The University of Idaho Argonaut

Idaho's Jill Flockhart head in a pass from a teammate. The Vandal's played their last game on Sunday against Hawaii, which they lost 3-2. It was the last game for seniors Ashley Perez, Sari Morrison, Anna Sandman and Lydia Beyerlein. Ilya Pinchuck/Argonaut

Tears were streaming down Anna Sandman’s face as the final buzzer sounded for the last time this season at Guy Wicks Field. As the team wandered over to the sidelines after the game, the seniors realized this was the last time they would be on Guy Wicks Field.

There would be no more second chances, no more next game, no more opportunity to rebound. In front of a home crowd, Sandman and the team watched their jubilation after the first half turn to mute horror and disbelief.

The Vandals had been eliminated from the WAC Championship last Friday but Perez said the entire team came out ready to play. Showler said the team never thought twice about being eliminated.

“They wanted to play for each other and play for the seniors,” Showler said. “They wanted to go out and show people what we are capable of.”

With the Vandals leading 2-0 after 45 minutes, everything seemed to be spot-on. The defense had stifled Hawaii’s attack, and the offense had produced two goals, a third one waved off, and plenty of opportunities around the net.

Sandman, starting in goal for the last time, had made several saves to keep Hawaii off the board.

“The whole game I was trying to talk to everyone and make sure there is a lot of communication on the field,” Sandman said.

The team was jubilant during half time, gathering at center, laughing, smiling and waving to parents and fans in the stands.

At the start of the second half, the Vandals gave ground but disaster was averted until Hawaii’s Britta Bourne took a breakaway pass up the middle and beat Sandman in the 51st minute.

“The coaches said at half time that we gave it our all in the first 20 minutes, and then kind of let down,” Perez said. “We needed to play a full game.”

From that point on, Hawaii took over the game, dominating and keeping the ball in the Idaho zone. Bourne scored her second goal of the game when a long, easy shot took a strange bounce and went between Sandman’s feet.

Sandman fell to her knees and looked back in disbelief as the ball trickled across the goal line. That easy stop would prove to be the difference in the game.

The Vandals rallied in the last fifteen minutes, but Bourne burned Sandman again with the game-winner in the 84th minute.

“That was hugely disappointing — we put ourselves in a great situation being up 2-0,” Showler said. “When you are dominating a team, you have to kill ‘em off. We had a huge mental block.”

The stunned crowd did their best to cheer the Vandals back into the game, but Hawaii held fast and took the game 3-1.

The loss was a sour way to end the season, especially for the seniors, Showler said, given how much they have contributed to the team. Sandman, Perez and Morrison were with the Vandals for all four years while, Lydia Beyerlein was with her first year at Idaho.

“Three of them have been here for four great years and have given everything for this team,” Showler said. “It’s a sad way for them to go out, but they are a big part of the huge strides that the team took this year.”

After the game, Sandman, eyes still wet with tears, said she was proud of how the team played this season, despite the hardships.

“We had everyone’s back no matter what,” Sandman said. “Everyone was there for everybody every single day.”

Perez said the biggest difference this year was the attitude in the locker room.

“Everyone just stayed so positive,” Perez said. “There was never any bickering — everyone believed they could win.”

Showler said he is happy with a successful season, and expects nothing but good things to come for the young team.

“The team has taken huge strides and there is more to come from this team, believe me,” Showler said. “They have the ability to be a very good team, now they just have to go on and believe that.”