MOSCOW - In the entire 2008 season, Idaho's women's soccer team scored one first half goal - in the 19th game. In the first 19 minutes of Sunday's home opener against Utah Valley, the Vandals scored twice and went on to win 3-1.
After the team started off its first two games slowly, Idaho head coach Pete Showler said he wanted to see the team come out with a little more fire early on. The Vandals responded by pushing the throttle from the very start.
"It was a confident and composed performance," Showler said. "It's always nice to win your first game at home. The girls played with a lot of energy. They executed as we planned and we created a lot offensively."
Idaho earned two corner kicks in the first three minutes to keep the pressure on the UVU back line, then Perez got Idaho on the board at 14:36 after rebounding a missed shot by junior Jenn Hull, who earned the assist on the play. Less than five minutes later, Hull carried the ball up the right side, beat her defender around the corner, then left a perfect pass over the middle to freshman Chelsea Small, who tapped it in for her first career score at the 19:11 mark.
Idaho got its third goal of the game later in the second, when freshman Erica Hart drew a foul right in front of the net and the Vandals were awarded a penalty kick. Senior Sari Morrison notched her second career goal as she slammed the kick past the keeper to the right.
"One of the things we've been trying to work on is coming out with a lot more intensity and a lot faster and we definitely did that this time," Hull said. "Another thing we've been working on is getting numbers in the box and connecting. We've either had numbers in the box, or we'd been connecting, so it was nice to see both come together today."
Hull's two assists on the day give her five for her career, which tie her for ninth all-time at Idaho. The game-winning goal was credited to Perez - a career first for the senior. Small tallied a career-high seven shots to go along with her first score, while fellow freshman Megan Lopez took four shots, with two on goal.
Utah Valley got on the board in the 88th minute after Brianne Larsen hit a shot to the far post, but that was the only blemish on an otherwise great outing by the Idaho back line, which regularly stymied UVU's attacks and quickly moved the ball forward.
"The offense starts with the defense and the defense did a great job today," Showler said. "They possessed the ball well and the midfield was always looking for the next ball."
For the game, Idaho out-shot UVU by a 23-12 margin, including a 10-6 margin on shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Anna Sandman notched five saves in 90 minutes in her first start of the season. UVU keepers Tasha Bell and Hailey Brown split seven saves between them. Idaho dominated the corners, as the Vandals took 12 corner kicks compared to four for the Wolverines.
The three goals were the most Idaho had scored in a home-opener since a 4-2 win over Montana in 2003.
Showler also said he was very excited about the attendance of Sunday's game, which totaled 541. The game was Youth Soccer Appreciation Day and featured the Moscow United club teams.
"I have to thank Moscow United's players and staff for their support today," Showler said. "Moscow is a tremendous community and if we can keep winning, we're going to keep dragging out crowds like that.
"It's what the community is about. I want to thank every one of them, because it makes our job a lot better."
Idaho's next action will be at Boise, as the Vandals head down to the Governor's Cup to take on Idaho state on Friday (1:30 p.m.) and Montana on Sunday (10:30 a.m.). Idaho beat Idaho State 2-0 at last year's Governor's Cup and lost 0-2 at Montana.
