MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho Vandal soccer team defeated Seattle U 3-1 on Thursday night in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. Idaho's win marks the first home victory over Seattle since the series began in 2008.
Four Vandals made their debuts on the field in tonight's win. True freshman KV Miller, Leslie Duarte, and Izzy Thoma saw their first minutes as Vandals joined by redshirt freshman Naomi Alvarez. Kira Witte, Alyssa Peters, Cassidy Elicker, and Rebekah Reyes secured the back line playing all 90 minutes.
The Vandals did not wait long to score the first goal of the season. In the 17th minute, Annika Farley knocked in a redirected shot by Jadyn Hanks. Margo Schoesler created the build-up to the goal with a forceful run down the left side and the cross into Hanks. Farley has notched three goals as a Vandal.
The rest of the first half was quiet on the offensive side, but Kira Witte came up big with a save in the 25th minute. Seattle's No. 23, U'I Kaaihue sailed a ball from 30 yards out, but Witte was able to cover it amidst the traffic in front of her.
Idaho came out strong in the second half, doubling the lead with a technical finish by Hanks in the 56th minute. Once again, Schoesler was the catalyst, finding Karli Yoshida-Williams on the left side. Yoshida-Williams slid the ball through the back line into Hanks' stride. With one touch, Hanks beat the keeper at the top of the box placing the ball into the lower right corner. Hanks now has nine career goals.
Nearly 10 minutes later, the Vandals tallied another goal, going up 3-0. The play started deep in the right corner with a throw-in from Maya Hamilton. Maddy Lasher was on the receiving end of the throw and after a little back-and-forth with the Redhawks' defense, Lasher laid the ball back to Hamilton. Hamilton served the ball to the back side of the box to Izzy Thoma. Thoma soared above her defender to head in her first collegiate goal in the 68th minute.
The Vandals thwarted all of the Redhawks' opportunities in the run of play. Unfortunately, in the 82nd minute, Seattle U got on the board after converting a penalty kick.
The Vandals will be back in action on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. against Washington in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome.
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