T-minus 30 days until the Big Sky soccer champs begin title defense

Thirty days and counting until Idaho State soccer’s season commences (sort of) with its annual alumni game at Davis Field — a chance for washed up, ahem, past-their-prime former Bengals to square off against the defending Big Sky champs.

For Bengal fans, it’s a year where there are plenty of reasons for tingly feelings of excitement.

The reasons start with a bevy of returning all-Big Sky performers like junior Amanda Ellsworth (2012 co-offensive Big Sky MVP), senior defender Allyson Stainbrook, sophomore defender Vanessa Cabilan (all 5 foot 2 of her) and junior defender Taylor McBride.

There’s a plethora of home games at Davis Field, too. Boise State, Idaho, Utah State, Weber State and Montana all travel to Pocatello where head coach Allison Gibson and the Bengals have amassed a 30-13-10 record in seven seasons. In total, there’s 12 home dates, including exhibition contests. For comparison, Gibson and Idaho State played nine matches at Davis Field in 2012 — that’s after hosting the Big Sky postseason tournament.

It’s hard to not broach the subject of Bengal soccer without mentioning the whole defending Big Sky champion thing. The last time ISU soccer fans watched the Bengals (unless they traveled to California for Idaho State’s three-goal loss to Stanford in the NCAA College Cup), they held off Montana in the conference title game with a 4-3 decision via penalty kicks.

The moment freshman goalkeeper Sheridan Hapsic’s glove tipped away the Grizzlies final penalty kick, the Bengals stormed the field and mobbed the San Clemente, Calif., native. The Journal’s headline the next day “On top of the world” was a perfect fit.

Gibson says her squad’s areas of strength this year should center on its goalkeeping and back line.

With a strong defense, Bengal defenders can aggressively apply pressure to opponents with the nasty intent of taking possession of the ball and keeping it. Gibson wants all 10 players attacking down the field, pushing towards the opponent’s goal so they’re not solely reliant on Ellsworth’s offensive production.

Ellsworth, by the way, in her first two years, has played in 37 games and accumulated 16 goals (second all time in ISU history) and 38 points (fourth). She’s well on her way to obliterating Idaho State’s record book. And keep in mind how much Ellsworth improved as a sophomore.

As a freshman, she had the luxury of surprising Bengal foes. But after picking up the newcomer of the year honors, teams started formulating schemes to stop her in 2012. But she still piled up nine goals (compared to seven as a freshman), five assists (four more than her first season) and three game-winning goals.

What can she do for an encore?

“One thing we worked on all spring with her was runs off the ball, being more creative and kind of hiding a little bit in defenses and then popping out when the time’s right,” Gibson said.

As Ellsworth’s reputation grows, so must her ability handle defenses constructed to stop her. She’s already spectacular once she gets the ball at her feet. But finding ways to move without the ball and then storming towards the goal unexpectedly is where her game can grow.

But it’s not all up to Ellsworth. Last season, senior Rachel Strawn, who had scored six goals her first three seasons in Pocatello, exploded for 10 goals that led the Big Sky conference. Ellsworth is going to draw attention, lots of it. Who can replace Strawn’s production?

“Kiley Godfrey is probably our best option for that,” Gibson said, “with her speed and tremendous technical ability on the ball. It’s some of the best I’ve seen in college. ... Whatever the reason was, Rachel just kind of came through with a breakthrough year her senior year. I’m hoping Kiley can have that same type of expectations for herself and success.”

Strawn, Gibson says, scored a majority of her goals last year from the same type of attack, one she perfected through repetition, repetition, repetition. Whether Godfrey can grab the same kind of magic in 2013 will go a long ways towards determining if ISU and its defense will have any bite.