MOSCOW - Last time Nevada's women's soccer team visited Moscow, the Wolf Pack left with a 2-1 win after a late penalty kick. This year, it was a similar result, as the Idaho women saw their four-game home winning streak end by a 2-1 score against the Wolf Pack on Friday.
Despite holding a strong possession advantage and dominating play for a majority of the game, Idaho (8-6, 1-2 Western Athletic Conference) just couldn't finish off its chances in front of the goal, while Nevada (5-8, 2-0 WAC) cleaned up on its two best opportunities.
"We were comfortable, but we weren't hungry, and that was the difference," Idaho coach Pete Showler said. "They (Nevada) got on the end of some dangerous things, and we just didn't care of what we could have taken care of."
Nevada struck first when Sarah Voss deflected a crossing pass from Kesia Broome and bounced it off the post and in at the 18:26 mark. Idaho senior Sari Morrison responded at 37:34 by powering a free kick through keeper Marie Cove's hands from 35 yards out for her team-leading seventh goal of the season.
After the teams went into the half tied at 1-1, Idaho came out with a vengeance and kept the ball in the offensive front for most of the period. Time and time again, the Vandals would get the ball in front of the net, but the team always seemed to be a step away or would barely miss it.
"It was nice that we knocked the ball around, but we've got to be clinical in front of the goal and we've got to want the second ball and be hungry," Showler said. "Balls were crossing in front of the goal and we just didn't have the final touch."
With a little more than 10 minutes remaining, Nevada forced a corner kick - its only one of the half. Idaho keeper Liz Boyden went up in a crowd to grab the ball, but it squirted out when she hit the ground and Nevada's Ellie Stott cleaned up the loose ball for the game-winner.
Idaho held a strong advantage in all aspects of the game, minus the scoreboard. The Vandals outshot the Wolf Pack 26-11 overall and 11-6 in shots on goal. Idaho forced seven corners, compared to three for Nevada, while the Pack was whistled for seven fouls, compared to three for Idaho.
Freshman Chelsea Small attempted 10 shots with five on goal, including one in the first half that bounced off the crossbar, while Morrison attempted five and junior Jenn Hull took four. Boyden saved three shots and allowed two goals in 90 minutes.
"Conference is different," Showler said. "Every game is a must-win. I'd give up all of our non-conference wins to win these games.
"We're producing the quality and we're producing the opportunities, but we just haven't had that second (extra) effort right now, and that's what you need to win these games."
Next up for the Vandal women will be a 1 p.m. contest against Utah State at Guy Wicks Field on Sunday. The Aggies enter the game with a 1-1 record in WAC play after beating Boise State by a 1-0 margin at Boise on Friday.
