MOSCOW, Idaho - The University of Idaho women's soccer team began the season with a 1-0 loss in overtime at the hands of Washington State University in non-conference action at Guy Wicks Field. Megan Hyte scored in the 98th minute of the match to give the Cougars the win.
After neither team managed a goal in the first 90-minutes, the game went to the first sudden-victory overtime period. The WSU goalkeeper punted the ball over the Idaho defense and Hyte was the first player to catch up with it. She slipped the ball past Idaho goalkeeper Lindsay Smith into the right side for the game-winning goal. The goal came with 1:19 remaining the first overtime period.
"We take a lot of positives from this game and will learn a lot," Idaho head coach Pete Showler said. "We only had about a minute left in the first overtime and we had a little lapse in concentration. At this level we can't do that. Be it 90-minutes or 110-minutes we have to go for every second of the game."
Washington State (2-0-0) took control in the first half, managing nine shots to Idaho's (0-1-0) three and seven corner kicks to Idaho's two. After halftime, the Vandals took their turn as the aggressors, cutting the margin in shots to 10-7 and managing the only corner kick while playing most of the half on the Cougar's end of the field.
"I was not particularly pleased with the first half, but the players responded to the halftime team talk and came out and did what we should be doing. To hold a Pac-10 team to nil-nil after 90 minutes shows a testament to what this team is doing and where we are at. We aren't going to get too many chances against good sides and we need to take the ones we do get a little cleaner," Showler said.
Smith grabbed nine saves in game and Aly South led the Vandals with three shots. WSU held a 21-10 edge on shots for the game and an 8-3 edge in corner kicks.
"Lindsay is a very confident and competent keeper," Showler said. "I would prefer if she did not have so many shots on her and those are things we will work on, but when you face Pac-10 competition you have to expect it. We came away with a 1-0 loss to a Pac-10 school and although I am not happy with it I am happy with the way we competed for most of the game. I would rather them lose a game like this at the beginning of the season and learn from it than later in the season."
Idaho will hit the road next week for two games as they face Portland State, Friday (Sept. 2) at 5 p.m. and Utah, Sunday (Sept. 4) at noon.
