As the final whistle blew and the cheers and tears of joy rained last, the Idaho Vandals Women’s soccer team was on top of the world. They had just completed a 12-5-2 regular season. They defeated defending Big Sky champions Northern Arizona 2-1 to claim their first Big Sky championship in program history and set up their first NCAA tournament appearance.
As the Vandals prepare for the upcoming 2024 season, head coach Jeremy Clevenger is excited for them to get out on the field and start their title defense.
“It’s very exciting coming off last year’s success and returning most of the team. I am looking forward to defending our championship.” Clevenger said.
The Vandals return 23 players from last year, including nine starters, both captains, graduate forward Maddy Lasher, midfielder Margo Schoesler, and some more key players from last year’s championship team.
Hannah Alfaro-Black, who missed the spring, was a key to the Vandal’s success in the midfield for the last two years and will be a welcome sight back into the Vandals squad.
The Vandals also returned three of their backline starters from last season. Their defense was nationally ranked a year ago.
The Vandals lost key players, including outside back Maya Hamilton, midfielder Jayd Sprague, and goalkeeper Kira Witte. The Vandals have gone down different paths to replace their three starters.
In the middle of the field, the Vandals will turn to sophomore Sara Rodgers, who blew coaches away during the spring and has earned the starting holding midfielder position.
They brought in an experienced transfer for the outside back role: Heather Squitieri, a senior transfer outside back who transferred from Florida Atlantic University.
The Vandals have also gotten production from junior outside Kate Sprink and sophomore Izzy Thoma, who each had a strong spring. Each of them, especially Squitieri, is expected to have a big role for the Vandals this fall and add depth to an already loaded back line.
“Heather is just going to add experience and depth to that position,” he said. “She is a player that is very athletic and can get up and down.
“The nice thing about Heather is that we have a specific way we want to defend and do things. And you can tell she’s experienced, and she picks up on the concepts very quickly and what we’re what we want to do. She’ll be a great and valuable addition to our team this year.
Along with Squitieri, the Vandals added eight freshmen, who are already challenging for playing time and have been impressive throughout the early stages of the fall.
“The freshmen that we have are doing amazing,” he said. “They have integrated themselves, and they’re pushing for some spots to get on the field.”
The Vandals’ biggest offseason loss was two-time Big Sky goalkeeper of the year Kira Witte. Although the Vandals will miss Witte, they feel very confident in the goalkeeper position.
All through camp, redshirt freshman Paula Flores was expected to fill the void left by Witte, but freshman Ella Martin has had a good fall and is challenging Flores for the top goalkeeper spot.
“Ella, as a freshman, has been very comfortable in net, and Paula had a good spring,” he said. “We were happy with her production, growth, and confidence in the goalkeeper position in the spring. So it’s a good battle. I think it’s got two good goalkeepers who will do well for us.”
With the upcoming season kicking off in just under a week, Clevenger wants his team to be ready for a fight in every game and prepare for the target to be placed on their back.
“the message is we need to have that same hunger to win the championship,” he said. I know from experience that once you win a championship, you have that target on your back, and people will fight a little bit harder and play harder against you because you know you are the champion.”
“It’s very important that our team knows that, and you know, to prepare for everyone’s best. And so you know it’s going to be a new challenge. I want our players to be up for it, but from what I’ve seen, they are up for it.”
Idaho has one more exhibition game tomorrow at 1 p.m. against the University of Oregon at the Kibbie Dome and Clevenger. The team is excited about Oregon’s challenge and the opportunity to improve.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to get better and prepare,” he said. We want to make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, grow from those moments, and prepare ourselves for the real thing next week.”
The Vandals will also face a familiar face when they hit the pitch tomorrow. Senior Jayd Sprague returns to Moscow, this time in a different uniform. Sprague was instrumental in the Vandals’ success over the last two seasons and was a massive part of their championship run last season.
Clevenger looks forward to seeing and playing against Sprague.
“It’s going to be a fun time,” he said. Jayd and I have a great relationship; she was a big part of our program. It’s going to be fun to see her. It’s all joyful. I’m happy for her and what she’s doing. It’s probably the only time I won’t cheer for her to score a goal. She’s a good kid, and we wish her the best.”
After tomorrow’s game against the Ducks, the Vandals will open their season in California, where they will take on the University of California Riverside on Thursday, Aug. 15, at 7:30 p.m.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected]