Anyone can win when the pressure is off. Legacies are forged when everything’s on the line. For the Idaho Vandals women’s soccer team, this is their moment to create something special, to prove what they’re made of, to show they’re built for this.
Coming off four straight 10-win seasons, the Vandals entered with high expectations. Their 5-5-8 overall record (2-2-4 Big Sky Conference) may not look impressive on paper, but this team is ready for the spotlight.
The Vandals have tournament-tested veterans: goalkeeper Paula Flores, midfielders Annika Farley and Sara Rodgers, defender Izzy Thoma and forwards Naomi Alvarez and Karli Yoshida-Williams.
“These last games, it’s been a lot of frustration for me, the back line just kind of realizing, like, we had the win in our hands,” Flores said. “Going into the tournament we can’t tie, so keeping our lead, thinking about the championship mentality, we want to make it to the third game. So, I think just focusing down and keeping down those details that are going to be key for us.”
Flores has been huge for the Vandals, leading them to multiple shutouts, and her stop saving ability has kept the Vandals in a lot of their games this season.
Farley and Rodgers anchored the midfield with nine combined goals and one assist. Thoma leads a rebuilt back line and is the heartbeat of the team. Alvarez and Yoshida-Williams have been a huge part of the Vandals’ success going forward as they provide leadership and work ethic on and off the field.
Newcomers are making their mark, too. Forwards Calli Chiarelli and Georgia Whitehead, the duo that call themselves Wanda and Cosmo, have combined for six goals and four assists. Freshman defender Miranda Goldner has also made a huge impact starting every game.
Goldner, like Thoma, has been the heart and soul of the back line and the team. With her tenacious energy and aggressive nature of defending, she is ready for big moments.
“We have a team that has experience in the Big Sky tournament; they know what they’re doing, they know how to prep to guide me through it,” Goldner said. “We’ve played these teams. Now I know how they all play, now I can just go at them with what I know full force and now it’s on the stakes of one loss and you’re out. I’m pumped.”
This team may not match past seasons statistically, but they have the fight, hunger and experience to thrive under pressure and create their own legacy.
Their journey begins with a first-round matchup against Portland State, a team they drew 1-1 recently. Head coach Jeremy Clevenger has quiet confidence heading in.
“All those tight battles prepare you for the conference tournament,” Clevenger said. “And, you know, we’ve seen everybody once now, so it’s going to be good, you know, to play some of those teams again. Portland State was a game I thought in the first half we played well, dominated, got an early goal, and I thought overall the game we played really well. We just gave up a PK that was a learning moment for us. I’m excited for us to get an opportunity to go at it again.”
The Vandals kick off against the Vikings on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 1 p.m. in Missoula, Montana.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected].