Vandals Take on Reshuffled Cougars Wednesday Night
The University of Idaho women’s soccer team opens its 2026 regular season Wednesday evening with a road trip across the state line to Pullman, where the Vandals face Washington State at 6 PM. The matchup carries added intrigue this year, as the Cougars have undergone a major overhaul under first-year head coach Chris Citowicki.
Citowicki arrives in Pullman after eight seasons leading the Montana program, where he compiled a 79-39-32 record and established himself as one of the top coaches in the Big Sky Conference. His Montana tenure included three consecutive regular season championships, a 2023 Big Sky Coach of the Year honor, and a 2025 Big Sky Tournament title. He brought 10 of his former Montana athletes with him to Washington State, giving the Cougars a roster that blends 23 new faces with just 9 returners.
Dvorak Brings Elite Goalkeeping Credentials to the Cougar Net
Among those transfers from Montana is goalkeeper Ashlyn Dvorak, who enters her senior season as one of the most decorated players in the Big Sky. In 2025, Dvorak was named Big Sky Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, earned First-team All-Big Sky honors, and took home Conference MVP — an exceptional haul for a keeper who allowed just 11 goals all season while recording 63 saves and posting 9 shutouts.
Idaho fans have a recent memory of Dvorak’s work. The Vandals and Montana met in the semifinals of the 2025 Big Sky Tournament, where Montana advanced and went on to claim the tournament championship. Now Dvorak will be standing in the goal against Idaho wearing a different jersey, and the Vandals’ offense will have to solve her from the opening whistle.
Jeremy Clevenger, now in his eighth year leading the Idaho program, brings a squad that enters the season with clear expectations. The Vandals are projected as the No. 2 team in the Big Sky Conference preseason polls, a reflection of the program’s recent trajectory and roster depth. Idaho Football Coaches have expressed similar optimism about squad depth as fall camp gets underway, and confidence appears to be a theme across Vandal athletics heading into the fall.
Home Opener Saturday at Kibbie Dome
After the road test in Pullman, Idaho returns home for its 2026 home opener Saturday evening against Cal State Northridge (CSUN). That match is set for 6 PM at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome on the Moscow campus. It will mark the first home opportunity for Latah County fans to get a look at the Vandals under preseason expectations that have the program squarely in the Big Sky title conversation.
The Wednesday opener against Washington State sets the tone for what figures to be a competitive season in the Big Sky. With Citowicki’s program-building track record and a transfer-heavy Cougar roster anchored by one of the conference’s premier goalkeepers, Idaho will face a genuine challenge right out of the gate. How the Vandals respond in Pullman could offer an early indicator of whether they can live up to their No. 2 preseason billing.
What Comes Next
Idaho women’s soccer hosts CSUN on Saturday at 6 PM at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome in Moscow. The Vandals’ full 2026 regular season schedule and roster information are available at GoVandals.com. Big Sky Conference standings will begin taking shape over the opening weekend as programs across the conference kick off their seasons.