After a slow start to the game, the Idaho Vandals found themselves with a golden opportunity to take the lead against Stonehill College with a penalty kick from 12 yards out. In the 19th minute, graduate midfielder Annika Farley stepped up to the spot, much like she had done Thursday night, but this time with a different result. Farley approached the ball confidently but sent her shot sailing over the crossbar, leaving the game level.
From that point forward, both the Vandals and Stonehill struggled to generate quality scoring chances. Through a hard-fought, defensive battle, the teams played to a 0-0 draw, moving the Vandals to 2-1-1 on the season.
After their 4-0 victory over the University of Massachusetts, Lowell on Thursday, the Vandals took in Boston’s historic landmarks while preparing for what they expected to be a tough, physical, defensive matchup with Stonehill College. The game lived up to its billing.
The Vandals’ backline has been the cornerstone of their championship runs in recent years. However, after losing all four starters from last season, this group had everything to prove coming into the season. Through formation adjustments and various combinations of defenders featuring several fresh faces, the Vandals have looked impressive defensively.
Among the newcomers who have made an immediate impact is freshman center back Miranda Goldner. A native of Martinez, California, Goldner entered fall camp as an unknown quantity but quickly showed the coaching staff her capabilities. Despite her freshman status, she has been a steady presence in the backline and has shown the potential to be a star in a Vandal uniform for years to come.
Alongside Goldner, returning center back Izzy Thoma serves as the lone player in the backline with meaningful playing time from last season and she has enjoyed a quietly solid start to the year. Along with Jackson State transfer Amalia Fonua, sophomore Bella Gissendanner and the rest of the defensive unit, they have successfully stepped up to replace one of the conference’s best backlines over the past three seasons.
Both teams came out sluggish in the opening stages, with numerous turnovers and little flow to the match. After Farley’s miss, both teams tightened defensively and took the scoreless tie into halftime.
Stonehill emerged from the break with slightly more aggression, but behind the steady backline and goalkeeper Flores’ excellent performance including six saves on the day the Vandals secured their second consecutive shutout and first draw of the season.
The Vandals have completed their three-game road stretch and will return home to the P1FCU Kibbie Dome to face border rival Washington State on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. in what promises to be a highly anticipated contest.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected].