FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Vandals punched their ticket to their second-straight Big Sky Championship match after defeating Portland State 1-0 in Flagstaff on Friday afternoon. Senior, Hannah Alfaro scored the lone goal for the Vandals.
 
Alfaro sealed the win for the Vandals with her fifth goal of the season and eighth of her career. The penalty kick was her first attempt in her career. Alfaro is now tied for first on the team with 12 points with Jadyn Hanks.
 
Kira Witte kept the Vikings out of the net, recording two saves and registering her seventh shutout of the season and 19^th of her career. Witte has grabbed 60 saves this season and boasts 0.82 goals against average.
 
The first 45 minutes consisted of a back and forth on Idaho and Portland State's sides. Neither team had any quality chances until Maddy Lasher almost found the go ahead late in the first half.
 
Idaho entered half time tied 0-0 for the ninth time this season. The breakthrough goal came in the 54^th minute after Karli Yoshida-Williams was taken down in Portland State's penalty area. Alfaro stepped up to take the shot and sent it top shelf on the right side. The lone goal stood for the remaining time of the game and was Alfaro's first game-winner of the season.
 

VANDALS ARE UP!

Alfaro with the clean PK 😮‍💨#GoVandals pic.twitter.com/eHHh8L9SSP

— Idaho Vandals Soccer (@Vandal_Soccer) November 3, 2023

 
The Vikings continued to put the pressure on as Idaho packed the back line. Portland State almost found the equalizer after a scramble in the box and a shot ricocheting off the top crossbar. The Vandals kept the ball out of their half as much as they could as the seconds counted down and they started to celebrate.
 
This season, the Vandals have outscored their opponents 19-8 in the second half and have won six matches after entering half tied 0-0. Idaho and Portland State both fired off 14 shots, while the Vandals placed six on goal and the Vikings only had two. The Vikings came out physical, registering 13 fouls in the 90 minute span.
 
The Vandals have paved their way to the Big Sky championship match for the third time in program history. No. 2 Idaho will take on No. 4 seed and host, Northern Arizona on Sunday, November 5^th at 12:00 p.m. PST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN +.