MOSCOW, Idaho - Idaho women's soccer hosts North Dakota State in the final non-conference game of the season. The Vandals enter the week with the best record in the Big Sky Conference at 5-1-1 while North Dakota State is 4-2-2 on the year. The Bison have back-to-back wins over Green Bay and Drake.
ABOUT IDAHO: The Vandals are 3-0 at home and 5-1-1 overall.
Kira Witte notched her fifth and sixth career shutouts last weekend in the dome picking up a 3-0 win over Louisiana and a 1-0 win over UC Santa Barbara. Witt has recorded shutouts in all but one of the games she has played in her short career.
Maddy Lasher now leads the Vandals in goals (3) and assists (3).
ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA STATE: The Bison are 4-2-2 on the year and are led by fifth-year head coach Mike Regan. Seven NDSU players have scored so far this season. Paige Goaley leads the way for NDSU with five points (two goals, one assist.) Three goalkeeper have played for the Bison with all three scoiring shutouts. Sofia Howe has the best goal against average at .33.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Maddy Lasher (Offensive POTW) and
Kira Witte (Defensive POTW) swept the Big Sky Confere
nce Player of the Week honors. Lasher had a lone goal against UCSB and two assists against Louisiana. It was the first Player of the Week honor for Lasher, but the second for Witte in her short career.
ADDING DEPTH: The Vandals return their top six scorers off of last year's team, including Honorable Mention All-Big Sky honoree
Jadyn Hanks (five goals, 11 points) and fifth-year player Savannah Foster (five goals, three GWG). Six transfers and six freshman have joined the Vandal squad this season, adding depth and talent to an already solid roster.
SPREADING THE BALL AROUND: Eight Vandal players have scored goals so far this season.
Maddy Lasher has three goals so far this season,
Jadyn Hanks has two while
Savannah Foster,
Jayd Sprague,
Makenzie Burks, Ariel Lofton,
Makenzie Burks and
Hannah Alfaro have a goal each.
SUPER SENIOR: Savannah Foster took advantage of her extra season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. She will be entering her fifth year as a Vandal. She has played in 64 games and made 51 starts, including the last 42 consecutive games. The last game that she didn't start for Idaho was Sept. 8, 2019 against UC Riverside.
REGIONAL RANKINGS: The Idaho women's soccer team jumped into the United Soccer Coaches' West Regional Rankings at the No. 10 spot. The Vandals are tied for the most wins among the teams in the West Region Top 10 at 5.
