COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Ashley Cox scored two goals to lead the University of Idaho women's soccer team (1-2-0) to its first win of the season in a 2-0 victory over the Air Force Academy (1-2-0) at USAF Academy in Colorado.
Cox scored first at the 22:51 mark from three yards out on an assist from Adriane Kehl to give the Vandals a 1-0 lead, which they held through halftime. She then struck again at the 77-minute mark on an assist from Sarah April to give the Vandals some breathing room against a Air Force team that mustered up a total of 19 shots in the game. The Falcons were unable to convert on any of their nine second-half shots and Idaho grabbed its first victory of the season.
"This was a very good win for us," head coach Arby Busey said. "We had multiple factors to fight through and this team rose to the challenge. The altitude, the fatigue and playing a very good team all measured up to a very hard fought victory for us. Ashley scored both of her goals on pure hard work. We have been having opportunities to put the ball in the net and no one has stepped up to take care of them. Ashley took care of her opportunities today and I was very glad to see that happen."
Idaho was outshot by an opponent for the first time this season at a 19-10 disadvantage. Idaho goalkeeper Lindsay Smith garnered nine saves on her way to a 90-minute shutout.
"We went into this game with a strict game plan designed for Air Force and our players executed it very well. We made our opponent adjust to our style of play and that was the difference for us," Busey said.
Busey credited the play of the Vandal forwards - specifically Aly South - for providing momentum for the team to feed off with their hard work and attacking ability.
The Vandals will stay in Colorado until Sunday (Sept. 5) when they will take on Colorado College at 12 p.m. (PT)
"After last weekend the team felt if we had played a little better we could have had some results," Busey said. "Getting this win was a result of hard work on the part of the players and it definitely feels good to everyone to get this first win. We now head into another tough game Sunday hoping to feed off some momentum."
