The University of Idaho women’s soccer team finished non-conference play and looked to get on the right foot in conference. However, it was held to a 1-1 draw against Weber State. The Vandals came into the game 5-2-1 with momentum after a 1-0 victory over UTEP in their last match.
Weber State came in 0-6-1 wanting to build confidence and start the conference season on the right foot. Idaho came out and dictated the game from the start, suffocating the Wildcats. The pressure looked like it would pay off early.
When senior midfielder Margo Schoesler played a ball to junior midfielder Annika Farley, Farley took the ball and lifted it up past the keeper. However, the ball darted onto the crossbar and Weber State cleared the pressure. After that chance, the game slowed down. After 45 minutes, neither team was able to get on the score sheet and they headed to the locker room tied 0-0.
The Vandals were on the front foot in the first half, posting seven shots, four of which were on goal. Weber only posted one shot, and it wasn’t on goal.
After the break, the game evened out. Weber started growing into the game and was the first team to break the goose egg. In the 66th minute, sophomore goalkeeper Kira Witte rolled the ball to Junior center back center back Cassidy Elicker. Elicker, however, gave the ball right to junior midfielder Alaina Wildenradt.
Wildenradt picked her head up and found senior midfielder Yira Yoggerst. She played the ball down the right wing back to Wildenradt, who crossed it into the box. From there, sophomore forward Grace Kirby finished the attack as she sliced the ball into the open net to give the Wildcats the lead.
After the goal, the Vandals pressure and energy intensified. Right minutes after going down, the Vandals tied the game. In the 74th minute, senior outside back Alyssa Peters headed to the corner spot and took the Vandals seventh corner kick of the game.
Peters sent the ball to the back post, where the ball got loose around the six-yard box and found the foot of senior midfielder Hannah Alfaro. Alfaro connected and put the ball into the bottom right corner to tie the game up for the Vandals.
The game opened up after that for both teams as they both tried to throw the knockout punch. With two minutes to go to the game, Weber made a mistake.
Senior forward Jadyn Hanks received the ball, turned and ran full steam ahead until freshman defender Mckenize Taylor grabbed Hanks and pulled her down. Hanks was denied what may have been a game-winning goal opportunity while Taylor got a red card and was sent off.
Although the Vandals were up one player, they were unable to take advantage, settling for a draw. The Vandals fall to 5-2-2 on the season, while Weber improves to 0-6-2. The goal by Alfaro was her third goal in three games and her midfield presence has been huge for the Vandals.
The Vandals will now travel southeast to take on their bitter in-state rival Idaho State in the first meeting of the Battle of the Domes this year. Idaho will look to get their first conference win at noon on Sept. 24.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected] or on X @JaydenBarfuss10