The Idaho Vandals found themselves down 2-0 in the last 25 minutes of the game, but they were looking to turn the game around. In the 68th minute, senior center-back Cassidy Elicker sent a long ball to the box.
The Vandals won the header, which found the feet of midfielder Annika Farley. Farley fired a looping shot from just inside the 18-yard box that went up and over the goalkeeper and into the net, reducing the Eagles’ lead to 2-1.
Just one minute later, the Vandals had the equalizer. In the 69th minute, the Vandals won a corner kick, and graduate outside back Alyssa Peters trotted over to the flag.
Peters sent in the cross, and the cross found the head of sophomore midfielder KV Miller, who buried the header past the goalkeeper for her third goal of the season and tied the game for the Vandals. After the goal, both teams clamped down and played to a hard-fought 2-2 draw.
The Vandals began the game on the front foot, putting the Eagles on their heels early. Throughout the first half, both teams tested the other, but after 45 minutes, the score remained 0-0, and the teams took that score into halftime.
The Vandals outshot the Eagles 11-4 in the first half, forcing six saves from the Eagles, and looked like the better team.
The script flipped when the whistle blew for the second half. The Eagles came out on the front foot and began the aggressor and within 10 minutes of the second half the Eagles had a two-goal commanding lead.
The Eagles won a corner kick after a great after redshirt freshman goalkeeper Paula Flores made a save and punched the ball over the bar.
Sophomore midfielder Kendall Moore took the corner kick and crossed the ball across the six-yard box. Junior forward Chloe Pattison shook free of the Vandals defense and poked the ball past redshirt freshman goalkeeper Paula Flores and put the Eagles on top, giving her a league-leading ninth goal of the season.
Under a minute later, the Eagles were on the attack again. In the 59th minute, the Eagles doubled their lead. Pattison won the header off a long ball and controlled the ball. She laid the ball off at the top of the 18-yard box to Moore. She took a couple of dribbles and unleashed a rocket from the top of the box that found the back of the net.
The draw moves the Vandals’ record to 8-3-2 (2-0-1), keeping their unbeaten streak alive and keeping them atop the Big Sky standings as they continue their three-game road trip. The Eagles moved to 6-4-3 (1-0-2) and to fourth ranked team in the Big Sky.
The Vandals will travel midweek to Missoula, Montana, to take on the 8-2-2 (2-0) Montana Grizzlies. The Vandals will look to end the Grizzlies perfect 7-0 home record.
The Vandals and Grizz will kick off on Thursday, Oct 10 at 2 p.m. The winner will gain control of first place in the conference.
You can reach Jayden Barfuss at [email protected]