Idaho State vs. Montana postgame blog

Idaho State 1, Montana 1

For a full game recap, click here.

For an awesome photo gallery of the game, click here.



Star of the game: Whitney Peterson. The Boise State transfer scored her second goal of the season to help pull Idaho State back into a 1-1 tie with Montana.

Allison Gibson said about Peterson, “She’s such a good player and she’s so speedy. She’s got a great change of speed, which is just tremendous. ... Coming off of the (five-game losing streak) in our season, she was really, really struggling with her confidence. ... Anytime you score a goal as a player it’s going to give you that automatic confidence.

“I see her playing more freely now. I would say that’s the main difference with her. She’s definitely one of those kids who gets in her own head. Now she’s playing both with herself and her opponent.”

Second star: Both team’s goalkeeper. Montana’s keeper Kendra McMillen finished with nine saves and ISU’s Sheridan Hapsic had seven. Both were fantastic. Each team left the game feeling like they had left scoring opportunities on the field, but the lack of goals has something to do with the goalkeeping.

Around the rest of the Big Sky:

Northern Arizona 3, Southern Utah 2 (2OT)

Northern Arizona won its first Big Sky Conference match after defeating SUU 3-2 in double overtime.

SUU outshot NAU 19-13. The Lumberjacks’ Lauren Weaver made nine saves while SUU's Tessa Christensen had five.

Weber State 3, Eastern Washington 0

Weber State starts out the conference season with a 2-0 record after defeating Eastern 3-0.  WSU's goals came from Ryley Hansen, Mackenzie Harrison and Mackenzie Day. Weber racked up 21 shots to EWU’s 13.

It’s early in the season, but Weber State is the Big Sky’s top team at 6-2-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big Sky. Idaho State, Northern Arizona, Sacramento State and Portland State all have one win.

Montana, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, North Dakota and Eastern Washington have all recorded losses (with the Griz, of course, picking up a point after Saturday’s tie game with the Bengals).

For a full set of standings, click here.

ISU soccer: Confident Bengals host Grizzlies Saturday at 1 p.m.

(For a photo gallery from Idaho State's game versus Eastern Washington, click here.)

Momentum is fickle and confidence can vanish like a golden leaf in a fall wind.

Nine games into the 2013 season, Idaho State has boasted confidence and harnessed momentum. The Bengals skated by Boise State 2-1 in overtime and clobbered Idaho 2-0 in Pocatello.

The defending Big Sky champs and preseason co-favorites were undefeated and rolling.

But a beating at Texas Tech seemed to sap ISU of its mojo, its swag, and the Bengals slogged through five games while being outscored on aggregate 19-6.

The defeats were so brutal, swift and thorough, ISU head coach Allison Gibson instituted a week of 5 a.m. practices and tests designed to remind the players they would only reverse course on a steep mid-season slide by learning to lean on one another.

After Idaho State’s last two games, both 1-0 victories, including Thursday’s Big Sky Conference opener against Eastern Washington, the Bengals (4-5, 1-0 Big Sky) have found the missing confidence.

And they have momentum headed into today’s match with Montana (3-4-3, 0-1 Big Sky) at Davis Field at 1 p.m.

Last season, the Bengals and Grizzlies battled for 230 minutes in two games, and ISU won its fifth Big Sky championship when it outdueled Montana 4-3 in penalty kicks in the conference title game.

Montana, picked third in the preseason, lost to Weber State 2-0 in Ogden the same day Idaho State defeated Eastern. The Wildcats assaulted Montana’s goal in the first half, piling up 15 shots and 22 for the game, compared to 12 for the Grizzlies.

But ISU’s players have no questions of what to expect against Montana today.

“They are going to have a lot of hate torwards us because we beat them in the final of the tournament,” said Kiley Godfrey after Thursday’s game. “So we’re going to have a lot of heat on us. ... We’re just going to have to come out and play the best we can, and know that they’re going to put up a hell of a fight.”

Gibson is wary of Montana’s team speed, and the pace of play compared to the Bengals’ match with Eastern.

“The speed of play is going to be much faster,” she said. “So we just have to mentally prepare for that, but at the same time, I think the quicker we move the ball and do our thing, the better off we’ll be.”

A quicker run of play could lead to more shots, and that means a busy day for ISU goalkeeper Sheridan Hapsic.

As a freshman, she posted nine saves against the Grizzlies in two games, and, in part, she earned the Big Sky Conference All-Tournament MVP after stopping three Montana penalty kick attempts.

This year, like Idaho State itself, Hapsic’s inner belief fluctuated during the Bengals’ losing streak. But she’s starting to ride the momentum spurred by two-straight shut outs.

“Our team wasn’t working well together, so it affected me as well,” she said. “And I didn’t have as much confidence. Once we all decided that we were ready to play as a team again, that’s when my confidence went up. ... I think that’s the biggest difference between then and now.”

Idaho State vs. Eastern Washington postgame blog

Idaho State 1, Eastern Washington 0

For a full game recap, click here.

For a photo gallery, click here.

Star of the game: Sheridan Hapsic. Idaho State’s sophomore goalkeeper made every big save she needed to against the Eagles. She finished with four saves, and it felt like she was in control of the match (with the exception of when Taylor McBride had to head away a would-be goal in the first half).

Second star: Off the bench, Kiley Godfrey. ISU head coach Allison Gibson says Godfrey would prefer to start, but she’s a real asset as a role player providing instant energy.
    There’s times when Godfrey drives her head coach nuts. Her natural style of play doesn’t always fit in with the Bengals’ system (i.e. she has a tendency to over dribble). But when she’s working with her teammates, her natural offensive capabilities is an absolute game changer.
    “She’s such a phenomenal player,” Gibson said. “And when she plays, she proves that she’s one of the best players on the field. So I was really happy with that. I just told her, ‘Now we know how you can play. So you can’t let down.’”

Around the rest of the Big Sky
Weber State 2, Montana 0 — Weber State's Mackenzie Harrison and Shaylee Peterson both scored in the second half to lead the Wildcats.
    WSU outshot UM 22-12.
    Weber moves to 5-2-2 overall and 1-0 in the Big Sky.
    Montana is 3-4-3 and 0-1 in the conference. The Grizzlies play the Bengals Saturday at Davis Field at 1 p.m.
    More on that game later this week.

Tattoos and team unity key for ISU in the Big Sky

Journal File Photo

Sometimes it’s a snarling black panther or a green dragon in flight. Once, it could have been the Virgin Mary. But cooler heads prevailed.

Of course, all this is about temporary tattoos, which Allyson Stainbrook and Amanda Ellsworth plaster on their necks for the world to see before Idaho State soccer games.

Every match, Stainbrook and Ellsworth choose a couple tattoos from their stash they keep in the Bengal locker room. Sometimes, it’s random. Once in a while, a certain tattoo speaks and just demands to be that day’s decoration.

One tattoo that simply stated “Death Before Dishonor” was particularly popular.

Who knows what they’ll sport against Eastern Washington (2-7) in Idaho State’s Big Sky Conference opener Thursday at Davis Field at 4 p.m.

The shtick began on a road trip to Boise. The team stopped at a gas station, and there was a coin machine with temporary tattoos. Stainbrook says the team’s athletic trainer at the time, Daryl Finch, dared the Bengals to wear them during a game — preferably in the most visible spot possible.

“Me and Amanda just started wearing them,” Stainbrook said. “After that, it just kind of stuck, because it felt right. It was our good luck.”

They wore their fake neck tattoos all the way to the Big Sky championship, the first since ISU took the title back in 2006.

Naturally then, they had to continue the tradition into 2013.

"Before the game I always get weird looks,” Stainbrook said. “When we’re co-captains and shaking hands, girls are looking at me, and the refs are saying, ‘Is that real? Is that covering up a hickey?’”

Ellsworth tends to notice a few second glances the day after games when she goes to class. They’re temporary tattoos, not one-day tattoos.

“They don’t wash off easily, so when you take a shower and you’re tired and you wake up the next day and go to class, people are giving you dirty looks,” Ellsworth said. “You go to the bathroom and look, ‘Oh, that’s why.’”

The tattoo gimmick falls under the umbrella of sports superstitions.

Ellsworth and Stainbrook do it for an intimidation factor, a little swagger and, well, because it’s fun.

It’s the casual side of a serious game and a long, steady season. Idaho State, along with Portland State, was the Big Sky coaches’ preseason favorite to win the championship.

If the Bengals are indeed the squad to fulfill those expectations, it won’t resemble the one that suffered through a five-game losing streak that started in Lubbock, Texas, Aug. 30 and lasted through Sept. 22 when the Bengals broke through and knocked off Wyoming 1-0 in Laramie after Stainbrook scored off a free kick in the 113th minute of double overtime.

Despite being outshot 15-8 and receiving four yellow cards in a 17-minute span, the Bengals banded together and won a road game for the first time this season.

“We weren’t panicked, and we felt like we were going to win,” Stainbrook said. “I don’t know how to explain it. It felt right.”

It felt right after nothing had for several weeks.

Idaho State’s tailspin began with a 3-0 loss at Texas Tech, and then both Utah Valley and Utah State escaped with victories in Pocatello. The Bengals hit rock bottom in the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Soccer Classic.

Hawaii and Florida Gulf Coast blasted Idaho State, 4-1 and 5-1, respectively.

"I wish it hadn’t lasted for five games, obviously,” said ISU coach Allison Gibson. “It was kind of one of those things we had to endure. I’m glad we did it before conference. ... I think that now we have that understanding that we’ll fight for each other and we’ll do things for each other on the field.”

The week after the Hawaii trip, and before traveling to Wyoming, Gibson and the Bengals had a string of practices that started at 5 a.m., a mini fall camp of sorts.

They were stripped of all their training gear. They would have to earn it back.

The Bengals responded by arriving at practice in identical v-neck, white T-shirts that said “24 strong,” referring to the number of players on the roster and Gibson’s theme for the week.

“We just got back to focusing on playing for each other, working for each other and redefining what teamwork meant,” Gibson said.

The theme of playing for one another — and Stainbrook’s and Ellsworth’s omnipresent tattoos — continues against Eastern Washington Thursday.

"We have struggled, but I think every single game, every loss, we’ve learned more and more about each other,” Ellsworth said. “... We showed that against Wyoming, Sunday. We finally put all the pieces back together.”

The 2A 5th District is a complete blast

When Cory Hollingsworth juked and ducked out of Aberdeen mere days before the start of the football season, a few thoughts crossed my mind.

1) Whoah!

2) Man, that’s a major loss for the Tigers, who lost their head coach in both football and basketball. Clearly, the timing of Hollingsworth’s move to The Dalles, Ore., announced about a week before the start of fall camp, threw a twist into Aberdeen’s preseason.

3) I was mad at Hollingsworth. He abandoned a group of football players who helped the Tigers reach the 2A state playoffs five of the last six years.

4) With him gone, advantage Soda Springs, Malad and West Side.

Later, though, I spoke with Hollingsworth on the phone. The job he took in The Dalles is closer to his wife’s family. He applied for it months ago, didn’t get the job and it had just recently came open again.

And here’s the big kicker that erased any negative emotions I had about the move. Hollingsworth said the new job came close to a $30,000 raise. That’s staggering.

So good luck coach Hollingsworh.

Plus, as it turns out, Jeff Duffin slid into the Hollingsworth role, the rest of the Tigers coaching staff remained in place and the Tigers are rolling anyway.

Before the season, Duffin stressed they would play just as they had with Hollingsworth, and the team’s coaching staff could handle the transition, even on such short notice.

Have they ever.

Aberdeen is 3-1 overall. With senior quarterback Clancy Beck leading the way, the Tigers’ offense — apart from a 36-12 drubbing at North Fremont — is humming along at 31 points a game. And the defense has held American Falls to 13 points, Oakley to seven and Ririe to 17.

Granted, the combined record of Aberdeen opponents — the ones they’ve beaten — is 2-9. No one, at least outside the town of Aberdeen, is putting the Tigers at the top of any list for state championship favorites.

But the Tigers’ record, and its recent history of playing beyond the regular season, illustrates the point that the battle to reach the playoffs out of the 2A 5th District is going to be like watching four ravenous coyotes fight over a stiff carcass.

Combined, Aberdeen, West Side, Malad and Soda Springs are 10-5.

The Pirates, currently ranked fourth in the state, have been particularly impressive. After they gagged away an early 12-point lead to Firth in Dayton, eventually losing 24-12, WS pummeled Rich County (Utah), West Jefferson and American Falls.

The average margin of victory comes in at 20 points, and all three games were on the road.

West Side has a bye this week, Bear Lake Oct. 4 and then the conference blitz begins.

Malad has the worst record of the bunch (2-2), but I’m not sure the Dragons aren’t the best team. They won at Marsh Valley, rocked Ririe and nearly upset Firth before last week’s 48-42 loss at Bear Lake.

Malad is dynamic offensively, but the tough schedule doesn’t get any easier when Sugar-Salem arrives in Malad City Friday.

Soda Springs has one blemish on its record, a 19-7 defeat at Bear Lake. After that loss, the Cardinal must have found something in their bye week, because they piled 34 points on North Fremont in Soda last weekend. That’s 21 more points than they had total the first two weeks.

Before the Cardinals commence conference action, they have two 3A schools — Marsh Valley and American Falls — visiting Soda Springs.

So, roughly, we’re a couple weeks away before the shroud hovering over the 5th District is cleared up. Early on, West Side, ranked fourth in the state, is the favorite. But good luck figuring out who else will survive and remain as one of the final three teams to clamber into the postseason.

What’s in Aberdeen’s advantage: The Tigers get both the Cardinals and Dragons in Aberdeen.

What’s working against Aberdeen: The Tigers travel to West Side Oct. 4 after playing Snake River Friday. That’s a two-game stretch where big losses could — could, I said, I’ve learned not to underestimate this team — demoralize Aberdeen.

What’s in Malad’s advantage: The Dragons get West Side at home.

What’s working against Malad: The schedule. Since smacking around Ririe, Malad jumped into a stretch of games going something like this ... Firth, Bear Lake, Sugar-Salem, West Side, Soda Springs, Aberdeen. That’s rough. Only a mentally tough squad that avoids injuries will survive that kind of onslaught.

The schedule will either break Malad’s resolve or push the Dragons to a strong finish (i.e. a deep playoff run).

What’s in Soda Springs’ advantage: The Cardinals start the year playing four of their first five games at home. A strong start to a season never hurt anyone.

What’s working against Soda Springs: The Cardinals welcome Malad Oct. 18, but they travel to Aberdeen and Dayton.

What’s in West Side’s advantage: The Pirates are primed for another strong finish to their season. Three of their last four games are at home. They’re scoring points like the Baylor Bears and playing defense like the Crimson Tide (except when the Tide play anyone named Johnny).

What’s working against West Side: I have no idea. They’re the favorites to take the District’s top seed and host a first-round playoff game.

But I guarantee everyone in Malad, Aberdeen and Soda vehemently disagree. That’s the fun part. I’ll bet Hollingsworth will miss it, too.

It’s not the Game of the Century, but it’s close

Is it too much to call it the “Game of the Century,” a moniker that’s perhaps over-the-top, excessive and exaggerated?

But, seriously, Coeur d’Alene at Highland is the one high school football game we’ve all been waiting for, right?

I realize “Game of the Century” naturally implies its importance extends beyond the borders of the state of where the game is being played. But “The Game of Idaho,” or “Game of the Season” just don’t roll of the tongue quite as well.

The first time anyone applied the slogan “Game of the Century” to a matchup was when No. 1 Texas faced No. 2 Arkansas on ABC in 1969. More than anything, it was a marketing stunt, a way to drub up the hype.

Early on, the phrase stuck to games between the nation’s top two college teams, but over time, talking TV heads and the media have expanded its definition. Now, every year has its own version.

In 2013, Alabama at Texas A&M is the closest thing we’ll have (barring unforeseen circumstances) to a “Game of the Century.” The 49-42 shootout even surpassed the buildup the long offseason manufactured.

And, considering the Tide and Aggies had the highest TV rating for a college game on CBS in 23 years, the public was right behind the idea that, yes, No. 1 Alabama at the sixth-ranked Fightin’ Johnny’s was 2013’s “Game of the Century.”

So all of us in Pocatello will just have to live with the idea that Highland versus Coeur d’Alene is the second biggest game of the fall season.

Since 1982, the two have combined to win 13 state championships (undoubtedly, Ram fans would like me to mention nine of those belong to Highland).

Both squads have been ranked either first or second all season. Coeur d’Alene, after a two-year stretch of missing the playoffs, has played in the last three state championships games (winning in 2010 and 2011).

Highland last won a title in 2008, but the Rams have been in the state semifinals three of the past four seasons.

The amount of Division I prospects from both squads is unbelievable.

And if the two program’s histories tell us anything about their ballyhooed past, the present can give us an idea of what the game means for both sides.

Coeur d’Alene is 1-2 overall. The Vikings have lost two-straight games to top-level programs from Washington state.

Last week, four turnovers offset Coeur d’Alene’s 415-289 yards gained advantage as the Vikings came up short to Skyline (Wash.) 38-23, the same team that beat them by 51 points in 2012.

Highland is Cd’A’s first opponent from Idaho, and with Minico, Lewiston, Skyline, Lake City and Post Falls in the regular season, the Rams are the toughest test left.

While Coeur d’Alene has been rolling through a rigorous nonconference slate, Highland battled through a 27-23 win over Century, sandwiched between two double-digit victories against Coronado (Nev.) and Twin Falls.

Highland has Pocatello Sept. 27, and there are road battles at Skyline and at Madison — and I’d be remised not to mention a home date Oct. 25 versus Idaho Falls — but Coeur d’Alene is, easily, the most challenging game left on the Rams’ schedule.

Way back in July, Highland head coach Gino Mariani said, “It’s a measuring stick to see where we’re going to be.”

Yes, the proverbial measuring stick match. It’s an accurate description, better than “Game of the Century,” in fact. Neither the Rams nor Vikings will have their playoff or championship hopes decided this weekend.

So call it what you will, but “The Measuring Stick Game” works fine for me.

Saturday, 8 p.m., get here faster.

No player is more important than another, but some score touchdowns

If I’m one thing, it’s a proud cat owner.

I love my cat. His name is Phoenix. Seriously, he’s the coolest little guy in the world. Think your pet is cuter or fluffier? I doubt it.

The love I have for Phoenix is blind and resolute. I have absolutely no doubt he’s the best pet in the world. No, make that the universe.

Am I making myself clear? MY PET IS CUTER, FUNNIER AND BETTER THAN YOURS.

I realize when it comes to my cat, I’m biased. It isn’t manly, tough or Idaho-conventional for a guy in his 20s to love his cat, but I don’t care.

Have you made it this far with me yet? I know this is the sports section. If you made it past the first 125 words, you’re thinking 1) Wow, this guy loves his cat and 2) Shouldn’t this column be run anywhere but in sports?

Well, I bring Phoenix up because, even though I don’t have kids, I think I can appreciate what parents go through rooting for their own.

At the Journal, we cover high school sports nearly every day. Inherent in that process means we write about high school kids with dads, moms and grandparents — folks who love their children more than anything.

And those parents — rightfully so — are absolutely, 100 percent biased towards their child. Thank goodness, too.

But some parents and their slanted attitudes tend to have some friction with sportswriters, because we don’t give enough credit to their kid.

In football, for example, there are 22 players on the field every single play. Five of those guys are grunts. They’re offensive linemen no one ever notices until a touchdown is called back because of a holding penalty.

With the exception of Highland’s Tristen Hoge — the junior phenom with football scholarship offers from Stanford to LSU — we don’t write about many linemen, particularly in game recaps.

We are, however, going to mention the Rams’ Tommy Jewell, Century’s Shane Rominger and Pocatello’s Dexter Gunter. Those are the guys who score. Those are the guys that steal headlines.

That’s life. Should the defensive tackle who finished with two quarterback hurries get more credit for stuffing the opponent’s run game all night? Maybe, but when’s the last time Peyton Manning had less words devoted to his touchdown passes because the middle linebacker ended up with six tackles?

Should a soccer team’s sweeper get more love from the local paper because he or she helped their club throw a complete-game shutout? Perhaps, but when that team wins 6-0 and one of the forwards finished with a hat trick, sportswriters are going to focus on who scored.

Fair? Maybe not.

Another example. The Century and Highland girls soccer battled to a 2-2 tie Thursday.

It was an emotional back and forth affair where both squads played well. I’d guess, between the two of them, anywhere from 25 to 30 girls played at least some.

Yet, if you read my game recap, I mention Makenzie Van Sickle from Highland and Kennedy Yost from Century. Those two combined to score four goals.

Each is so dang talented that they’re just a true joy to watch.

Believe me, Van Sickle and Yost are legit soccer studs.

But, you see, some parents read that article and think, "Gosh, my kid isn’t in here. All I see is Van Sickle that and Yost this. My kid played the entire game, too.”

But you know what, I’m going to write about players who score goals, guys who catch touchdown passes and players who pour in double-digit points in basketball games.

I see where you’re coming from. I bet that middle linebacker had a great game, and maybe next week we’ll write about him because he dove for a key interception. But, chances are, you’ll see a lot of quarterbacks and goal-scorers in the paper.

Does that stink? Is that equitable? Be honest. If your kid was scoring goals like crazy and I focused 600 words on the left back, you’d be left a little miffed.

I don’t expect any upset parent to agree with this. All of us on the sports desk at the Journal have ways we can improve (no, a more obvious statement has never been written), but don’t expect the name drops for all players to come out dead even unless you can tell me who Zane Beadles, Louis Vasquez and Manny Ramirez are.

Because, no, that Manny Ramirez is the Denver Broncos starting center. Beadles is the left guard and Vasquez starts at right guard.

And even though those guys are all 300-pound lumbering tanks, I bet their parents still think the media under appreciates their contributions.

An early-season identity crisis for ISU Bengals soccer

In the moment, the ebbs and flows of a season are dramatic.

One day, even if its only for an afternoon or an hour, a team can feel like it’s on top of the universe (or at least the Big Sky Conference), but it only takes a nudge here or shove there for all those good feelings to evaporate faster than an in-flight bull rider’s dreams of prize money one second into an eight-second ride.

Follow this timeline: In an exhibition match, Idaho State rocks The College of Idaho 9-0; Boise State visits Pocatello, and despite a rain-soaked Davis Field, the Bengals prevail 2-1 in overtime with Amanda Ellsworth punching in the seventh game-winning goal of her career; ISU takes on Idaho next and in workmanlike fashion, dispose the Vandals 2-0.

At that point, it was Aug. 25., the Bengals sat at 2-0.

But following the rest of that timeline to today: Idaho State is whitewashed by Texas Tech 3-0 in Lubbock. Not a bad loss considering, at the time, the Red Raiders were ranked 23rd in the nation. But Bengals head coach Allison Gibson has subsequently said nothing went right down south. ISU didn’t play its game.

Something about the character of the team fell short.

Continuing the timeline: The summer storms have wreaked havoc on Pocatello’s sewer system, and while the Bengals can play through rain, lightning is a different sort of problem. After two hours, Idaho State and Utah Valley moved to Holt Arena to play.

It was an interesting venue for a soccer game, but Utah Valley took it to ISU, walking away with 4-2 victory.

The Bengals had wanted to use that match as a stepping stone to find the chemistry that had gone missing in Texas.

If nothing else, hosting Utah State last Saturday presented the opportunity to wash out any memories of poor performances from the last two games.

The Bengals treated the match with the Aggies as a big game, and they played like it, too. The intensity was full bore from both sides. The final 45 minutes were fantastic.

(As an aside. Bengal fans, where were you last Saturday? The official attendance for ISU vs. USU was 475. That’s 60 more than the Boise State game which took place after a monster rainstorm, and 150 less than the match against Idaho. Were ISU fans too busy tailgating for the football game that kicked off at 3:05 p.m. later that afternoon? Or was the couch just too inviting on a beautiful early September day?)

Once ISU’s Madeline Gochnour opened the scoring in the 59th minute, the game opened up into a free-flowing, physical affair. Twice, Idaho State jumped on Utah State to lead by a goal and the Aggies — to Gibson’s disbelief — promptly responded both times.

The Bengals wanted, no, needed to sense those feelings of accomplishment they had attained from two early-season victories.

Any chance of that, however, was ripped away when a bogus foul was called on ISU in its own box. It awarded Utah State a penalty kick the Aggies converted, and they walked away with a 3-2 victory.

The foul didn’t go down so well with ISU.

“It’s just so disappointing that that can decide a game,” said senior Lia Margolis after the match.

Idaho State had wanted to wash away the bad mojo that had built up in losses to Texas Tech and Utah Valley, and it nearly happened. But the ultimate result dropped the Bengals to 2-3 overall and blocked those fuzzy feeling from filtering in.

It’s why Gibson was so upset with the call after the game. She had witnessed her squad — a group of girls who had worked through some difficult times — play as hard as they could, and the end result didn’t swing their way through no fault of their own.

“At the end, I said, ‘there’s nothing negative I can say to you guys. I’m so proud of you guys right now.’ They battled back and the soccer gods will take care of us,” Gibson said afterwards.

In the ebbs and flows of a season, Saturday’s loss alone had high highs and low lows.

As it turned out, the final ebb turned out to be the lowest point.

And it comes on the precipice of Idaho State’s longest road trip of the season where the Bengals travel to Honolulu, Hawaii, for matches versus Hawaii and Florida Gulf Coast before playing Wyoming in Laramie.

Whether Idaho State can find a silver lining in the Utah State loss might determine if Saturday’s ebb is the lowest of the season or if it’s just the beginning.

“We improved tremendously from where we were,” Gibson said. “Again, I think if we keep doing the right thing, the game will take care of us.”

Idaho State vs. Utah State postgame blog

Utah State 3, Idaho State 2

For a full game recap, click here.

And check this out for a full photo gallery.

Anti-Star of the game: The center referee. Or is he/she called the head referee in soccer? The point is, a great game — where Idaho State and Utah State exchanged goals back and forth like a tennis volley in the second half — came down to a bad call in Idaho State’s box.

Utah State’s Lauren Roundy drew the foul, props to her, but she didn’t have possession of the ball; and ISU’s Allyson Stainbrook was going to clear it out of the box anyway.

It was such a physical game to begin with, where both teams pounded each other for 90 minutes, that the call on Madamba felt out of place and misjudged.

Listen, we all want referees to be consistent, right? The final whistle that awarded Utah State a penalty kick in the 88th minute wasn’t consistent with the match’s previous 87 minutes.

Was their a foul? I don’t know. I’m up in the stands. I’ll take the referee's word that there was. But should he have swallowed the whistle and let the players decide the game? Absolutely.

(As an additional note: I actually believe Utah State deserved the win. The Aggies were skilled throughout the field, accumulated more quality scoring chances and had some great goals. The end result going to USU isn’t necessarily unjust. Instead, the road getting to that final score feels crooked and incomplete.)

Star of the game: As a positive for ISU, Stainbrook played brilliantly — again. The senior buried her third goal of the season (all of them have come in ISU’s previous two game). Stainbrook is a master on free kicks, too, where, I believe, she recorded five shots on goal against the Aggies.

Here’s what her coach, Allison Gibson, had to say after the game about her: “She is so determined. ... I can’t imagine a coach in this country not wanting her on their team this year. She is incredibly driven, determined. She knows the system. She knows everyone’s role within the system.

“She is just literally the total spark plug for us. Not just rah, rah, rah, she’s literally directing traffic from the frontline to the midfield to the backs, back to the midfield. And giving everything she has for every single moment. ... She’s our standard. You’ve got to look at yourself. ‘Am I playing that hard? Am I doing that well? Am I giving that much?’ She’s our benchmark player right now. Every time we reach her, she takes off again.”

Bengals searching for an identity with USU in town

Doug Lindley/Idaho State Journal

A two-game slide has shifted the Idaho State Bengals perspective headed into today’s matchup with the Utah State Aggies.

It was a mere 18 days ago when ISU pummeled the College of Idaho in an exhibition game 9-0. Eight players scored, and the Bengals rode that momentum to two victories on Davis Field against Boise State (2-1 OT) and Idaho (2-0).

The Big Sky named Amanda Ellsworth and Allyson Stainbrook the conference’s offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, and ISU looked like a club that was gelling into a deadly unit with offensive firepower and a stiff defense.

But then the Bengals traveled south to Lubbock, Texas, and the Red Raiders of Texas Tech smashed ISU 3-0, while holding a shot advantage of 27-1.

“The second we faced adversity, we crumbled and hard,” said Bengals head coach Allison Gibson. “We didn’t go down there (to Texas Tech) and play our soccer. ... I mean, we literally didn’t do anything well down there.

“So that was very eye opening to me as a coach to be like, ‘wow, OK, we’re good when everything’s good. But when it’s not good, who are we?’ We’re trying to find for ourselves.”

The problems down in Texas were only magnified last Tuesday. A two-hour lightning delay forced Idaho State and Utah Valley to battle in Holt Arena. Ninety minutes later, the Wolverines left Pocatello with a 4-2 victory, the most goals the Bengals have allowed at home since Sept. 22, 2011 when they gave up five in a loss to Utah Valley.

At times, ISU’s attacking forwards played passively. In fact, Stainbrook, from her holding midfield position, recorded the most shots on the team on her way to posting both of ISU’s goals.

It’s a positive that Stainbrook could insert her game on the offensive end. The senior from South Jordan, Utah, has played strictly in the Bengals’ backline since her sophomore season.

“I’m still close to the backline, but I feel more of a freedom to be able to go up and be able to start combining with the forwards. I think it’s fun in that regard,” Stainbrook said after the game Tuesday.

She may have to briefly move back to her old position for a game since junior defender Mikaela Carrillo picked up two yellow cards against Utah Valley. Carrillo has to sit out today’s match versus Utah State.

The Aggies are 3-0-1 this season with victories against Creighton, Utah Valley and UTEP, and they’re coming of a double-overtime 2-2 tie versus Nebraska last Monday.

Like many of Idaho State’s opponents this year, Gibson says Utah State is a tough bunch.

“They’re always a strong team, very well coached (and) very disciplined,” she said. “Another physical team; I think that’s become a theme in our opponents.”

Gibson is 2-3-1 all time against the Aggies, including 1-1-1 at Davis Field.

It’s a game, as they all are until conference action starts, where Idaho State will continue to tweak its rotation.

“We’re trying to get the best chemistry, but I think at the same time we have to keep an eye on the scoreboard,” Gibson said, “because, obviously, that’s critical. If we start to drop too many games then it starts to become a mental challenge as well.

“We don’t really want to get into that. We’ll play to win (today), but we’ll still try to continue to build who we are.”

The Bengals and Aggies kickoff at noon.

Idaho State vs. Utah Valley postgame blog

Utah Valley 4, Idaho State 2

For a full game recap, click here.

For a bunch of awesome photos of the game, click here.

Star of the game: Utah Valley’s bench. The Wolverine’s bench contributed three of their four goals and an assist. Taylor Kirk, a 5-foot-7 freshman from Pleasant Grove, Utah, punched in the first two goals of her collegiate career (while seeing the first collegiate minutes of her career, too).

Second star: Allyson Stainbrook. The senior scored twice while accumulating more shots and goals than anyone else on her team. Head coach Allison Gibson moved Stainbrook from the backline to midfield with the hope she would still affect the game defensively, but would also help shore up some of the squad’s struggles in that area of the field.

More on this move and Stainbrook’s/Gibson’s reactions to how it worked later this week when the Journal runs a Utah State game preview.

Third star: ISU Sports Information and all the support staff that helped move a game from Davis Field to Holt Arena after it became clear the lightning wouldn’t go away. The playing conditions in Holt weren’t perfect, but it worked and it was a heck of a lot better than rescheduling or not playing the game at all.

Don’t count the Broncos out in the brutal 5-6 District

The champs are down, so let’s write-off the Blackfoot Broncos.

After losing to the Idaho Falls Tigers 40-35, the Broncos have rammed straight into a season where they won’t just reload. We’re one game into 2013, so it’s time to expound that it’s a rebuilding year for the two-time champions, right?

Idaho Falls shredded Blackfoot with precise routes, dead-on passing and when receivers didn’t find open space for quarterback AJ Martin, the 6-foot senior  effortlessly scrambled away for first downs.

The Tigers have installed the Pistol offense and they play fast. Anybody working the chains during an Idaho Falls game better show up ready to sprint.

Martin did his best impersonation of Eastern Washington’s Vernon Adams, a dual-threat signal caller who can sling a rocket to a streaking receiver or scamper away from pressure to extend a drive.

But, still, it doesn’t matter if I tell you Martin, his receivers or the new Tigers’ offense is good. Idaho Falls, with back-to-back 2-7 seasons, is Idaho Falls.

The storylines going into week zero of the high school football season surrounded the idea that Blackfoot is good and Idaho Falls is a program in the dumps. There’s no excuse for the Broncos to let the Tigers rack up 34 first-half points. It’s proof positive they aren’t winning a third-straight championship — forget about even reaching the 4A state playoffs.

Trae Pilster, Alonzo Ramos and Colby Pearson aren’t walking through the locker-room doors this Friday to save the day, either.

Of course, we could step back for a moment, survey the situation and study Blackfoot’s first game. If we do, we can recognize the Broncos stuffed Idaho Falls in the game’s final 12 minutes.

Blackfoot raged back and scored touchdowns with under nine, five and two minutes left in the game to nearly complete an improbable comeback. It wasn’t until Clayton Powell nabbed a night-ending interception with seconds left that the Tigers’ upset was secure.

The Broncos performed like a young and inexperienced squad for 36 minutes — which they largely are — but in that final quarter they played like a prototypical Blackfoot championship team.

Want to write off Stan Buck and the champs? Do so at your own peril.

Now it’s not that Blackfoot and its reputation are going to walk into the 4A state playoffs.

People think the NFC West is going to be tough this year, but the Seahawks, 49ers, Rams and Cardinals should thank the pigskin gods they don’t have to tangle with the Indians, Diamondbacks, Broncos, Bees and Trojans.

Bonneville hung 53 points on the road at Ravsten Stadium against Skyline.

Pocatello whipped Spring Valley (Nev.), a school with an enrollment more than twice the size of the Indians, 42-7 in the Rumble.

Rigby knocked off Hillcrest 19-14.

Century hasn’t played a game yet, but it’s the best Diamondbacks squad in years.

Those four are fighting Blackfoot for the 5-6 District’s two playoff spots. (No disrespect to Preston, but the Indians are not a threat.)

It’s going to be a knock-down, drag-out, teeth-bashing type of a battle, especially for that No. 2 spot.

How valuable is that second playoff slot? Whoever it is will get to play District 4’s top team. We’re talking about Burley, Twin Falls, Canyon Ridge, Jerome, Minico or Wood River.

That’s practically a straight walk into the semifinals. Then someone is one step away from a state championship berth.

Just don’t count out the team in Blackfoot — not yet. They’re pretty familiar with that time of the season.