Portland State Women's Soccer Shows Resilience in 2-1 Victory Over Idaho

 HILLSBORO, Ore. - Portland State women's soccer showcased their resilience on Friday evening as they clinched their first six-win season since 2017 with a 2-1 victory over the University of Idaho at Hillsboro Stadium.


The win held significant importance for the Vikings (6-5-1, 3-0-1 BSC), catapulting them to the top of the Big Sky soccer standings. With five wins in their last six games, this marks the second consecutive season that head coach Katie Burton and the Vikings have opened their Big Sky campaign with a 3-0-1 record.


In contrast, the Vandals, who were preseason favorites to finish second in the Big Sky, fell to 6-4-2 overall and 1-2-1 in conference play following Friday's defeat.


Once again this season, the Vikings relied on a second-half surge to secure victory. In the first half, both teams combined for 17 shots and had numerous near misses, but neither managed to find the back of the net.



The second half saw both offenses kick into high gear, resulting in a total of 13 shots and 10 corner kicks. Capitalizing on their corner-kick opportunities, the Vikings struck first. In the 56th minute, Abi Hoffman delivered a beautifully placed ball into the box, which deflected off Audrey Williams and found the back of the net. After a trio of unsuccessful attempts by the Vandals, Ashley Peters leveled the match at one in the 67th minute, sending a shot past the outstretched hands of Viking goalkeeper Natalie Cunningham.


The second half continued to be action-packed, with a series of corner kicks for Portland State. In the 71st minute, Hoffman once again provided a perfect cross from the corner, and Sienna Higinbotham nodded it home to give PSU the lead.


Facing a determined Vandal attack eager to respond, the Vikings' defense stood firm down the stretch, with Cunningham playing a pivotal role. The sophomore goalkeeper made two crucial saves in the final minutes to secure the Vikings' 2-1 victory.


Despite being out-shot by the Vandals 16-12, with nine of Idaho's shots on goal, Portland State showed their attacking prowess. Hoffman led the team with a team-high four shots, while Higinbotham's game-winner was her second of the season and the fourth of her career. Cunningham, with six saves in goal, notched her fourth win of the season and her first career conference victory.


Looking ahead, the first-place Vikings will conclude their home schedule on Sunday, Oct. 8, against Eastern Washington at Hillsboro Stadium (1:00 p.m.). As part of the home finale, PSU will honor its five seniors before kickoff.

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