maddy Lasher and Margo Scholser as a dangerous attacking weapon for the Vandals.
The coaching staff then headed to San Diego, California to grab Goalkeeper Paula Flores, who played at Cathedral Catholic High School and for Albion San Diego Soccer Club. Paula will go to a crowded goalkeeper’s room, where she’ll compete for a spot in the box. “Paula is a fantastic addition to our goalkeeping unit,” Clevenger said. “Paula is an excellent shot-stopper.”
The last Signee hails from Youngtown, Arizona. Leslie Duarte is an attacking midfielder who played high school at Centennial High School and played for the successful Phoenix Rising ECNL. At Centennial, Duarte earned countless honors, such as Northwest Region High School offensive player of the year in 2021.
For the club level, Duarte helped lead the team to a GA National Finals in 2020-2021 and won the Arizona state cup in 2019. “Leslie is a very special attacking player that we think will have a great career at Idaho,” Clevenger said.
The Vandals were a dangerous team during the 2022 – 2023 season and will look to be even better with the addition of these eight players.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @JaydenBarfuss10