For the week of  October 17 - 23, 2001

Too powerful, Cutthroats breeze 9-2 in Hailey

WRHS plays well, can’t match scoring prowess

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"They have the guys who know how to put the ball in the net," said Wood River High School boys’ varsity soccer coach Brian Daluiso.

Kyle Risner, Wood River High’s junior sweeper, gets the inside track on the ball, chased by Community School sophomore John Hayes, during Thursday’s 9-2 Cutthroat win in Hailey. Slater Storey (left) watches the play. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Daluiso spoke admiringly about The Community School boys after the powerful Cutthroats used superior speed and scoring prowess to beat a depleted Wood River squad 9-2 Thursday on the Hailey field.

Cutthroat striker Josh Stanek (47 goals in 19 games) scored five goals for the third time this season as favored Sun Valley (17-2) extended its 2-0 half-time lead with six goals in the final 30 minutes.

Respectful of the Cutthroat talent, Daluiso was also proud of the Wolverine effort in a match that was much closer than the score indicates.

"The guys played an awesome game and I’m proud of them. We ran the show in the midfield," said Daluiso. "The Community School didn’t have the shots. But they know how to score. They had the goals."

Community School coach Richard Whitelaw, watching his team beat Wood River in Hailey for the first time since 1992 and only the third time ever, gave the Wolverines credit.

"Wood River was intense," Whitelaw said. "K.C. Rivera, Chase Cleveland and Kyle Risner all played well. For us, I thought Chris Cook started us going when he picked up his play in the midfield."

Unbeaten in its four previous games, Wood River (12-5-1, 11-3-1 league) was playing without four upperclassmen suspended for the season last week due to violations of the school’s Code of Conduct.

But the hustling Wolverines showed desire by limiting the high-scoring Cutthroats (7.2 gpg) to a 2-0 half-time lead.

The first goal was legitimate, a Stanek chip shot after a great individual play by Sean Higgins along the right wing.

Stanek, a senior making his 50th varsity start, got behind a fallen Wood River defensive player for a 2-0 lead at 20 minutes.

Wood River goalkeeper Honza Walter made a great save at 35 minutes then "Man of the Match" Stanek rattled a blistering shot off the post, no good, right before the half.

Stanek recorded his ninth hat trick of the season on a through ball five minutes into the second half. Wood River got right back in it at 3-1 when Mike Sinnott drilled a one-timer into the top right-hand corner after an outstanding Marcus Acker pass.

Once again Higgins, a junior with 20 goals, provided the Cutthroat scoring impetus when he dribbled through three defenders and booted a testing shot that Walter stopped. But Stanek made sure of the rebound for a 4-1 lead midway through the second.

"That fourth goal was a heartbreaker for us," said Daluiso.

The floodgates opened. Stanek put a header ahead for Nic Hanscom, a powerful line drive kicker who scored with a ground ball. Acker tallied for Wood River for a 5-2 game, but another Stanek pass set up Josh Sonneland for a 6-2 Cutthroat lead.

Stanek’s fifth goal, a penalty kick by senior Quinn Orb—his first goal of the season—and Hanscom’s second goal completed the scoring.

By scoring 16 goals in its two games against Wood River, the Cutthroats put a huge dent in the Hailey scoring superiority over the 19-season, 43-game series. In those games Wood River has scored 98 goals and The Community School 87.

 

 

Boys open soccer tourney with wins

Cutthroats, Wolverines

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As expected, The Community School and Wood River emerged with wins Monday on the first day of the eight-team Fourth District 3A boys’ prep soccer tournament at Buhl.

Coach Richard Whitelaw’s #1-seeded Community School kickers (17-2) stretched their school-record winning streak to 17 games with an easy 11-1 triumph over #8-seeded Filer.

"Man of the Match" Sean Higgins tallied four goals, as did Josh Stanek. Josh Sonneland added two goals and Chris Cook had a single. It was 10-0 at the half.

Coach Brian Daluiso’s #2-seeded Wood River Wolverines (12-5-1) posted a season-best scoring total with an 8-2 victory over#7-seeded Wendell, also on Monday at Buhl.

Daniel Bolognesi scored three goals—his second hat trick in the last five games—while Chase Cleveland (21 goals) had two goals to go with singles by Brandon Epp, Marcus Acker and Mike Sinnott. It was 6-1 at the half.

Because #3-seeded Declo downed #6-seeded Buhl 5-2 and #5-seeded Magic Valley Christian upset #4 Bliss 5-4 (2 OT) in Monday’s other district games, pairings were set for Tuesday’s semi-finals on the four-field Buhl soccer complex.

The Community School played Magic Valley Christian Tuesday, and Wood River battled Declo in the rubber game between the two teams. Tuesday’s winners advance to the district title game Thursday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m.

Since the district gets two berths in the Oct. 25-27 State 3A tournament at Buhl, the winner of Thursday’s championship game goes automatically to state—while the loser Thursday must play a 5 p.m. elimination game for a second berth.

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