Soccer

Paula Flores Earns Historic Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week Honors

The Idaho Vandals goalkeeper’s flawless start to the 2026 season earns conference recognition

A Promising Start

Idaho Vandals opened the 2026 campaign with a 2‑0 record, highlighted by back‑to‑back shutouts that left opponents without a single shot on target.

In the season opener, Flores logged 90 minutes between the posts, turning away all five attempts from Washington State while preserving a 3‑0 victory. The following match against CSUN saw her extend the clean sheet to 180 minutes, facing just two shots and finishing with a 1‑0 win.

Stat Sheet That Speaks Volumes

Flores finished the opening week with a perfect save percentage of 1.000 and a goals‑against average of 0.00, numbers that instantly set her apart in a conference known for competitive attacking play.

Her consistency is not new. In 2024 she earned her first Defensive Player of the Week honor after posting consecutive shutouts against Weber State and Idaho State, and a year later she matched her career‑high of eight shutouts in 2025 while allowing just 20 goals over 1,820 minutes of play.

Looking Ahead to the Outrigger Invitational

The Vandals will next test their mettle at the Outrigger Invitational in Hawai'i, where Flores will defend the standards she set in the opening week against Western Michigan. The Hawaiian venue adds a unique backdrop to what has already become a standout start to her senior season.

The defensive line has yet to concede a goal in the first two matches, underscoring the impact of Flores’s performance on the team’s overall stability.

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