HILLSBORO, Ore. – It took another come-from-behind effort, but Idaho (8-4-2, 5-1-0) defeated Portland State (3-10-1, 1-4-1), 2-1, on the road on Sunday afternoon.
 
"I thought we started the game very well," said head coach Derek Pittman.  "I thought in the first 15-20 minutes we were the better team, very aggressive.  I think we lacked a little bit of urgency, in terms of finishing out the half with the overall intensity that we need going toward goal.  We weren't taking the same shots and being aggressive like we had been in the past.  But I thought our players very well in the second half."
 
After an Idaho corner kick bounced out toward midfield in the 32^nd minute the Portland State forwards broke out with a 3-v-2 opportunity.  Josilyn Daggs and Madison Moore handled the situation well, but Moore was called for a foul 23 yards out.  Portland State's Kristin Moyer placed the free kick well, slipping it past the Idaho wall and past the outstretched arms of Torell Stewart to take the 1-0 lead.
 
"We just challenged them.  We thought our possession was good in the first half, we just lacked a purpose.  We were possessing in our own half with really no bite going forward.  We challenged our front-runners and our midfielders to step it up a notch and earn those first few shots in the opening part of the second half."
 
Idaho came out strong in the second half.  Elexis Schlossarek tied the game up in the 47^th minute, finishing from the penalty spot for her sixth goal of the season.  Amanda Pease earned the opportunity, after getting wiped out inside the box following a corner.
 
The Vandals would take the lead in the 57^th minute, again beginning with a foul in the box.  This time around, the Viking goalkeeper was called for an illegal handball after her defender passed the ball back with her feet, resulting in an indirect free kick at the corner of the 6-yard box.  Schlossarek stepped up with the shot, intentionally deflecting it off of Clara Gomez's foot to get it on frame.  Kelly Dopke was in the right place at the right time, redirecting the redirect into the back of the net for her first goal of 2016.
 
Stewart came up big for the Vandals in the 52^nd minute.  The shot came on a free kick from nearly the same spot as the goal in the first half.  The shot got through the wall, but Stewart made the sprawling save and held on to prevent a second opportunity.  She would finish with four saves on the day.
 
The win moves Idaho into first place in the Big Sky standings, having played one more game than second-place EWU.
 
Idaho is back in action on Friday night at Weber State.  Check back with GoVandals.com later this week for more information.
 
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.