POCATELLO — After more than 75 minutes of near-misses and an advantage in ball control for Idaho State, a simple tap-in goal sucked the remaining life from the Bengals soccer team.

ISU dropped its regular-season opener 2-1 to Missouri State on Friday at Davis Field, despite holding a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal and dominating possession for much of the second half.

The Bengals fielded seven underclassmen in their starting 11, and head coach Allison Gibson said the final minutes just came down to being lethargic.

“The biggest detractor for me was just our lack of effort in that last 8-10 minutes,” Gibson said. “It was not acceptable and it’s not Idaho State soccer style.”

With the score knotted at 1-1, the left side of Missouri State’s front broke through to set up Alix Opfer with an easy lob goal over ISU keeper Sheridan Hapsic in the 77th minute. Opfer’s second goal of the day came so easily after Idaho State had been so close for the entire second half. It drained the once energetic Bengals attack that was on the cusp.

“Just look to finish better,” said sophomore forward Maria Sanchez. “Pressure more and just go 100 percent the whole game.”

After making halftime adjustments to push the midfield forward, Gibson said her mids had a lapse in effort and allowed the Bears to slip up near the box for an easy go-ahead goal. Hapsic finished the day with four saves but was hung out to dry late in the game.

“It’s a gut-check type of a thing. All over the field,” Hapsic said. “We just lacked a little bit of effort towards the end and that’s what caught us with a goal getting scored in the last 13 minutes.”

Idaho State lost six seniors from last season’s squad that made the Big Sky Tournament title game, including all-time leading scorer Amanda Ellsworth. This year’s club carries 11 freshmen and seven sophomores, and a learning curve is inevitable. In Friday’s loss, six freshmen and five sophomores saw playing time.

“We have a long way to go and to grow with that group,” Gibson said. “It’s figuring out how to close a game and not give up the go-ahead goal and to try to get it on our end. That’s where the inexperience bites us big time.”

The Bengals got seven shots off in each half and went through a stretch early in the second period when every possession presented a scoring opportunity. Whether it be a misfire, a cross or corner being broken up by the defense or a timely save, Idaho State couldn’t break through.

Sanchez, who represented Mexico in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and Pan American Games, tallied six shots, four of which were on goal. She dazzled with nifty footwork and straight-ahead speed. But her equalizing goal in the 66th minute was largely a case of being in the right place at the right time.

MSU keeper Jessica Perry corralled the ball and brought it to the edge of the box. Resting her foot on top of the ball, Perry slipped, fell to the ground and Sanchez was waiting. She was bound to score after being around the net all day, and she finally caught a break.

“She’s obviously a world class player that’s going to try to pick those moments,” Gibson said.

Missouri State’s first goal was a second-minute strike by Opfer. Perry finished with eight saves in net for the Bears.

Idaho State (0-1) travels to UC Irvine for its next game on Monday.

BENGAL BITS

Missouri State 2, Idaho State 1

Crowd: 628

Conditions at kickoff: Sunny, 84 degrees

Records: Idaho State is 0-1 and Missouri State is 1-0

Key stat: ISU was hit with three yellow cards and owned a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal.

Key moment: MSU’s Alix Opfer scored her second goal of the day in the 77th minute to give the Bears a 2-1 lead.

Quotable: “Ball came over the top and I just saw four white jerseys at me. I didn’t know, at that moment, if I should step (to the ball) because I didn’t have any cover, or if I should just go for it. In hindsight, I should have just gone for it because I didn’t have cover.” — ISU keeper Sheridan Hapsic on Missouri State’s go-ahead goal.

“I’ll take a 5-1 loss if you’re dying on that field. But if you’re not (dying), then you’re going to hear it, and they heard it.” Bengals coach Allison Gibson on her team’s late lack of effort.

A montage of some of the near misses for ISU in a 2-1 loss to Missouri State #BigSkySoccer https://t.co/GUF8QzU6Ak

— Madison Guernsey (@MGuernsey_ISJ) August 22, 2015

MSU keeper loses control and Maria Sanchez picks it up for ISU's first goal of 2015. 1-1 with 23 to go #big... https://t.co/gE2RlU39oB

— Madison Guernsey (@MGuernsey_ISJ) August 21, 2015

One of several early second half chances for ISU #bigskysoccer https://t.co/JObgdenptx

— Madison Guernsey (@MGuernsey_ISJ) August 21, 2015