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University of Idaho Athletics

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Bruce Mann (Moscow, Idaho)

Women's Soccer

Soccer falls in opener

MOSCOW, Idaho – The chances were there, but the final touch wasn't for the University of Idaho women's soccer team on Friday against Seattle University in a 1-0 loss.

Idaho (0-1-2) put together a handful of good scoring chances, including one that skidded off the crossbar in the second half, but it was Seattle (3-0-0) that took care if its big opportunity in the Vandals' home opener before a crowd of 225 people at Guy Wicks Field.

Vandal junior Chelsea Small broke behind the defense in the first five minutes and had good look, sophomore Kristi Atkinson put a high, long-range attempt out of the keeper's reach, only to see it clank the bar, and both Jill Flockhart and Bailey Hewitt had looks in the box, but none could crack the barrier.

While Idaho's early looks went for naught, Seattle's Monique Escalera found teammate Megan Daniels, who sent a long shot from outside the box that found the left corner of the net at 31:23 for the game's only score.

While Seattle's first-half chances were few, Idaho head coach Pete Showler said, they made the most of them and that was the difference.

“This game is about chances – we didn't take ours, and they took theirs,” Showler said. “It's as simple as that. We've just got to me more ruthless in front of goal and take that shot.”

Overall, Seattle outshot Idaho, 18-10, but held just a 6-4 edge in on-target attempts. Idaho had four corners to SU's one, and the Redhawks committed 11 fouls to Idaho's 10. One player from each team, Seattle's Mary Hill and Idaho's Bailey Hewitt took yellow cards.

Small led Idaho with three shots, all on goal, while Flockhart and Atkinson added two each.

In a scary moment early in the second half, Idaho goalkeeper collided with a Seattle player and left the game with a leg injury. The senior, who started her school-record 54th career game on Friday, made three saves and did not return. Showler said the extent of the injury is not yet known.

“All the girls and the staff want a speedy recovery for Liz,” Showler said. “We know all the girls who have been pushing her in practice are confident in what they do, and they've been working their socks off to be as good as she is.”

Freshman Marissa Fehrman entered the game and immediately faced a shot on goal, but she made the stop and tallied one more in the final 30 minutes of the match.

“The first touch Marissa got was a shot, she handled it well and her confidence built from there,” Showler said.

Idaho will have to make a quick turnaround, as the team leaves early Saturday morning for Oregon and a Sunday road match at Portland State. That game will kick off at 1 p.m. (PT). Live stats for the match will be available at www.GoViks.com.

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