RENO, Nev. Nevada defender Erin Smith scored the game-winning goal in the 69th minute and forward Cristen Drummond added an insurance goal in the 87th as Nevada shutout Idaho 2-0 Friday night at Mackay Stadium.
Smith scored on a header off Karen Zmirak’s corner kick to record her third goal of the season while Drummond took the ball up with right side of the field and beat the keeper far post in the 87th minute for her team-leading fourth goal of the year. Smith is second on the team in goals this season with three.
The Pack had several good looks in the first half. In the 10th minute Annabelle Allen played Miranda Montejo in behind the Vandal defense. Montejo took a touch and as the keeper came off her line Montejo took a shot that was knocked down by keeper Elizabeth Boyden. Drummond tried to track down the loose ball in the box but Boyden was able to collect the ball before Drummond could make contact.
In the 24th minute Samantha Miller played Drummond wide on the right side of the field. Drummond took the ball to the edge of the 18-yard box and fired a shot that Boyden punched over the crossbar and out of bounds for a Nevada corner kick.
Less than 10 minutes later, Devin Noe took a corner kick that was kept alive with a header by Erin Smith. Drummond brought down Smith’s header with her back to goal, turned and took a shot from within the six-yard box that hit off the crossbar and went out of bounds.
Nevada ended the game with 16 shots (seven on goal) while Idaho finished with five (three on goal). Jessica Thompson and Zmirak each took a game-high four shots. Pack keeper Marie Cove recorded the shutout in goal for Nevada and recorded three saves. Boyden made five saves in goal for the Vandals.
Nevada will play its final home match of the regular season on Sunday at 1 p.m. hosting Boise State. Sunday will be Senior Day and will mark the last regular-season home game for Nevada’s seven seniors: Karen Zmirak, Miranda Montejo, Jessica Thompson, Partice Godwin, Sarah Hunt, Samantha Miller and Trisha Gibbons.
