Graduate outside back Alyssa Peters was one kick from history. In the 70th minute, with the Vandals leading 2-1 against Northern Arizona, she stood over the free kick, sent the ball to the box, and found redshirt junior Sienna Gonzales.
Gonzales, off a volley, fired the shot past senior goalkeeper Trinity Corcoran to give Peters her 28th career assist and the most all-time in Big Sky history.
“It was really exciting,” Peters said. “Everyone was just screaming and cheering for me, when the game was over, everyone was hugging me. It was just a really great experience.
Peters, who hails from Bremerton, Washington, had a ball at her feet before she could even remember. She grew up in a soccer family, with both her parents playing soccer and her two sisters, Emily and Tori, also playing.
She worked her way up the soccer ranks and was ready for high school. Peters went on to have a successful high school career at Klahowya Secondary School, where she burst onto the scene in her junior and senior year, scoring 13 goals and nine assists in her senior season.
For Peters, being an Idaho Vandal meant much more than kicking a ball.
“My grandparents went to the school here, So I always came over here as a kid, and my dad went to WSU, so we were always on this side of Idaho.”
“I did a few ID camps when I was younger. I remember coming to one when my older sister was trying to go to college in seventh grade,” Peters said. “I fell in love with Moscow. I love the small town, beautiful town. It has all four seasons, which is awesome. It feels like home.”
The family connection continued as, going into her senior year of high school, her little sister Tori, whom she played with her senior year, followed in her footsteps and joined her in a Vandal uniform.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Peters said. “I was a little weirded out in the beginning when she was hanging out with my friends. When we’re back home, it’s like we’re sisters.”
“We’re hanging out at dinner time and in the morning. Here, we’re doing the same thing, but in a different environment and without our parents, so we’re able to just grow on our own and do that together. It’s been a lot of fun having her here.”
Tori, who wasn’t as close to Peters growing up, has enjoyed her time with her older sister to grow with each other as people and build their sister bond even more.
“My relationship with Alyssa is a lot more fun and relaxed off the field. Alyssa and I’s relationship is almost like every sibling’s bond; we fight over the little things, but overall, I know I can go to her for anything,” Tori said. “Growing up, Alyssa was always closer to my oldest sister, and we didn’t have the same bond back then.”
“These past two years have given us time to get close. Part of that is that we spend every day together due to practice and all of the traveling we do. Along with practice, we hang out with each other, sometimes shopping or getting a coffee. Alyssa is now one of my closest friends, let alone my sister.
Peters has been a force on the field for the Vandals and has been crucial to their success over her five seasons in a Black and Gold uniform. In five seasons, Peters has played in 83 games, starting 79 of them. She has logged 6,673 minutes and provided the Vandals with three goals and a program and Big Sky record 32 assists.
So far this season, Peters is having her best season as a Vandal. She has started in all 17 games, logging 1,448 minutes, and has two goals to go along with 13 assists, which is the second most in the nation.
The Vandals, Peters included, have had much success in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome this season, going 6-0-1.
Before a home game, Peters and the team enjoy their pregame dance parties to get them loose before kickoff.
“For home games, we always have our pregame dance party in the locker room,” Peters said. “We listen to the same songs. I do some crowd-surfing before the game. So that’s always our home game ritual. To dancing queen is what it usually is.”
Peters, the Vandals’ set-piece taker, has excelled in that category. Her precision and placement of balls have led to countless goals for the Vandals this season, a skill that Peters learned when she was younger.
“I spent a lot of time growing up doing those long balls and kicks like that. I focused on that aspect and got good at what I do,” Peters said.
Away from the soccer field, Peters’ relationships are a huge part of her life.
“I love hanging out with my friends,” Peters said. “My teammates are always over at my house, or we’re cooking dinner. The town is so small that you do everything in the summertime, like going to the pool and going on many adventures; there’s so much to do in this area around the town.”
Peters also coaches a little Moscow soccer with her sister, which is great practice for what she wants to do after she graduates.
“I want to do some coaching when I go home, wherever that is, and then obviously teaching once I’m through with soccer.”
Peters has had an amazing career in a Vandal uniform. Her legacy at the Vandals won’t just be about assists or her tackles but also how a ball rolling around on a piece of turf bonded a family and sisters for life.