CALDWELL, Idaho – Playing under the lights at Simplot Stadium for the first time, The College of Idaho lacrosse won their 20th-straight regular-season game, using a huge second half to a 17-6 victory over Utah State in the season opener for both teams.
The Yotes (1-0) used a 5-goal flurry early in the fourth quarter to blow the game wide open – as
Joey Brant had four goals and newcomers
Loy Howard and
Dane Hamilton each found the net three times.
The opening 30 minutes was a defensive struggle, as Brant scored a goal in each of the first two quarters, giving the hosts a 4-2 lead at the break.
Adjustments at halftime paid off for C of I – scoring four goals in a two-minute third quarter window, started by a
Ty Burnett goal and ended by a
Casey Davies strike off a Hamilton pass, to give the Coyotes an 8-2 lead.
C of I took a 10-4 lead to the final quarter, but a devastating 2-minute non-releasable penalty early in the period on the Aggies (0-1) worked to the Yotes advantage. Howard scored back-to-back goals and Hamilton scored two goals sandwiched around a Davies finish – all in a 73-second span – extending the lead to 15-4.
Cade Brown did the rest, as the Coyote goalie made 14 saves in the victory – including a 24-minute stretch without allowing a goal.
The Yotes improved to 17-0 all-time at Simplot Stadium, while winning their 18th-straight home game, dating back to 2016.
C of I was to play Sunday at Boise State, however the match has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns within the BSU program.
