The University of Idaho women’s soccer team wasted little time establishing dominance Sunday afternoon, Oct. 4, scoring three first-half goals on its way to a 3-0 victory over in-state rival Idaho State at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome.
The win moved the Vandals to 7-2-3 overall and gave Idaho its first victory of Big Sky Conference play after opening league competition with a 1-1 draw against Weber State on Oct. 1. Idaho State fell to 2-6-3 overall and 0-1-1 in conference play following the loss.
From the opening whistle, Idaho controlled the pace and consistently kept the Bengals pinned in their own half. The Vandals finished the afternoon with a commanding 24-3 advantage in shots and held a 10-1 edge in shots on goal. Throughout the match, the Vandals’ strong forward lineup pressured the Idaho State defense.
The scoring began just 48 seconds into the match.
Junior defender Hallie Prinos-Grumbach found the back of the net less than a minute after kickoff, giving Idaho an immediate 1-0 advantage. The goal continued what had already been a productive season for Prinos-Grumbach, who entered the rivalry matchup with two goals and an assist.
The early goal set the tone for the rest of the first half. Rather than sitting back with the lead, Idaho continued to attack and create opportunities. The Vandals’ ability to maintain possession and repeatedly generate chances made it difficult for the Bengals to establish any sustained offensive rhythm, especially with Idaho’s defense holding strong.
Georgia Whitehead added Idaho’s second goal before halftime, giving the Vandals a two-goal cushion. Makenna Stuart then added another goal before the break, sending Idaho into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
The three-goal first half represented a continuation of an offense that had already shown considerable balance throughout the season. Entering conference play, the Vandals had eight players with double-digit shot totals, while Whitehead led the team with 24 shots and Stuart had recorded a team-high 11 shots on goal.
The offensive pressure also provided room for Idaho’s defense to do what it has done throughout the season: limit scoring opportunities for the opposition.
ISU managed only three shots over the entire match and one shot on goal. The Bengals entered the rivalry matchup averaging nearly 14 shots per game, making Sunday’s three-shot performance a significant departure from their usual offensive efforts.
Goalkeeper Paula Flores and the Vandal backline preserved the shutout throughout the second half. Flores had already established herself as one of the Big Sky’s strongest defensive players entering the weekend. Before the Idaho State match, she led the conference in goalkeeper minutes, goals-against average and shutouts, while Idaho ranked among the nation’s strongest teams in shutout percentage.
The shutout was particularly important after Idaho surrendered a late equalizer against Weber State three days earlier. Idaho State offered an opportunity to respond, and the Vandals did so with the added incentive of the rivalry.
The victory also re-emphasized the importance of Idaho’s home-field advantage. The Vandals entered the season with high expectations after being picked second in the Big Sky preseason coaches’ poll, only four points behind preseason favorite Weber State. Sunday’s match provided an early reminder that Idaho remains one of the conference’s strongest contenders.
With the rivalry win secured, Idaho now turns its attention to the road. The Vandals are scheduled to travel to Greeley, Colorado, to face Northern Colorado on Thursday, Oct. 8. They will bring with them the momentum gained from dominating the ISU rivalry match.
But Idaho is leaving Moscow with more than just a rivalry victory. The Vandals showed they can turn early pressure into goals, control a match from start to finish and rely on a defense that continues to make scoring against them difficult. For a team entering the Big Sky season with postseason aspirations, Sunday’s 3-0 victory was exactly the kind of boost Idaho needed.
The Vandals will hit the road for their next match-up against Northern Colorado on Thursday, October 8 at 11 a.m.