MOSCOW, Idaho– Despite the team's current record, Idaho soccer head coach, Jeremy Clevenger, has been pleased with the way his team has worked through adversity and met this challenging schedule head-on.
 
"We wanted a schedule that challenged us to get us ready for our conference and it definitely did," Clevenger said.  "We played all types of different styles and different teams and they challenged us.  We played against some really good teams and I was proud of how we competed.  We went toe-to-toe with some Power Five and some other really good teams, so hopefully that translates into competing for a conference championship."
 
The Vandals close out non-conference play ranked 122^nd in the NCAA's first RPI of the year.  That mark is good enough for second in the Big Sky, trailing only Sacramento State at No. 70.  The Vandals are the top team in the state of Idaho, with Boise State coming in at No. 149 and Idaho State at No. 301.  More impressive still is Idaho's non-conference strength of schedule, which ranks 11^th in the nation.
 
The schedule was intended to be difficult, but it's impossible to predict which teams will improve the most in the offseason.  For Idaho, it seemed like nearly every opponent had made strides in 2019.  Of Idaho's nine Division I games this season, only one opponent is currently under .500.
 
"It's hard to set things up like that with scheduling.  It just happened," said Clevenger.  "We knew we had good teams, but those good teams became great teams, so it was definitely a good learning experience for us."
 
With all that behind them, the team looks toward Big Sky play opening on Friday.  Defending tournament champs, Montana, open play in the Kibbie Dome on Friday night at 7.  Northern Colorado, the runner-up at last year's Big Sky Championship, will be next for Idaho, on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Dome.
 
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.