Idaho welcomed former conference rivals to Moscow this weekend, but it did not go anywhere close as planned.
The Vandals had back to back 0-3 losses against Seattle University and UC Santa Barbara, being now the first time, the Idaho Head Coach Jeremy Clevenger has gone on a three-game skid since coming to the program.
Now sitting at 2-4 in non-conference play and with the Big Sky season moving closer, here are the takeaways from this last, disappointing weekend.
Down early
Both games against the Redhawks and Gauchos were surprisingly similar.
In both matchups, Idaho went down early in the first half, three goals down to be specific, and unable to come back from the deficits.
It is very rare to come back from a multiple-goal back, with the last time Idaho was able to do it is in 2017, where Idaho came back against Memphis down three goals, 4-1, and won the match 5-1.
That was a special game with special momentum that the Vandals have yet to capture since, but it shows that it is tough and hard to come by.
With the non-conference now winding down, the Vandals are getting short on time to iron out the kinks and avoid going down big during conference play.
Shifting around
During Sunday’s loss against the Gachoes and the third goal was scored in the 19th minute of the first half,
Junior midfielder Taylor Brust kicks the ball upfield followed by a UCSB defender Sunday. | Saydee Brass Argonaut
Clevenger made an interesting position change.
Junior midfielder Taylor Brust was mover from her position in the middle of the field, into the center back in the heart of the defense.
Brust would play out the rest of the game alongside redshirt senior Kayleigh Frederick, where the Vandals did not allow another goal for the rest of the afternoon.
This could start to become a running theme during the tail end of the non-conference season.
“Anticipate some roster changes for sure and see what we can get going,” Clevenger said after Sunday’s loss.
This is the first time in the last two years where we could see a significant change in the lineups, formations, and positions for regular players from what they are initially listed as.
Inconsistent
For the first time under Clevenger, Idaho not only is on a three-game losing streak but also had back to back losses by multiple goals.
Clevenger summed up the weekend in one-word – “inconsistent”
“There are times where we played really well against two good teams, and there were times where we faltered and didn’t really have composer,” Clevenger said. “We knew we were going to go through some growing pains, losing all the players we did last year and bringing in so many new people.”
With another tough road trip that will last three games, Idaho will look to find a winning formula before Montana comes to town in a couple of weeks.
The Vandals will play UC Riverside Thursday at 7:30 P.M. in Riverside, Cal.
Zack Kellogg can be reached at arg-sports@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @kellogg_zack.