Bengals Host Weber State in Halloween Match Up for Chance at Big Sky Tournament

Oct. 26, 2009

Pocatello, ID--Idaho State (8-7-0, BSC 3-3-0) comes off a road sweep loss against Portland State and Sacramento State to complete an 0-3 Big Sky road record placing them fifth in the Big Sky standings. However, the Bengals are 3-0 at home in conference play and look to keep the undefeated streak alive on the day where the dead come to life as Idaho State hosts Weber State (6-10-0, BSC 2-4-0) on Halloween, Saturday, October 31 at 1 p.m. on Davis Field. Fans can follow along by listening live on KISU 91.1 FM. The Internet broadcast can be found on the ISU athletic webpage.

Idaho State still has several possibilities to make the Big Sky tournament though increasingly more likely with a victory over Weber State. The Bengals need a win and a Portland State win (to Sacramento State) or tie, OR an ISU win and an NAU loss (to Northern Colorado), OR an ISU win and an Eastern Washington loss (to Montana) or a tie. Chances are possible that Idaho State could advance with a tie, but the stars would need to align for the chance to occur.

The Bengal's last regular season game and home contest also welcomes Senior Day as three Bengals will be honored: Annamarie Hofstetter, Christina Beseris and Kacey Ball. This season Hofstetter has set the Big Sky Conference all-time career assists record set at home against Northern Arizona in ISU's 4-2 victory. She now holds 24 career-assists. The midfielder has recorded five goals and three game winners in her career including two this season.

Beseris plays in the defender position and has broken through the back lines to post 16 shots with seven on goal for a .438 shot on goal percentage. She scored the first goal of her career this season when connected on a deep high chip shot during ISU's 3-1 victory over Montana at home. Ball joined the Bengals last season as a junior college transfer, but has made a big impact in her brief time. Last season Ball played as a defender recording an assist and posting four shots with one on goal. This season Ball has primarily played as a forward and has recorded two goals and three assists. This season Ball posts the second most shots on the team with 34.

Idaho State is on a four game home winning streak and has out-scored its opponents at home 9-to-3 in conference play, having recorded eight of their nine goals in the first period. The ISU defense at home in Big Sky play is strong as they have allowed just six on goal shots. The Bengals hold a 52-22-12 (.674) record at home on Davis Field. Idaho State is on a 13-game non-overtime streak, the longest non-overtime streak for a single season in program history.

Weber State has nothing to lose as they cannot qualify for the conference tournament. Weber State opened with four straight victories including a 1-0 upset over #21 Utah. After its rise in fame the Wildcats hit a recession as the team went on an eight-game losing streak stretching into the Big Sky Conference. Weber State currently posts a 2-4-0 record in conference play for six points to earn them seventh place in the rankings. The team led by Jessie Baddley who holds 13 points from four goals and five assists. She holds a .545 shot on goal percentage.

The Wildcats lead the series 7-5-1 capturing the last meeting 2-0 in Ogden to host the Big Sky Conference tournament. Prior to their last meeting the Bengals hosted Weber State twice and shut out the Wildcats in each contest. Idaho State is 3-4-0 at Davis Field against Weber State.