Idaho beats Bengals; keeper comes up big

Alyson South scored and Idaho capitalized on an Idaho State own goal to notch a 2-1 non-conference women’s soccer win at Guy Wicks Field in UI’s home opener Friday.

Vandals goalkeeper Lindsay Smith made 10 saves as Idaho, despite being outshot 23-10 overall and 17-6 in the second half, improved its record to 2-4. ISU fell to 4-1-1.

•Megan Cecchini scored on a 20-yard free kick in the 12th minute as Washington State (4-1-1) upset No. 12 Pepperdine (5-1-1) 1-0 in non-conference play in Pullman.

It was the first goal Pepperdine had given up this season and ended the Waves’ six-game unbeaten run.

Cougars keeper Katie Hultin finished with four saves and Washington State outshot Pepperdine 18-8.

•Four Bulldogs scored as Gonzaga remained undefeated at home with a 4-0 non-conference win over local rival Eastern Washington (3-4) on Martin Field.

Heather Horn, Walker Loseno, Beth Drollinger and Annie Hawkins all scored as GU (5-2) outshot the Eagles 19-11.

Volleyball

North Idaho, with wins over New Mexico Military and Yavapai College, finished the day 2-1 and improved to 4-1 at the Arizona Western Tournament in Yuma.

The Cardinals’ only loss on the day came to L.A. Pierce.

Chanele Larsen finished the day with 26 kills and Collese Dornan added 23 for NIC (11-10).

•Washington State (3-6) cruised to a 30-13, 30-15, 30-19 win over Radford (2-6) at the University of Denver Invitational in Denver.

The Cougars hit. .364 as a team and were led by Kelly Rosin’s 10 kills and .421 hitting percentage.

•Lizzy Mellor totaled 26 kills and Keva Sonderen 20 as Eastern Washington swept Furman and beat Iowa in four games at the Iowa Hawkeye Holiday Inn Classic in Iowa City.

The wins improved Eastern to 3-5.

•Lauren Armas (11), Christina Davis (13) and Becky Jones (10) all reached double figures in kills as Gonzaga swept host Idaho State 30-26, 30-26, 30-25 at the ISU Volleyball Classic in Pocatello, Idaho.

GU is 4-6, ISU 3-9.

•Whitworth (7-1, 1-0) opened Northwest Conference play by sweeping host Pacific (1-8, 0-1) 30-17, 30-13, 30-26 in Forest Grove, Ore.

Men’s soccer

George Josten had a goal and an assist as Gonzaga handed Cal Poly its first defeat of the season in a 2-0 non-conference win in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

GU improved to 3-2; Cal Poly fell to 3-1-1.

Cross country

Gonzaga’s men finished second and the women third at the National Catholic Cross Country Invitational in South Bend, Ind.

Ryan Anderson paced the men with a fifth-place finish. Jill Semenza led the GU women, taking ninth.