After winning the Homecoming opener Friday and then losing the last game of the weekend on Sunday in overtime, the Idaho soccer team plays two road games this weekend.
“We came out strong in our games, it is unfortunate we lost our game on Sunday. We are ready to come out and rally against the Wolverines and the Road Runners this weekend,” senior defender Chelsie Breen said.
First stop for the Vandals is Orem, Utah to take on the Utah Valley Wolverines. The Wolverines are currently on a four game winning streak, including two shutouts, and are currently undefeated in WAC play.
Idaho coach Pete Showler said that the Wolverines could pose the biggest threat to the Vandals so far in conference play.
“We are taking on a team that is on the top of the conference right now,” Showler said. “They are very athletic and very hard working and they are on a high so we will have to try and stop that.”
The Vandals were feeling that same high after they won their first two games of conference play before the overtime loss on Sunday.
“We started the (conference) season off strong and we finally got a feel for that. Everybody picked up their spirits and we knew what it was like to win,” Breen said. “It was tough (when we lost) it was overtime and I felt that we controlled the game really well so giving that up was unfortunate.”
After playing a late game on Friday, the Vandals will travel to Bakersfield, Calf., to take on the Cal-State Bakersfield Road Runners on Sunday.
The Road Runners are 0-2-1 in conference play after tying their last match against Grand Canyon and getting shut out in a doubleheader against Utah Valley. Idaho faced off against Grand Canyon for its WAC opener on Sept. 22 winning 3-1.
“After Utah we will be traveling over to Bakersfield and if we play like we have been playing, then hopefully we will get something out of these games,” Showler said. “We have been getting better every day … the more familiar they get with each other’s playing style the better we become as a team.”
The Vandals are confident heading back to their road schedule.
“I’m looking forward to the team scoring lots of goals and getting a shutout,” Breen said. “I’m on defense so shutting them out will be really nice.”
Curtis Ginnetti can be reached at arg-sports.uidaho.edu