The Idaho Vandals women’s soccer team took a trip down south to take on Boise State, looking for their third straight win. After a solid first half, the Vandals fell on their faces in the second and gave up three unanswered goals as the Broncos defeated the Vandals 3-1.
The Broncos got the game-winning goal in the 58th minute when midfielder Morgan Padour felt no pressure on the ball and ripped a rocket off her foot that went into the top corner and gave the Broncos a 2-1 lead.
After a rough start to the game, where the Vandals struggled to find their rhythm and were under pressure from the Broncos, they settled in and began to show their potential. After some great build-up play, they struck first.
In the 29th minute senior midfielder Annika Farley played a looping pass over the Broncos defense and graduate forward Maddy Lasher beat everyone to the ball and poked the ball past the Broncos keeper to give the Vandals into the lead and give Lasher her first goal of the season.
The Vandals held off a frustrated Broncos team who, at one time in the half, took out every starter except their goalkeeper as the Broncos trailed the Vandals 1-0 at the half.
In the 53rd minute, with the Broncos pushing hard for an equalizer, they drove the ball into the Vandals’ 18-yard box. Boise Senior midfielder Kayla Soderstrom picked the ball up off a deflection by a Vandal defender.
Soderstrom passed the ball to Boise senior forward Carly Cross. Cross, on her left foot, buried the ball into the top left corner and tied the game for the Broncos, and got her third goal of the season.
In the 80th minute, after a foul from the Vandals, Boise midfielder Jillian Anderson stepped up to take the free kick.
She blasted the ball towards the top corner. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Paula Flores got a hand on the ball, but the powerful shot would not be denied and fell into the goal, putting the Vandals down 3-1 and giving Anderson her second career goal.
The Broncos saw out the rest of the game and improved to 4-1 on the season. With the loss, the Vandals fell to 4-3 and will have questions to answer before they hit the road again.
The Vandals’ inconsistent play in front of goal and questionable defending have been concerning problems, and they finally cost the Vandals in the win column.
Idaho, who conceded just 16 goals all last season, have already conceded 11 goals in seven games this season, including two games allowing three goals.
The Vandals will look to get back on track when they travel to Reno, Nevada, to take on the University of Nevada on Thursday, Sept 12, at 7 p.m.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected].