LAS VEGAS – Sophomore Bailey Hewitt netted her first career goal, senior goalkeeper Liz Boyden made a school-record 14 saves and the University of Idaho women's soccer team opened its 2011 season with a 1-1 draw against UC Santa Barbara on Friday.

The match was the first of the UNLV Rebel Classic tournament and was the first competition for both Idaho (0-0-1) and UCSB (0-0-1).

It was a test in adversity for the Vandal women. In addition to playing 110 minutes in triple-digit temperatures, Idaho also had to shuffle three different players into the back line in a five-minute span early in the second half after a pair of minor injuries.

“Considering all that, and considering how we battled, I'm not disappointed at all with the result,” Idaho head coach Pete Showler said. “Liz had a phenomenal game and they've probably got to be one of the best teams we'll play all year.”

The Gauchos outshot Idaho 29-7 overall and 15-3 in on-target shots. UCSB also earned nine corners to none for Idaho. The Gauchos were whistled for seven fouls, while Idaho had three and junior forward Chelsea Small earned a yellow card early in the match.

“I thought the girls battled well, ground out the result and stuck to the task,” Showler said. “There were some things that went well for us, and some things that need to be worked on, but for the first game of the season against a team of that quality, I'll take that result.”

UCSB started the scoring with an unassisted goal by Cory Yoshida at the 16:32 mark of the first half, but Hewitt, a first-year Vandal who transferred from Oregon State in the Spring, took a cross from junior Erica Hart and popped it past the keeper to equalize at 18:27. The assist was the third of Hart's career.

“Erica sent a ball through from the back and Bailey took one touch and slotted it calmly past the keeper,” Showler said.

The teams worked through plenty of close calls in the remaining 91 minutes of play, including the entire second half and two 10-minute overtime periods, before settling for the draw.

Boyden's 14 saves are the most on record in a single game by an Idaho goalkeeper, and give her 266 for her career, which moves her into second all-time at Idaho in the category. The draw is Idaho's first season-opening tie since 2003 and is just the second such opening result in program history.

Idaho continues its opening weekend on Sunday, when the Vandals face UC Riverside, which also opened play on Friday in the late match against tournament host UNLV. Sunday's match kicks off at 10:30 a.m. (PT).