MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho soccer was picked to finish second in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 4 first-place votes, while Sara Rodgers, Izzy Thoma, and Georgia Whitehead were named to the 2026 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team.
Rodgers returns after earning honorable mention All-Big Sky honors in 2025 following a breakout junior season. The senior midfielder led the Vandals with seven goals and one assist, racking up 15 points on the season. Rodgers started in all 20 games for the Vandals and logged 1,716 minutes during the season, establishing herself as one of the conference's top attacking threats and earning herself a spot on the Preseason All-Conference team.
After an outstanding 2025 season for Thoma, where she started all 20 matches for the Vandals, including 18 complete performances, and 110 minutes in the Big Sky Tournament semifinal, Thoma earned herself First Team All-Big Sky honors in 2025. Keeping that momentum going into her senior season, Thoma has carved out a well-deserved spot on the Preseason All-conference team, entering the year as one of the conference's premier defenders.
Following a productive season with the Vandals, which earned her Second Team All-Big Sky Honors in 2025, Whitehead will enter this season as a member of the Preseason All-Conference Team. Whitehead provided Idaho with a consistent presence last season; The senior forward finished with three goals and three assists, starting in all 18 matches that she appeared in, and logged 1,201 minutes on the season.
As a team, the Vandals were selected to finish second in the Big Sky Coaches' Poll, receiving 4 votes for first place, only 1 vote shy of conference favorites, Weber State. Idaho enters the 2026 campaign looking to build on last season's run to the Big Sky Tournament semifinals under eighth year head coach Jeremy Clevenger.
UP NEXT
Idaho opens the 2026 season on Aug. 12 when the Vandals face-off against Washington State University in Pullman, WA.
FOLLOW THE VANDALS
To stay up to date with Idaho Soccer, follow the team on Instagram (@vandalssoccer), X (@vandal_soccer), and visit govandals.com
