2014 was a year to forget for the Idaho soccer team.
Under first-year head coach Derek Pittman, the Vandals started out the season 0-9 in nonconference, scoring just two goals during that stretch and being shut out seven times. Things improved a little bit in Big Sky Conference play, but Idaho still finished the season at a disappointing 4-14-2.
Now in year two of the Pittman era, the progress being made is going light years ahead of what many would expect.
Idaho’s record speaks for itself. Idaho stands at 7-4-1 with three huge wins in conference play and no conference losses. At this time in 2014, the Vandals were 2-9-1.
With seven games remaining, Idaho has many opportunities to add to the already three-win improvement.
The stats are eye-opening as well, starting with goals. Idaho has 21 goals so far this season while last year’s squad had a measly eight at this time. The Vandals already have 27 assists this season while the 2014 team had only 16 all year and six to this date.
The improvement Idaho is making is showing up nationally too. The Vandals are ninth in the nation in assists, while sophomore forward Olivia Baggerly and junior midfielder Clara Gomez have seven assists each — good to tie both at seventh nationally.
The assist totals also put Idaho at 11th in the nation for assists per game, while Baggerly and Gomez are tied for 11th in assists per game in the nation as well.
Idaho is first in the Big Sky in shots, shots per game, assists, assists per game and shutouts. It is second in points, points per game and goals in the conference as well. For a team with just four wins a season ago, leading the conference and being second in so many other categories is jaw-dropping.
Even with all the stats, wins and improvement from last year, the team is still focused on its original goal.
“Our team set a goal at the very beginning of the season,” Pittman said. “To make the conference tournament. The top six of the 11 schools go to the conference tournament. We want to be in that top six. If we are in that tournament, then we can talk about a conference championship.”
Idaho finished tied for seventh place with Southern Utah in the conference last season.
“At this point in time we’re just taking it one game at a time,” Pittman said.
Ben Evensen can be reached at [email protected]