The EWU soccer team competed against conference rivals Idaho State University and Weber State University on Sept. 26 and 28.

The Eagles first faced Idaho State, they fell to the Bengals 2-1 in double overtime. Head coach Chad Bodnar explained how the Bengals challenged the Eagles throughout the match. “They kept working, second half they responded well,” Bodnar said. “Maybe a little unlucky on our part, but you’ve got to grind and find a way to win those games and that’s kind of the hump we’ve got to get over.”

Eastern had a 1-0 lead early in the match. Freshman forward Chloe Williams scored Eastern’s only goal by a pass from freshman forward Savannah Hoekstra in the 18th minute.

EWU’s defense held Idaho State without a goal for 80 minutes. Soon after Eastern’s defensive effort, the Bengals’ sophomore midfielder Katherine Roberts would score a goal to tie the match in the 79th minute. The match went into overtime where both teams played head to head to force a second overtime situation.

Towards the final two minutes of the second overtime period, Roberts scored Idaho State’s game winning goal to give the Eagles a heartbreaking fourth loss of the season. Eastern’s only goal for the game is added to William’s goal total to two for the season.

Senior forward Cassie Black thought that Eastern could have pulled away with the win but couldn’t focus throughout the entire match. “I thought on Friday we were definitely the better team,” Black said. “We need to finish shots when we have them, we just let little mistakes keep adding up and it cost us the game.”

Hoekstra had an assist in Eastern’s only goal for the game as well. She took two shots during the game offensively. Black took three shots offensively. The Eagles, as a team, outshot Idaho State 7-2 in the first half.

For the entire game, including overtime, Eastern’s total shots accumulated to 14; Idaho State would finish with 16. Eastern had a total of four saves and six corner kicks, compared to Idaho State’s six saves and five corner kicks.

Eastern bounced back and dominated Weber State by defeating the Wildcats 5-1. Hoekstra described how the Eagles were able to get such a commanding win against the Wildcats. “They’re a very quick team,” Hoekstra said. “So it’s just a matter of pressing them and making sure that they can’t play around us. But I think we got the hang of it.”

The first goal was scored by Weber State sophomore forward Lana Willard in the 11th minute. However, the Eagles would score to tie in the 28th minute from a goal by Williams.

The Eagles scored four more goals in the second half. Black scored two goals, sophomore midfielder Kiana Hafferty scored one goal, and Hoekstra added to the scoring with a goal of her own.

Eastern finished with 10 saves, 20 shots and 2 corner kicks, while Weber State finished with 4 saves, 18 shots and 2 corner kicks. With the win, the Eagles improve to 4-4 for the season and 1-1 in the Big Sky Conference.

With even more conference games coming up on their schedule, Bodnar explained how important the rest of the season will be. “That’s what you play for is the conference,” Bodnar said. “Those are the most important games and trying to find a way to get to the postseason is the biggest reason that you’re playing.”

Eastern will compete on the road against Portland State University on Oct. 3.