This Week on the Pitch:
Bronco Invitational [Boise, Idaho]
Friday, Aug. 31 (2:30 p.m. PT)
vs. Idaho State

Sunday, Sept. 2 (10:30 a.m. PT)
vs. Montana

This Week's Opponents:
Idaho State (3-0-0)
Idaho State is off to an early 3-0-0 start after a 3-2 overtime victory against North Dakota State to start the season and back-to-back shutouts of New Mexico State (2-0) and Minot State (4-0). The Bengals are averaging 18.7 shots per game already, while allowing just a combined six shots on goal through three games. Senior forward Rachel Strawn leads the team with five goals an 10 points, but four different players have netted a goal and four have dished an assist. Goalkeepers Maria Dela Cruz and Sheridan Hapsic have split the minutes so far this season.

Montana (1-3-0)
Montana opened its season with a 2-0 victory at Montana, but has been outscored 6-0 in its last three matches. Last week, the Griz fell at TCU (1-0) and vs. Texas Tech (4-0) at the TCU Invitational. UM is averaging 9.8 shots per game, while allowing 12.5 to opponents. Seniors Erin Craig and Ashley Tombelaine account for both the team’s goals, while senior goalkeeper Kristen Hoon has started every game and played a majority of the team’s minutes in goal. She has 21 saves and one shutout so far this year.

Team Notes:
Idaho vs. Idaho State
Idaho and Idaho State have played every year since 2002 and 13 times overall. The Vandals hold a 6-4-3 series edge, with four victories in a row since 2008 and a 10-3 scoring margin during that span. Idaho won last year’s match at Guy Wicks Field, 4-1. Four of the first five games in series history went into double-overtime, but none of the last eight have gone to extra time, and five of those games were decided by two or more goals. Friday’s game marks the first time these two teams have ever played each other outside the month of September.

Idaho vs. Montana
Montana holds a 5-4-0 series lead against Idaho, but the Vandals have won the last two meetings, including last year’s 3-2 win in the Governor’s Cup at Guy Wicks Field. Only once in series history has at least one team failed to score two goals, and six of the nine matchups have been decided by two or more scores. The series is 1-1 when played at a neutral site.

Multi-Goal Success Rate
Since Pete Showler arrived at Idaho, the Vandal women are 28-4-1 when scoring at least two goals. Idaho’s 3-2 loss to Gonzaga on Aug. 24 ended a 16-game winning streak when reaching that benchmark.

Setting the New Standard
Idaho’s 2-0 victory over North Dakota State on Aug. 26 gave its seniors the 33rd win of their careers. The group needs just one more win to become the winningest four-year group in program history. Idaho’s 2001 seniors won a combined 33 matches across the 1998-01 seasons.

Sharing is Caring
Entering the 2012 season, head coach Peter Showler said he was excited about the team’s overall depth. Through four games, it’s already showing. Eight different Idaho players have already either assisted or scored a goal and 10 different players have registered at least one on-target shot attempt.

Click on the PDF link above to view complete weekly notes.