COLLEGE PLACE, Wash. — In a matchup that had historically favored The College of Idaho, the Yotes suffered their first-ever defeat to Walla Walla University on Friday afternoon, falling 4-3 in a tightly contested Cascade Collegiate Conference opener. The loss marks the end of a 13-match winning streak against the Wolves, a series that dates back to their first meeting in 2001. Until today, the closest result had come in 2019, when the Yotes escaped with a 2-1 win.
Despite the result, sophomore forward Keidin Green delivered a standout performance, scoring all three goals for the Yotes, including two unassisted strikes and a pair of converted penalty kicks. Green now leads the team with three goals on the season and has converted both of his penalty attempts.
The match was a back-and-forth battle from the opening whistle. Walla Walla struck first in the second minute, but Green responded with goals in the 22nd and 29th minutes to give the Yotes a brief lead. The Wolves equalized just before halftime and added two more in the second half, including the game-winner in the 72nd minute. Green's third goal in the 64th minute had tied the match at 3-3 before Walla Walla pulled ahead for good.
Statistically, the Yotes matched the Wolves shot-for-shot, finishing with 15 attempts to Walla Walla's 15, and placed 10 shots on goal compared to 9 by the hosts. The College of Idaho earned six corner kicks and committed 11 fouls, while Walla Walla was whistled for 27 fouls and issued five yellow cards. Yotes goalkeeper Matej Hron made five saves in the match and has now recorded nine saves across two appearances this season.
Through two matches, The College of Idaho holds a 0-1-1 record and has scored three goals on 29 shots, averaging 14.5 shots per game. The Yotes have earned 11 corner kicks and converted both of their penalty attempts, while defensively allowing four goals on 28 shots.
The Yotes will look to bounce back on Sunday as they continue their road trip with a conference clash against Warner Pacific. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. MT.
