Vandal women’s soccer (6-2-2) played to a 1-1 draw with the Gonzaga Bulldogs (5-4-2) on Friday night in front of a crowd of 629 at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome in Moscow.
The contest was intense and physical throughout, with 15 fouls and a yellow card between the two squads. Both teams battled for possession throughout the match, creating a physical atmosphere as they looked to close out their non-conference schedules with a strong performance. The Vandals entered the match having already found success early in the season, and the matchup against Gonzaga gave Idaho another opportunity to test itself against a strong opponent before beginning conference play.
Gonzaga controlled play for most of the first half, with junior Amelia Severn scoring in the 36th minute. The Bulldogs would hold their 1-0 lead into the break. Idaho had opportunities to create chances of its own, but Gonzaga’s defense limited the Vandals as the first half continued. The Bulldogs were able to maintain pressure and eventually found the opening goal late in the half, giving Gonzaga momentum heading into halftime.
Idaho would respond early in the second half, and tied the game 1-1 when sophomore Mia Boltz buried a hard cross into the box from senior, Georgia Whitehead. The goal gave the Vandals new energy coming out of the locker room and quickly shifted the momentum of the match. Whitehead’s cross found Boltz in a dangerous position, and Boltz finished the opportunity to bring Idaho back level. The equalizer also gave the home crowd a reason to get back into the game as the Vandals looked for a second goal.
The rest of the match was extremely contested, but neither club could break the deadlock. Both teams continued to fight for possession and looked for an opportunity to take the lead, but the defenses held strong. Idaho and Gonzaga each had chances late in the match, but neither side could find the deciding goal before the final whistle. The Vandals were able to avoid a loss while finishing their non-conference schedule with another competitive result.
The 1-1 draw marks the end of the non-conference schedule for both teams. For Idaho, the result brought the Vandals’ non-conference campaign to a close with a 6-2-2 record. The Vandals will now turn their attention toward conference play, where the intensity and importance of each match will increase as Idaho begins its pursuit of a Big Sky Conference championship.
Idaho outshot their opponent for the ninth time in ten games this season, with the totals finishing 9-6. Gonzaga held the edge in shots on goal however, 2-1. The Vandals’ ability to consistently create more shots has been an important part of their success this season. Idaho continued that trend against Gonzaga, putting together another match in which it generated more offensive opportunities than its opponent.
Idaho had four corner kicks to Gonzaga’s two. Vandal senior keeper Paula Flores made the lone save of the contest. The Vandals also continued to show their ability to limit opposing chances, allowing Gonzaga to put only two shots on target throughout the match. Flores and the Idaho defense helped keep the Bulldogs from creating extended scoring opportunities, particularly during the second half when both teams were searching for a potential game-winning goal.
With the non-conference schedule now complete, the Vandals will look to turn the page and begin their conference journey. Idaho’s 6-2-2 record has provided a strong foundation, but the Vandals will now face a new challenge as they compete against Big Sky opponents with postseason goals in mind.
Thursday’s match against Weber State will kick off at 7 p.m. PT from the P1FCU Kibbie Dome in Moscow, and will be broadcast on ESPN+.