The Boise State soccer team is off to another great start. Brooke Heidemann and KT Clayton each scored twice as the Lady Broncos downed Idaho State in their home opener, 4-1 yesterday.
"We talked a lot about the importance of winning the state during the offseason," said head coach Jim Thomas. "The fact that we got to follow through with it is big for us and bodes well for the rest of the season."
A crowd of 681 turned out to welcome Boise State, which traveled to Moscow for a 2-0 win over Idaho Friday. Idaho State, now 2-2 on the season, took the first two shots in the first 14 minutes of the game before Boise State struck.
Hailey DeVries set up the score by taking possession of the ball from her own end and taking it upfield. Just prior to the midfield stripe, DeVries sent a perfect pass to Heidemann, who broke free. Heidemann moved into the box and booted a shot to the back of the net from 10 yards away. It was Heidemann's third goal of the year.
Four minutes later, Clayton connected on a pass from Heidemann. Then, Heidemann grabbed control of the ball on the left wing, dribbled in, and sent a strike across the box. Clayton flew in and connected just enough to send the ball trickling inside the right post for Boise State's third goal.
Meanwhile, freshman goalkeeper Janelle Flores kept ISU at bay with five first half saves, and Boise State led at halftime, 2-0.
In the 61st minute, Kayla Tucker took the ball down the right wing and sent a high cross near the far post. Heidemann soared over the Bengal players and headed the ball inside the right post for a spectacular goal.
"She does this stuff all the time in training," said Thomas. "We just want everyone to see it. When she out jumps a kid who has three or four inches on her, now you start to see some of that athleticism, obviously we saw it when she played goalie for us. A play like that is a testament to her technical development and pure athleticism."
Clayton notched her second goal of the afternoon eight months later, when Kelsey Nicassio spotted Clayton heading from the left wing. Nicassio sent Clayton a perfect pass that KT reached right before the Bengal defender and goalie. Clayton sent the ball into the goal from 20 yards out.
It was just the sixth time in school history that two players scored multiple goals in a match--the last duo to achieve it was Shannon Saxton and Cheyenne Jones in 2010 vs. New Mexico State.
Idaho State scored just 13 seconds later, when Madeline Gochnour sent a shot into the goal when Flores fell down.
"We don't take a ton of shots," Thomas said. "We don't shoot until it's right. We were predatory in front of goal today, and that's what it looks like when we're on our game."
Boise State hosts Gonzaga this afternoon at 4.
