OREM, Utah—Idaho sophomore midfielder JP Burgess scored the lone goal, as the Vandals defeated Utah Valley 1-0 at Clyde Field on Friday night.

“I was very pleased how we defended as a team tonight,” head coach Pete Showler commented after the game. “Utah Valley is very good at attacking. They send seven up high every chance they get. Its a funny game at times. It was not strongest 90 minutes but the girls played hard and were up to the task and got it done. Everybody played their part today and we figured out a way to win.”

In the 81st minute, Burgess fielded a pass from freshman Kaysha Darcy on the right side of the field and fired a shot from 12 yards out to break the scoreless tie.  The goal was a pair of firsts for the two players. For Burgess it was her first career goal and Darcy picked up her first helper of the season.

Idaho (3-8-0, 3-1-0 WAC) had to be strong defensively throughout the game. The Wolverines outshot the Vandals 21-11 on the night. The Idaho keeper tandem of Marina Siegl and Torell Stewart were forced to make 12 saves to hold the Wolverines scoreless for the second time this season. The Vandals defense successfully fended off all eight Utah Valley corner kicks.

The Vandals have now played 180 consecutive minutes of shutout soccer against the Wolverines. Utah Valley and Idaho played to a 1-0 Vandal win on Sept. 21, 2012. Idaho now owns a 4-3 lead in the series against UVU, outscoring them 9-6.

Utah Valley (5-6-0, 3-1 WAC) controlled a good portion of the second half. The Wolverines had a goal called back on an offside call in the 72nd minute. Immediately following the call UVU’s Jamie Brown fired a shot off the crossbar in the 77th minute.

The Vandals totaled five shots in the first half. Senior defender Chelsie Breen recorded two shots, one on goal. In all the Vandals forced UVU keeper Lauren Sack to make seven saves on eight shots.  

NOTES: Idaho’s last shutout came against San Jose State on October 11, 2012 (2-0)…Nine points in the first four WAC games is the best conference start for Idaho since 2010 (12 points)…The Vandals have now won twice following a loss this season…Freshman Alyssa Pease has now lead the team in shots in four games this season (three tonight)…Siegl made her 10th start in goal on the season and played in the second half of a game she started for the first time in 2013.