MOSCOW, Idaho – Another day, another dominant performance from the Idaho Vandals soccer team.  Idaho (12-4-1, 8-0-0) made the tough journey out to North Dakota (4-10-2, 2-5-1) and earned an impressive 4-0 win, extending its winning streak to eight games.

“Really proud of our players,” said head coach Derek Pittman.  “We knew it was going to be a difficult game, North Dakota was playing for their tournament lives.  They came out much more aggressive and physical than us in the first half, but we responded well.  We had some good play, but so did they.  It was nice to get that first goal to give us a little bit of a cushion.”

As has been the story all season long, set pieces were key in the win.  Alyssa Lloyd scored the opening goal, coming in the 12^th minute.  Clara Gomez lined up the corner kick and found Lloyd inside the box, where she handled the rest to put Idaho up 1-0.  The assist was Gomez's 11^th of the season, setting a new program record.  The goal was Lloyd's seventh of 2015, moving her into a tie for 10^th in program history for goals in a season.

“We feel that set pieces can be a difference maker for us,” Pittman said.  “When you have four or five players that are very good in the air, and others that are capable of finishing in and around the 18, we have many options to give ourselves the best opportunity to capitalize and put teams under pressure.  We've been executing on our set pieces and it has shown.”

The Vandals doubled their lead in the 53^rd minute.  Josilyn Daggs sent in a long throw that came off of Lloyd's head before finding Kavita Battan who headed in her team-leading 10^th goal of the season.  Battan has now scored in four consecutive matches and has six goals in eight league games.  Battan is also moving up the record books, as her 10 goals this season have her tied for third in single-season scoring.

Olivia Baggerly got in on the scoring in the 66^th minute, finishing an Elexis Schlossarek corner.  Kaitlyn Joy scored the final goal in the 79^th minute, taking the ball the length of the field and scoring her second of the season.

The Vandal defense was solid all afternoon, limiting North Dakota to just four shots on goal.  Freshman goalkeeper Amanda Poertner earned her eighth shutout of the season. 

The Vandals now travel to Greeley, Colo., to take on second-seeded Northern Colorado at 12 p.m. on Sunday.  A win for the Vandals would guarantee the top overall seed in the upcoming Big Sky Championships.

“It's great for the league and for our program to be in this position, playing Northern Colorado this late in the season,” said Pittman.  “Knowing that the game could be for the Big Sky Championship gives it an added dimension, but we won't treat Sunday any different than any other game.  We'll go out and execute our gameplan, play well defensively and hopefully score some goals on offense and come away with the Big Sky Championship.

“It's going to be a lot of fun.  But it all goes back to the work we've put in all year.  I'm just really proud of our players for being so focused in the first eight games that we have this opportunity in the second to last game of the regular season.”

Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho soccer by following the team on Twitter and Instagram, @VandalsSoccer, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals Women's Soccer.

For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com.  Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.