Idaho Vandals Women’s Soccer Battles Washington State Cougars to 1-1 Draw in Spring Battle of the Palouse
Idaho Remains Unbeaten in Spring Season After Palouse Rivalry Clash
MOSCOW, Idaho — The rivalry between the Idaho Vandals and the Washington State Cougars carried all the intensity of a fall conference matchup on Wednesday when the two programs met on the P1FCU Kibbie Dome turf for a spring season clash. The two teams battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw, leaving Idaho’s spring record at 3-0-1 and unbeaten through four matches.
Despite the spring calendar, the atmosphere and physical nature of the contest mirrored what fans typically see when these two Palouse rivals meet during the regular season. Head coach Jeremy Clevenger credited his players for rising to the competitive challenge.
“When you play Washington State, it’s always going to be a tough-fought and physical game,” Clevenger said. “It’s more like a fall game than a spring game. And I thought, give our players credit, we dominated. I told the team moments like that are going to help us prepare for the fall.”
The match was played across three 30-minute periods, with neither team finding the net in a competitive and evenly matched first period. Idaho came out with intensity, relying on effective passing and dynamic movement to create pressure on the Cougars’ defense. Washington State responded by pressing the Vandals and forcing a more direct style of play, but Idaho remained the more dangerous side throughout much of the contest.
Freshman Caitlyn Riggs Headlines Big Moments for the Vandals
The electricity came in the second period. Washington State broke through first in the 41st minute, converting off a well-worked corner kick sequence. A recycled ball found a wide-open Cougar who sliced a finish into the net to give Washington State the lead.
The advantage, however, lasted less than a minute.
Off the ensuing kickoff, redshirt sophomore forward Cali Chiarelli drove directly at the Washington State defense, using her pace and skillful movement to win a corner kick for the Vandals. Idaho sent the ball in, and freshman center back Caitlyn Riggs met it with a precision header, placing the ball into the top corner past the Cougars’ goalkeeper to equalize. The goal was Riggs’ third of the spring season — a remarkable output for a first-year defender still finding her footing at the collegiate level.
The Vandals continued to press for a winner throughout the third period, generating problems for the Cougars with their combination play, movement off the ball, and passing connectivity. Despite controlling the run of play for large stretches, Idaho could not produce the finishing touch to claim all three points.
Freshman outside back Miranda Goldner was among the standout performers, logging the full 90 minutes on the field. Goldner, who arrived at Idaho known for her elite one-on-one defending, has been given expanded freedom going forward in the Vandals’ spring experimentation. Her pace and creativity gave Idaho an additional attacking threat that proved difficult for the Cougars to neutralize.
“Miranda is a highlight,” Clevenger said. “She’s a great player. When she goes forward, she can make things happen. She’s an impressive player. We want to get her involved in the attack so she can help us.”
Goldner was not the only freshman to impress. Midfielder Alyssa Hamilton and Makenna Stuart also stood out during the match, reinforcing what has become a clear theme for Idaho this spring: the program’s incoming class is ready to contribute in meaningful ways when the fall season begins. With the Vandals looking to leave their mark at the Big Sky tournament, developing depth across multiple positions could prove decisive in a competitive conference field.
The spring slate has served as a proving ground for personnel combinations and positional experiments, and by Clevenger’s assessment, the roster is responding well to the challenge. Matching Washington State — a physically demanding, well-organized program — in toughness and talent validated much of what Idaho has been building since the offseason.
What Comes Next
The Idaho Vandals will close out their spring season with a match against Central Washington University on Saturday, April 25, at 1:30 p.m. The result against Washington State gives the program momentum, depth, and confidence heading into what promises to be a competitive fall campaign. For more Idaho statewide sports coverage, visit Idaho News.