VERMILLION, S.D. – Despite dominating possession for much of the game, the Idaho soccer team (0-1) fell in its season opener at South Dakota (1-0) on Friday afternoon, 1-0.  The Vandals controlled the flow for much of the contest, but a late goal stole the game for the Coyotes.
 
"First of all, hats off to South Dakota," said head coach Derek Pittman.  "They had a great gameplan and defended very, very well against us. They limited our chances and played on the counter attack, did an excellent job.
 
"But we had opportunities to win this game.  We need to be a little tougher on the 50/50 balls and opportunities for tackles, and have the relentless mentality to get the job done, even if it isn't pretty.  We'll pick ourselves up, it's early in the year.  We just need to get to work for Sunday."
 
The Coyotes capitalized on their first real opportunity of the second half in the 86^th minute.  After a yellow card to the Vandals at midfield, the Coyotes sent in a deep ball toward the box.  Idaho couldn't clear, allowing the ball to bounce around before falling to the feet of Corey Strang.  She fired in a low shot, but Torell Stewart was up for the challenge, parrying the ball to her left to run out of play.  But USD's Amanda Carpio stayed on the play, finding the ball just before it crossed the line for a corner, and sliding in a shot just past the diving Stewart.
 
The Vandals dominated on the stat line, taking 14 shots to just five by the Coyotes.  Stewart made three saves on the day.  The loss ends Idaho's 14-game unbeaten streak, which had been the longest active streak in the country.
 
"Overall, I thought we defended very well," Pittman continued.  "We limited them to only five shots.  Some of the opportunities were off of mistakes we made, but I thought our defending was very good.  We need to be better in the front half.  Be a little quicker, a little more aggressive.  Take the chances that we're given and finish them.
 
"Moving forward, our mentality has to be better.  We have to continue to focus on what makes us special and sets us apart, which is our intensity, our tough mentality, playing with an edge.  I thought today we didn't quite have that edge today.  At times we played too pretty.  We need to be a little tougher.  We will. This team will bounce back. We have a great group of players that will humble themselves and keep working hard and be ready going forward."
 
Idaho's best chance in the second came off of a corner kick.  Set pieces were the calling card for the Vandals last season, and they nearly got on the board in the 60^th minute.  Elexis Schlossarek ran a give-and-go with Clara Gomez at the corner before sending in a ball to the far post.  It eventually ended up on the feet of Kelly Dopke, who took a low, slow shot at the far post, but the Coyotes' defender was waiting in position to clear the ball off the line.
 
Idaho held the bulk of the possession in the first half, outshooting South Dakota 7-2.  But neither team could get much going, and they went into the break locked up at 0-0.
 
The Vandals return home on Sunday to take on Grand Canyon at 1 p.m.  Check back with GoVandals.com tomorrow 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.