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Idaho State’s season hangs precariously on the edge.
It’s the proverbial do-or-die time for the Bengals. After next week, ISU will either continue practicing for the Big Sky Tournament or they’ll turn in their gear.
With four games left for the defending conference champs, the year can end as a nightmare or as a dream.
Dream scenario: Idaho State wins each of its last four conference games, ensuring a berth in the postseason tournament (the top four teams qualify).
Nightmare scenario: Idaho State stumbles in one or more of its final games and the Bengals finish outside the top four.
Both scenarios remain in play.
Idaho State (5-6-2, 2-1-2 Big Sky) hosts Sacramento State (7-6-2, 3-2-1 Big Sky) today at Davis Field, and Portland State (8-4-2, 5-0-1 Big Sky) arrives Saturday.
The Vikings lead the conference with 16 points (three points for every win and one point for a tie) and the Hornets are stuck in a three-way tie for second at 10 points.
The Bengals sit in sixth with eight points. That has to be a stressful spot, right?
“We’re athletes; we live for the moment and pressure (like) those last two minutes of a game — those pressure moments,” said ISU midfielder Lauren Bermudez. “... So I think these last four games are perfect. Hopefully, the fans come and it’s a great atmosphere.
“It’s not pressure. It’s excitement and adrenaline.”
The rest of the Bengals reflect Bermudez’s attitude. Junior defender Taylor McBride said, “This is what we’re here for. Bring it on. This is the time for us to jump out of the hole we’re in and get it done.”
Idaho State is in an eerily similar situation to last season. Through five conference games in 2012, the Bengals were 2-2-1 and in eighth place. They won each of the last four games on the way to the postseason’s No. 1 seed and the Big Sky Conference championship.
But that team, the one that scored more goals than any other in the league, is gone. This year’s squad is fifth in goals per game and ninth in shots.
“It’s really just about creating more offensive opportunities and getting the ball into the attacking third as much as possible,” said Idaho State head coach Allison Gibson.
In particular, Gibson has harped on the mantra of finding the second goal. It hints at the idea that all of the teams in the conference are competitive. Rarely can the Bengals win a match by scoring a lone goal.
“Someone just has to bury the ball in the back of the net,” McBride said. “... (Gibson) can’t possibly train us any more on that. It just has to be us. ... Because that’s exactly what it comes down to. Our conference is that close.”
Idaho State and Sacramento State kickoff today at 4 p.m.
NOTES: Gibson and Sacramento State head coach Randy Dedini have a long history since they both played and graduated from Sonoma State. Gibson said they are old friends with similar coaching styles. ... Idaho State leads the all-time series 10-3-3. ... The last time ISU lost at home to Sacramento State was Oct. 27, 2005.
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