Kicking off the second half

After controlling the Big Sky Conference for the first half of the season before succumbing to powerhouse Sacramento State last week, the Vikings (15-5, 8-1) kick off the second half of their conference schedule with a match at Idaho State (5-15, 1-7) on Saturday.

Getting off to a great conference start, the Vikings easily trounced Idaho State to the tune of a three-game sweep in their first bout this season. The early September meeting was the squad’s first Big Sky Conference match of the year, and this weekend the Vikings will look to replicate the stellar performance they exhibited against the Bengals.

Head Coach Michael Seemann and his staff are anticipating a more difficult task this time around.

“We know that we have surprised teams thus far, and even surprised ourselves,” Seemann said. “We will have to play in tough environments against teams that know us now a bit better.”

With only three home matches left in the season, facing intimidating crowds on the road will be a situation the Vikings must become accustomed to quickly if they hope to secure a high seed in the Big Sky tournament.

Portland State’s ability to rebound from last Saturday’s defeat at the hands of Sacramento State is another factor that will determine the Vikings’ fate for the remainder of the season. The loss to the Hornets marked the first time Portland State had stumbled against a conference foe the entire season.

The Vikings may have surprised a number of their opponents during the first half of Big Sky play. But if the team continues taking apart conference opponents with solid play, Portland State should keep pace with conference leader Sacramento State. This would create a playoff-caliber match between the schools at the Stott Center in the season’s last regular season match.

Seemann and his team know the first step toward the march for that marquee match versus the Hornets begins Saturday night against an Idaho State squad that has won two consecutive contests.

Portland State at Idaho State 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 20