The Idaho State soccer team’s offensive prowess has been well documented this year, but if it wants to compete for the Big Sky title then improvements need to take place on the defensive end of the field.
On Oct. 12 ISU defeated conference-leader Portland State behind the strong play of freshman goalkeeper Sheridan Hapsic.
After the game ISU head coach Allison Gibson said, “Sheridan and our defense just played tremendously.”
Hapsic posted five saves and only allowed one goal despite Portland State’s 20 shots with six on goal.
When our papers went to press ISU was in sixth place but these standings change more than Idaho weather. By the time these papers hit newsstands, ISU could be tied for first place in the conference.
The women’s soccer team is leading the Big Sky Conference at scoring with 1.73 goals per game. But on the defensive end they have allowed the fifth most goals by opponents.
An injury to ISU’s starting goalkeeper, Carly Hutchings-Maloney, forced head coach Allison Gibson to find a replacement.
On the roster, ISU had freshman Sheridan Hapsic and Maria Dela Cruz, a sophomore, who saw action in four games last year for the Bengals. Neither goalie had much collegiate experience but one of them would have to step up and replace Hutchings-Maloney. This sparked a ‘goalie controversy’ between Hapsic and Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz and Hapsic split time at the goal up until the first conference game against Montana. In her first full game Hapsic had six saves and only allowed one goal off an open net from a loose ball.
“Maria and I have been battling all season, so it’s been a good challenge for both of us,” said Hapsic. “It’s been nice to get some playing time as a freshman.”
Hapsic has given up seven more goals since becoming the team’s starting goalie.
She didn’t originally plan on attending ISU to play soccer but was recruited by ISU’s own Mikaela Carrillo. Hapsic and Carrillo have been playing soccer together since they were in the seventh grade. They played for San Clemente high school where their team, ranked number one in the country by ESPN, won the 2009 state championship.
Carrillo, a year older than Hapsic, stayed in contact with her teammate after she graduated and came to ISU. “I’ve heard from her along during her freshman year how much she loved it here and then my club coach relayed to me that Coach Allison wanted me here,” said Hapsic.
Hapsic chose ISU over other colleges based off the warm reception on her recruiting trip to Pocatello.
“I just loved it here,” said Hapsic. “When I got here all of the professors and the academic advisers were so willing to help. It just seemed like a perfect fit.”
ISU returns home for the final two games of the regular season. They face off against Northern Colorado on tomorrow at 4 p.m. and North Dakota on Saturday at 1 p.m. where both games will be played at Davis Field.