MOSCOW, Idaho – The spring season officially came to a close last week, with Idaho trouncing its alumni, 5-1, inside the Kibbie Dome as part of the Vandal Reunion.
 
"It was awesome to be able to get in the Dome and play against our alums.  We got to play in front of a quality crowd.  It was nice to have so many alums back in town and to have the parents here for the banquet as we celebrated the 2016 season.  We feel like we have a really bright future, it's an exciting time.  There's a really, healthy buzz around our program with our move into the Kibbie Dome and the environment we're going to be able to create in there.  It was awesome to see our players adapt very well and play very quickly and score some quality goals."
 
The spring is a time for learning and growth and head coach Derek Pittman did just that with his roster, plugging in his younger, less experienced athletes throughout the short season.
 
"I'm really happy with where we finished.  Going into the spring we had a lot of question marks as to where people might slot in and how different players might develop over the spring, both physically as well as technically and tactically.  We were very pleased with where a lot of individuals took strides and steps forwards to become more of a stronghold in their positions."
 
It is well documented that the Vandals lose a lot of talent headed into next season, with nine seniors being lost to graduation.  The Vandals are ready, however, with a number of young athletes that are eager to take control of this championship-level program.
 
"Having those nine seniors graduate is a great opportunity for a lot of these young players that were patient in the fall.  The spring was very beneficial for them.  I thought players like Myah Merino and Malia Morales really stepped up.  Even some of the older players that have been waiting for two years, like Claire Johnson, Summer Kaneshiro, Kayleigh Frederick, all had really positive springs and were able to get the minutes that they had been waiting for and had patiently worked for.  I think it was an excellent opportunity to see how they have been continuing to develop.
 
There are also a number of athletes that will see their roll roles change in the upcoming season.
 
"As well as Megan Goo and Anna Rose Wiencek in the midfield, learning to be influential players as opposed to only having a small role coming off the bench as they had the last couple years.  That's what the spring is about, each and every year.  It's about development, it's about growth, it's about learning through the adversity and being willing to continue working hard for your opportunity."
 
The official move to the Dome won't happen until the new turf is down, but coach Pittman saw this final spring game as an excellent opportunity to test out the new home of Idaho Soccer.
 
"Overall it was a tremendous experience in the dome with a really good crowd.  We hope everybody will come out this coming fall with so many home games and really support our program.  We look forward to continuing to do an alumni weekend like this on an annual basis that keeps growing with a lot of our players taking pride in our program as we continue to challenge for championships year in and year out."
 
The Vandals open the Dome on Friday, August 25 at 6 p.m. against Boise State.  Idaho will play 11 regular season games in the Kibbie Dome in 2017.
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho soccer by following the team on Twitter and Instagram, @VandalsSoccer, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals Women's Soccer.

For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com.  Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.