VICTOIRE! SEIG! VICTORY!

SIEG FUR PRUSSIA!

So, our Idaho State soccer team won the first victory over Loyola of Chicago today, 2-1 when Taylor Powell nailed the final score to seal the deal at the 78th minute (late in the game). Taylor, who has been struggling with injuries the past 2 seasons, finally got onto the field (as a redshirted junior) with, according to Ali, lots of enthusiasm and pride and played one outstanding game. Adding to today's effort, Alisha Cairl (AC to fans and friends alike) scored her very first goal for ISU today! Congrats to you AC! Adding to my personal excitement was the sheer aggression of the team in the match today. We were whistled for 21 fouls and collected 3 yellow cards (the proud offenders were Morgan Olson, Liv Zabka and Megan Stainbrook) and the Ramblers' assistant coach had gotten a card on him for acting boorish (I can only assume). Scoring for Chicago was Kristin Papierski on a penalty kick, coming in on a substitution.

Props for ISU having far better accuracy despite being outshot 14-5. Scoring 2 goals in 5 shots is much better than outshooting a team 21-7 with only a goal that should have been called but not. If ISU can build off this accuracy and develop it, then God help the Big Sky Conference and the soccer world at large (OK maybe the implications aren't that big but still, if ISU can keep up that accuracy, then we'll be NCAA tournament bound for sure!)

Getting a split here (ISU lost to #22 Marquette, 0-5 on Friday after hanging with them for awhile) is vital to the season's success. This is arguably the hardest road trip of the year, save for the usual fights and such on the road in the conference. When the team gets back for classes Tuesday, the morale should be at a decent level as they prepare for their home stretch against College of Idaho and Utah State.

Other stuff you may have missed:

For Every Victory in Soccer...

There shall be an obligatory Victory March song that will be linked on here. That march is nothing less than the totally epic Koniggratzer Marsch, a march written in 1866 to show tribute to Prussia's victory in the Battle of Koniggratz.

Lots of Baby Bengals!

Ali Gibson decided to start 4 freshman today (that's right...4 of them) and they played extremely well. Liv Zabka (proud yellow card holder), Kelsea Godfrey, Tara Bice, and Laura Benson were the young combatants in today's match and they all did very well, contributing to the vital win over Chicago.

No AJ?!

For the diehard followers of ISU soccer, Ashley Jones did not make this trip as she is still recovering from her concussion in a practice the week before the Westminster exhibition. Rest assured, AJ should be good to go by the College of Idaho game to add to the attack.

Aaand no Hough or Donya!

A few others who did not make the 18-player travel roster were notable, including JUCO transfer Anna Pingree, freshman Allyson Stainbrook (Megan's sister), senior Lauren Hough (back problems) and Donya Oliviera, who was in Portugal. They should all be ready to go for Friday's match against C of I.