EUGENE, Ore. - It took extra time and a shootout, but the 15th-ranked College of Idaho women's soccer team captured their first CCC Tournament Championship in program history on Friday, taking down Northwest in a shootout. The game ended 1-1, while CI was able to shut down NU in the shootout, 2-0.
Freshman
Abbi Roubidoux scored in the first half for the Yotes, coming off of assists from
Deborah Pond and
Alondra Osuna. The game would remain 1-0 in favor of the Yotes heading into the halftime break. With just 12 minutes left, Northwest's Laura Rice took the ball from Talia Hurst to even the game at 1-1.
Throughout extra time, the Yotes were pushing the offense, firing off three shots in the process, with one of the shots being on goal. At the end of the two periods of extra time, the game was still deadlocked at 1-1, so a penalty shootout was needed to decide the winner.
Grad student goalkeeper
Hannah McFadden stepped up to the challenge, proving why she was named the Rize CCC Defensive Player of the Year. Through the Eagle's four shootout attempts, not one was able to beat McFadden. On the offensive side of the penalty shootout,
Payton Mongelli got the Yotes on the board in the second attempt, while freshman
Alondra Osuna buried the ball which would all but seal a Yotes victory, as McFadden was able to stop the fourth NU shootout attempt.
The game for the Yotes officially ended in a draw, but the shootout win was the biggest result in program history. In a season full of broken records, fiery offense, and stifling defense, the squad was able to rise to the challenge and win their first tournament championship in program history.
"Couldn't be more proud and honored to work with such an amazing group of young women," said head coach
Brian Smith. "We had massive goals this year and thus far have achieved every one of them. To go undefeated in the regular season and win the conference title is a historic moment for our program. For our alumni, friends, and families of the program, this is a day to celebrate. It's amazing to be a Yote!"
On McFadden's performance in the shootout to clinch the Yotes victory, Smith added "I told Hannah that save one you're a hero. Save two and they will build a statue. I guess the campus is going to have a building named after her! Unreal performance from her. This is the reason she is the best and the Defensive Player of the Year."
Up next, the Yotes will compete in the NAIA Championships, slated to begin later next week, with their opponent being determined on Monday.
