MOSCOW ? Jen Hull scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season and goalkeeper Anna Sandman made some big-time saves for the Vandal soccer team, but Nevada converted a penalty kick with five minutes to go and took a 2-1 victory.
The first half of the game saw plenty of breathtaking moments and close calls, but no points as both teams had open shots bounce off crossbars and posts and barely miss.
“I thought for the first 20-25 minutes, we were the better team and then Nevada stepped up a little and put us under a bit of pressure and finished the half stronger,” Idaho coach Pete Showler said. “That was the challenge to the girls at halftime and they stepped up and played.”
The beginning of the second half belonged the Vandals as they came out strong and built some strong possessions. Hull broke free at the 58-minute mark and beat her defender down the field, then split the final two Nevada defenders and beat the keeper to left to put Idaho up 1-0.
“We talked at halftime about Jen creating 1-v-1's and taking players on and she did it three or four times in that second half with electrifying speed, great turns and great touch and she caused some problems,” Showler said.
Nevada pulled even when Randee Robinson knocked in a loose ball off a corner kick at the 66:53 mark. Both teams battled hard over the next 18 minutes until an Idaho foul following a corner kick set up the game-winning penalty kick.
The loss drops Idaho to 4-10-1 on the season with an 0-3-1 record in Western Athletic Conference games.
Hull's goal ties her for fifth at Idaho on the single-season goals list and ties her for ninth in single-season points with 13. Hull's goal total is the highest individual total at Idaho since 2000 and is one short of the number Idaho scored as a team last season.
Sandman recorded six big saves to give her 81 on the season and put her at fourth all-time on the Idaho single-season list.
“Anna pulled off two flying saves. That's what she's there for and she does it well,” Showler said. “She's been pushed hard in practice by Michelle (Jordan) and Caylee (Ketchum) and has been working hard with Lindsay Smith, our goalkeeper coach, and that's the result.”
Fouls continue to be a problem for the Vandals, who entered the game leading the WAC with a 13.07 per game average. The late foul, Idaho's 11th of the game, set up Nevada's game-winning penalty kick.
“We played better for longer periods of the game than we have been,” Showler said. “We competed for the ball better in the second half and we created more opportunities in the second half. The girls were much more responsive and they stepped up and played today.”
Idaho now needs to win two of its last three to have a real shot at finishing in the top six in the conference and may need to win out, according to Showler. The Vandals host Fresno State on Sunday at 11 a.m. in the team's final game at Wicks Field this season. Seniors Mandy McAlexander and Dana Windley will be honored at the game.
