RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Vandal women's soccer team defeated UC Riverside, 3-0 in their 2024 season opener. Goals by
Annika Farley,
Jadyn Hanks, and
Sienna Gonzales propelled Idaho to the win while
Paula Flores picked up her first clean sheet in her first career start.
Idaho came out early and tough with Hanks firing off two shots in the first 10 minutes. The Vandals pushed and created some chances off corners and free kicks, but did not convert until the 13
th minute.
Farley scored the first goal of the season for Idaho, shooting the ball into the high right corner. Fifth-year,
Maddy Lasher assisted on the goal. With the assist, Lasher moved up to No. 7 all-time at Idaho with 35 career points.
Idaho's offense continued to push, pinging off nine shots on the half while UCR was only allowed three.
Paula Flores recorded three saves while the Highlanders' keeper had to make five saves.
The Highlanders' started the second half off with some physicality and earned a yellow card in the 47
th minute. Shortly after,
Hannah Alfaro-Black fired off the first chance of the half, but it was blocked by the Highlanders' back line.
Hanks scored her first goal of the season in the 54
th minute, sending the ball into the high left corner of the net. She was assisted by junior,
Kate Sprink – her first career assist. With the goal, Hanks moved up to seventh all-time at Idaho with 14 career goals.
Idaho's third goal came in the 77
th minute from redshirt junior, Gonzales. Sprink added another assist under her belt, dishing the pass into Gonzales for her first career goal.
Flores and the backline recorded their first shutout of the season in tonight's match. Flores' night was full of firsts – save, start, appearance, and shutout. She faced 10 shots and saved a total of four through the 90 minutes.
The Vandals will be back in action on Sunday, as they face the Seattle U Redhawks at 1:00 PM.
