MOSCOW, Idaho - Big Sky Conference play begins with a split road/home weekend for the Vandals. Idaho opens the week Thursday evening with a road game against Weber State before returning home Sunday to face Idaho State in the first game of the ICCU Battle of the Domes.
ABOUT IDAHO: The Vandals are 3-0-1 at home and 5-1-2overall.
Kira Witte is one of three goalkeepers in the nation that has recorded seven shutouts so far this season. 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 WEBER STATE: The Wildcats are 1-7 on the year after playing a tough non-conference schedule, including three games against power-five teams. Four players have scored goals, but none more than one goal. Three goalkeepers have split time, but the Wildcats have allowed goals in every game this season.
ABOUT IDAHO STATE: The Bengals and Vandals meet in the first game in the ICCU Battle of the Domes series for 2022-23. Idaho State is 1-5-2 on the year and are struggling to score with just two goals through eight games. Three goalkeepers have seen action so far this season with a combined goal against average of 2.13.
LEADING THE NATION: Kira Witte is tied with two other goalkeepers in the NCAA with seven shutouts this season. She is tied with Mississippi State's Maddy Anderson and North Alabama's Payton Yates for the lead in the NCAA. Witte, a freshman has shutout every opponent except San Diego State and she currently has a six-match shutout streak. She hasn't allowed a goal in 540 minutes.
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 last week. The Vandals are tied for the second-most wins among the teams in the West Region Top 10 at 5.
