Idaho soccer topples Washington State for the first time since 1993

Aug. 13—PULLMAN — The Idaho women's soccer team began its season-opener with a little extra motivation. Three goals in the first 10 minutes made that obvious. And the reason — on top of playing eight miles west of their own campus against a historic rival ringing in a revamped Pac-12 Conference — made the result practically pre-destined. On Wednesday morning, Vandal coach Jeremy Clevenger and his wife, Idaho women's tennis coach Sanne Clevenger, welcomed their son, Beau, into the world. That evening, Jeremy Clevenger coached — and won — a soccer match against a familiar foe, leading his Vandals past the host Washington State Cougars 3-0 at Lower Soccer Field. It was Idaho's second win in the all-time series and first since the programs' inaugural meeting in 1993. "I think they wanted to get the win for me a little bit and they showed up," Clevenger said. The victory spoiled the debut of his former Big Sky colleague, Chris Citowicki. The first-year Cougar coach spent the last eight years at Montana, winning nine total conference titles and compiling a 7-2-2 record against Clevenger's Vandals. The two were hired by their respective institutions two months apart in 2018. Their last meeting ended via penalty kicks in the Big Sky Tournament semifinals with Citowicki and the Grizzlies advancing on Nov. 7. "Two coaches that know each other really well," Clevenger said. "Played a lot of games, good games, and we knew it was going to be a battle." Citowicki said that he texted Clevenger his congratulations on the birth of his son ahead of the game. WSU's coaches presented him with a gift pregame. "Idaho played well. Idaho executed the game plan. Idaho will be a great Big Sky team and did the job necessary to get the results," Citowicki said. "So kudos to them and kudos to him and his family, because nothing better than having kids." A jolt of pride The Vandals got about the perfect start less than two minutes into the contest off the foot of senior forward Calli Chiarelli. On a crosser from the far left corner courtesy of former WSU forward Georgia Whitehead, WSU fifth-year goalkeeper Ashlyn Dvorak mishandled the ball, leaving the goal unattended with Chiarelli waiting right in front of her. With a gift in front of her, Chiarelli, who has the word "Breathe" written on her wrist, did exactly that, tapping in the easy goal. "It dropped right to my feet and all I had to do was redirect it in and it was just one of those moments where it's like 'Keep myself calm, keep composure,' because it's very easy to sail over the net in those moments, especially when it's just you and the ball," Chiarelli said. "Right place, right time, keep calm, and just place it in." Idaho kept its foot on the gas with a rangy boot that Hallie Prinos-Grumbach headed in exactly five minutes into the contest. Then it was another precise placement with a throw-in by Prinos-Grumbach directly to Alyssa Hamilton, who delivered another scorcher straight past Dvorak for the third goal, all just minutes apart. The Cougs found their footing defensively, but the damage was done. As the WSU fight song blared over the speakers — as it does after every match, win or lose — the Vandals celebrated across the pitch with the healthy contingent of black-and-gold-clad supporters. Then, they gave their coach a water bottle shower with plenty to celebrate. "It was just the perfect moment because he came into our team room before our team talk and was like, 'I added a new member to my family, and that's a new member to this family. So let's go out and play as a family,'" Chiarelli said. "And I think we did just that today." A stumble out the gates for WSU This is certainly not the start that Citowicki or his team had anticipated. Several defensive blunders doomed the Cougs early, particularly on Idaho's deep throw-ins, which are a signature Clevenger tactic that Citowicki knows well. Dvorak, a Big Sky championship-winning goalie who saw her mistakes Wednesday night turn into Idaho goals, had a far cleaner final 80 minutes, which included three saves. Even after three goals in 10 minutes, Citowicki said he did not consider benching his goalie. "You have to fight your way through something like this. Nobody hides. Nobody's going to run away from it. We're going to own it," Citowicki said. "I've seen her make a couple mistakes before, and she's always rebounded correctly, and I know she will again because she will take this personally, and it'll fire (her) up to be even better next time." That next time? WSU hosts South Florida at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Cougs were missing the ability to contend for balls in the air, Citowicki said. What happens next is how the coaches make their money. "That just needs to be dissected in the locker room as to what was missing, because we all feel it," Citowicki said. "There was a fight that was lacking a little bit, and it's 'How do we address that?' "If this is what it looks like in October, I'll punch myself in the face. But it won't because I know they're going to improve. I know they want to improve." History made. History ahead? Projected to finish second in the Big Sky based on the conference coaches poll, the Vandals gave that prediction credence with the program's first win over WSU in 33 years. "It's a great start," Clevenger said. "We have expectations and high hopes for this year. I think it's a very talented group, but you always want to start the right way. When starting like this in a rivalry game and putting three goals in, (getting a) shutout, we couldn't ask for (a) better start." Now the challenge lies in keeping up the momentum. The Vandals' next test is their home opener at 6 p.m. Saturday against Cal State Northridge. "Like Jeremy (Clevenger) said, 'We got better today,' and I think that if we can continue to carry that uphill this season, then we're going to have a really good season," Chiarelli said. "I'm excited to see what comes next." Idaho 3 0—3 WSU 0 0—0 Idaho — Calli Chiarelli (Georgia Whitehead), 2nd. Idaho — Hallie Prinos-Grumbach (Alyssa Hamilton, Miranda Goldner), 5th. Idaho — Hamilton (Prinos-Grumbach), 10th. Shots — Idaho 15; WSU 10; Saves — Idaho: Paula Flores 3. WSU: Ashlyn Dvorak 3. Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.