For the week of  October 3 - 9, 2001

When a tie 
feels pretty good

Wood River, Buhl deadlock 1-1

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In the unfinished book called the 2001 Wood River High School boys’ varsity soccer season, the players and Wolverine coach Brian Daluiso seemed to be on different pages—until late last week.

Fifth-year coach Daluiso (56-14-7), accustomed to success on the soccer field, had lots of questions about his team’s intensity and desire.

Players felt Daluiso, whose Hailey squads have landed in the state soccer championship game three straight years, was being over-critical—and not offering enough positive encouragement.

Things came to a head after a disastrous 6-5 home league loss to Declo Wednesday. It was a game in which Wood River couldn’t quite rally from a deep 6-1 deficit, despite three goals by Chase Cleveland and two by co-captain Vince Nagashima.

The team got together and decided to turn over a new leaf.

Daluiso said, "We had a little meeting. Everyone’s attitudes have been terrible, including mine, and mine might have been the worst."

Wood River proceeded to come out like a ball of fire Saturday in a home league game against Buhl. The final score was a 1-1 tie, Nagashima saving the day with a left-footed goal off a Tate Mills corner kick with only two minutes remaining.

But Wood River simply dominated the contest, outshooting Buhl 31-7. The Wolverines did everything but put the ball past rangy Tribe goalkeeper Darrin Peterson.

"We owned Buhl," said Daluiso. "We talked. We supported each other, dropped back and overlapped. We just couldn’t get the ball in. It was best game we’ve played so far."

Credit a very aggressive defense led by junior sweeper Kyle Risner, senior stopper Eros Cugusi, sophomore back Matt Hansen, Mike Sinnott and Manuel Barriga. Risner and Hansen were particularly strong, going to the ball.

Moving top scorer Cleveland (16 goals) back to midfield and Nagashima (8 goals) to forward was a positive change for the team, Daluiso said. Nagashima had a number of great chances and finally put one in.

Wood River controlled the ball very well and outshot Buhl 13-4 in the scoreless first half. A 25-yard Tribe direct kick following a handball gave the visitors a 1-0 lead six minutes after the half. Subsequently, it was all Wolverine pressure.

A quick combination from Cugusi to Mills to Nagashima resulted in a screaming Nagashima shot that Tribe keeper Peterson swatted away like a MLS pro at 54 minutes. "Best save I’ve seen all year," Daluiso said.

Mills nearly rammed the ball into the short side at 78 minutes, but the ball deflected off the head of Peterson and earned Wood River a corner kick. Mills crossed the ball into the box, and Nagashima blasted it home.

Wood River had beaten Buhl 1-0 Sept. 4, but Wolverine players probably felt better about Saturday’s tie because of how they played.

The Wolverines (8-4-1, 8-2-1 league) entertained the ISDB Raptors Tuesday, then go to Filer today, Wednesday and host Wendell Monday. The "Senior Night" grudge match against The Community School is Thursday, Oct. 11.

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