SEATTLE - In an almost duplicate result from last season's match against Seattle University, Idaho's women's soccer team saw another tight contest slip away to a second-half goal on Sunday as the Vandals fell 1-0 at Seattle.
This time, it was a couple missed opportunities that spelled the difference between a 2-1 win and a 1-0 loss. First, Idaho earned a penalty kick late in the first half, but SU's goalie made a tough save and stopped the chance. Later, after going down 1-0, junior Mel Canite tapped in a cross for the apparent game-tying goal, but after originally being ruled a score, it was waved off and instead charged as an offsides infraction.
"We missed a penalty kick and had a goal disallowed and that sums the game up, really," Idaho coach Pete Showler said. "We played a fantastic second half, but not a very good first half. It was really a game of two halves with no end result."
SU's Kara Kuttler knocked in a cross at the 50:32 mark that would end up being the deciding goal in the match.
Statistically, the game was a tight heat. Seattle led overall shots 12-11 and shots on goal 5-3. The Redhawks had six corner kicks, compared to two for the Vandals. Seattle was whistled for 13 fouls and five offsides violations, while Idaho had six and one, respectively.
Junior Jenn Hull led the way offensively with three shots, as seven different Vandals had a crack at the goal. Sophomore Liz Boyden stopped four shots in 90 minutes in the goal.
"We were much more lively and played more opportunities in the second half," Showler said. "In the first, we didn't create those opportunities nearly as often.
"I'm hugely disappointed, because this team is capable of so much more, but we're not seeing it right now. "
With one game next week, Idaho will look to right its ship at its home opener against Utah Valley University on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Vandals and Wolverines faced off last season at Orem, Utah, with UVU taking a 2-1 double-overtime win. The Wolverines will also be in Moscow on Friday, as Idaho hosts a match between Seattle and Utah Valley on Friday at 4 p.m. at Guy Wicks Field.
"We've just got to step up and play with higher intensity, more confidence and self belief, and if we can do that at home, we can set the tone and dictate how it's going to be for the rest of the year," Showler said.
