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POCATELLO, Idaho — Senior defender Kayla Henningsen scored in the 16th minute, and redshirt junior goalkeeper Caitlin Plese made nine saves, as the Portland State women's soccer team picked up a big road win in Big Sky Conference play Friday, beating Idaho State 1-0 at Davis Field.
 
Idaho State (5-7-0, 2-3-0 Big Sky) had been 4-1-0 at Davis Field going into the match, but lost to the Vikings (5-5-3, 2-2-1 Big Sky), who have now won five straight matches on the Bengals' home field. The win also vaults the Vikings over the Bengals in the Big Sky standings, giving them seven points in conference play to the Bengals' six.
 
"Our road schedule this year was very difficult, and Idaho State has always been a difficult place to come and play," PSU head coach Laura Schott said. "Getting this win today is important for our team moving forward."
 
Friday's win also marks a return to form for the Vikings' defense, as the shutout of the Bengals gives Portland State its first shutout since the team's 1-0 win over Oregon on Sept. 12. Additionally, Friday's win marks the team's first road shutout since a 3-0 win over Colorado State on Sept. 5, which was also the Vikings' only other road win in 2014.
 
"The defense played much better today, with Caitlin solid in goal for us," Schott said. "It was a well deserved shutout."
 
Henningsen helped bolster the Vikings' defensive effort Friday, as she put the Vikings up 1-0 early with a goal off a corner in the 16th minute. Freshman forward Mackenzie Bean earned the corner for the Vikings, as Idaho State goalkeeper Sheridan Hapsic tipped her shot over the crossbar on the play before.
 
Once it was awarded, sophomore midfielder Bianca Munoz took the corner for the Vikings, and sent a pass to a charging Henningsen on the near post, where Henningsen was then able to thread a ball through the Idaho State defense and into the net.
 
The goal marks the second of the season for Henningsen, who also scored a goal in the Vikings' 3-0 win over Colorado State. The goal also gives Henningsen eight in her career at Portland State, leaving the senior just one goal from moving into a tie for eighth place all-time at the school.
 
The pressure then fell to the Portland State defense to preserve the lead after Henningsen's goal, and Plese answered the call for the Vikings.
 
The Bengals had their first real look at a goal in the 28th minute, when senior forward Amanda Ellsworth fired a hard shot on goal for the Bengals. Plese was in perfect position for the shot, however, and fielded it cleanly to keep the Vikings on top 1-0.
 
Idaho State's real push came late in the match, though, as they began to push for an equalizer in the 70th minute and onwards.
 
The Bengals got a good look at a goal in the 76th minute, when they earned a free kick deep in their attacking half. The Bengals sent the kick directly into the Vikings' wall, however, and the Portland State defense was able to clear the ball away with little damage done.
 
The Bengals earned another deep free kick in the 87th minute, but Plese made her ninth and final save on the play to keep Idaho State out of the net.
 
Idaho State then had one final chance in the 89th minute, when they earned a late corner, but the pass on the play went directly to a Portland State defender, who was able to clear out the initial threat.
 
Overall, the Vikings defense withstood 18 shots from the Bengals, including nine in the second half when the Bengals outshot the Vikings 9-4.
 
The Viking offense, meanwhile, had some chances of its own for a second goal Friday, including several in the first half when the Vikings totaled 11 shots in the period. Junior midfielder Emma Cooney had the first chance of the match for the Vikings, as she fielded a flick on in just the right position in the seventh minute, giving her an early run at a goal. Hapsic saved Cooney's subsequent shot, however, and then saved another shot on goal two minutes later, this time from freshman defender Maddie Prehoda.
 
Junior midfielder/forward Cori Bianchini also had a look after Henningsen's goal, but Hapsic saved the shot again.
 
All told, five of the Vikings' first seven shots in the match were sent on goal, and the Vikings finished with the match seven shots on goal, all of which came in the first half.
 
The Vikings will now look for revenge in their next match, as they host Weber State Sunday, Oct. 12, at 1 p.m. (PT) at Hillsboro Stadium. The match will be a rematch of the 2013 Big Sky Tournament final, which Weber State won in penalty kicks over the Vikings. Weber State will be coming off a 2-0 loss on the road against Sacramento State earlier Friday.
 
Match Notes: The Vikings improved to 9-8-1 all-time against Idaho State with their win Friday…The Vikings have now won eight of their last nine matches against the Bengals…Additionally, the Vikings have not given up a goal to Idaho State on Idaho State's home field since 2004…The Vikings improve to 5-0-1 when scoring first in matches this season, and 4-0-1 when leading at halftime.

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