MOSCOW, IDAHO – Junior Reagan Quigley scored her first career goal and sophomore Kavita Battan added her third of the season, but the University of Idaho women's soccer team couldn't hold off Weber State in a 3-2 overtime decision Friday afternoon.
“Unfortunately it just wasn't good enough. We didn't put out max effort or do the little things we have been doing over our last six games,” head coach Derek Pittman said. “A solid Weber State team came in and got the win. I feel in a lot of ways they outplayed us in some areas and we should have done a better job stopping them and finishing off the opportunities we did have.”
With the loss, the Vandals move to 4-11-1 on the season and 4-2-1 in Big Sky Conference play, while the Wildcats improve to 5-11-0 on the season and 2-5-0 in league play.
Weber State's Mackenzie Peck gave the Wildcats an early lead beating an Idaho defender to the ball, netting it from the top of the box for a 1-0 edge 18 minutes into the game.
In the 40th minute, freshman Olivia Baggerly's throw found Battan who juggled the ball and volleyed it in to equalize the game 1-1 going into half.
Weber State took the lead again in early into the second half, when junior Marissa Cook's cross found Peck who knocked the ball past an Idaho defender into the back of the net.
Idaho equalized the game after capitalizing on a loose ball near the goal. Junior keeper Danielle Mackay attempted a play on the ball, missing it, allowing for Idaho to take advantage of the situation and get a goal. Quigley, with the help of Baggerly, fought off the Wildcat defenders and found herself in the back of the net with the ball.
In overtime, the Vandals and Wildcats played to a scoreless first period.
In double overtime, Weber State's Shaylee Peterson scored the game-winner in the 104th minute from a cross through the box from Harrison.
The Vandals took 14 shots to Weber State's nine and had 10 corners to the Wildcats one.
Quigley led the Vandals over the match with three shots. Keeper Torell Stewart registered four saves over the game.
“Our plan is always the same, make sure that we defend well as a team,” Pittman said. “We need improve from today's game. We have to do a better job on 50/50 balls, challenging and winning those things in the middle of the park and making sure that we don't give the ball away as much in the middle of the field as we did today. We need to be willing to scrap, claw and fight for every inch that we can get and do everything we can to get that result.”
The Vandals wrap up homecoming weekend Sunday at 1 p.m. when they host Idaho State. Sunday is Senior Day for Idaho as the team recognizes forward Kat Comesana and defender Emily Ngan,
“We will do everything we can to come out and accomplish our goals and send our seniors out the right way, but most of all protect our home field advantage here at Guy Wicks Field,” Pittman said. “We hope the fans come out and support us again on Sunday.”
The match against the Bengals is also Idaho's annual Kick Cancer Game. Idaho will wear pink uniforms that will be up for auction throughout the game. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Light a Candle Foundation, which is a local organization that helps cancer patients improve their quality of life. There will also be concessions during the game to benefit the Foundation.
