MOSCOW, Idaho - Sophomore Chelsea Small scored her first of two goals just five minutes into the match and the University of Idaho women's soccer team turned a quick start into a 3-2 win over Portland State on Tuesday.
Idaho (9-3-0) scored three goals in the first 35 minutes to go up 3-0, but things got a little tense when Portland State (4-6-0) rallied for a pair of late scores.
"They threw everything at us and we stepped up to the task," Showler said. "We're such a young group of players, but we stepped up and there was some character shown."
Small's first score came at the 4:54 mark after fellow sophomore Megan Lopez got the ball in the box and poked a pass between a pair of defenders for Small's finish. A free kick opportunity gave Small her seventh goal of the year and her third career multi-goal game at 34:53 after she beat PSU's keeper high.
"It's how we've been threatening to start games," Showler said of the early scores. "Scoring three very good goals that quickly is great."
Sophomore Lauren Layton and freshman Chelsie Breen worked in perfect harmony for Idaho's second goal of the day at the 31:13 mark. Layton fired off a corner kick that found Breen for a powerful header right down the center.
"I was excited to get the chance to go up there and then I took my chance," Breen said. "Lo had an amazing ball in, so props to her. She set it up perfectly and I didn't have to do much."
Idaho's momentum took a hit late in the first half when PSU's Kela Renard snuck through the back line and beat Idaho keeper Liz Boyden in a 1v1 at 36:31, and the Vandals had to settle for a 3-1 halftime lead.
The Vandals had opportunities in the second half, but didn't capitalize, while the Vikings threw a lot of pressure forward. Portland State's Frankie Ross made things interesting when she converted a long forward pass into PSU's second goal of the day at 71:49, but Idaho withstood the onslaught over the remaining 18 minutes.
"We eased off a little bit at three goals up, though," Showler said. "You can't afford to do that at this level, because teams will throw everything in the mixer and things might not go your way.
"I'm super pleased that we scored three goals and super pleased that we came out with the win."
Idaho outshot Portland State by a 17-8 overall margin, and had a 6-4 edge in shots on goal. The Vandals had four corners to one for PSU, while the Vikings committed 15 fouls, including two yellow cards, and Idaho had 13.
With the win, Idaho equaled its point total from last season, when the Vandals went 9-10-0 and posted the nation's second-best win improvement. With her two goals on Tuesday, Small moved into third all-time at Idaho with 15 career goals. Lopez's assist was her first of the season and the fourth of her career, while Layton's dish was her seventh, which gives her the most among active Vandals and ties her for fifth all-time at Idaho.
After posting the best non-conference record in school history, the Vandal women now move on to the heart of the schedule and start Western Athletic Conference play on Sunday with a trip to Hawai'i.
"We're scoring goals and we're playing good soccer, but conference is a must-win game every game," Showler said. "It will be a new challenge, new vigor and new focus for Sunday."
