MOSCOW, Idaho—Alyssa Pease netted her second goal of the season Sunday afternoon, helping the Vandals to their first win of the 2013 season. Idaho battled to a 3-1 win on Guy Wicks Field against Western Athletic Conference rival, Grand Canyon.

“It was a scrappy win, but we will take it any way it comes,” head coach Pete Showler said following Sunday’s contest. “In parts it was good today. In other spots we still have areas to improve upon. That said we will take the win any way it comes.”

Idaho (1-7-0, 1-0-0 WAC) found momentum early outshooting Grand Canyon 4-0 in the open 20 minutes of play. In the 20th minute Katie Baran set up a corner kick at the left flag for the Vandals. She sent the ball into the box and found Alyssa Pease alone on the goal line for a tap in goal and her second of the season.

“I was standing by myself on the goal line and the ball just came to my feet,” Pease said. “I just kind of tapped it in. It was really weird, but it worked.”

Grand Canyon (1-7-0, 0-2-0 WAC) kept the Vandals at bay outshooting Idaho 9-8 in the first half. A defensive lapse by the ‘Lopes gave the Vandals a 2-0 lead to take into the second half. Kelli Ford tried to head the ball forward out of the GCU defensive zone. Instead the ball took a high backwards-bounce off her head and over keeper Catherine Lena’s head, bouncing into the net, for the own goal and eventual game-winner.

Baran totaled three points on the day. She added a goal of her own after she had a header attempt towards the end of the first half hit the crossbar. Baran got her second goal of the season in the 68th minute, firing a shot from 10 yards out. She took the pass from Alyssa Lloyd in the center of the field and beat Lena, giving the Vandals the 3-0 advantage.

Idaho’s three goals on the day are the most this season. The Vandals only scored three or more goals once last season, coming against New Mexico State in a 3-1 win in late October.  

The ‘Lopes got on the board in the final minutes of play. GCU was awarded a penalty kick for a call inside the goal box. Cierra Valdez struck the spot kick and beat Torell Stewart to get the score to 3-1.

Idaho next welcomes in New Mexico State and UMKC as WAC season carries on. The Vandals will host the Aggies on Friday, Sept. 27 at 4:00 p.m. PT. The ‘Roos will make their first appearance at Wicks Field on Sunday.   

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