For the week of September 18 - 24, 2002

Defense gives Cutthroats 2-1 victory

Early goals a factor

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Defense, goalkeeping and two first-half goals lifted The Community School boys’ varsity soccer team to a 2-1 win over arch-rival Wood River Wednesday in the 45th meeting of the Blaine County squads, held in Hailey.

Cutthroat senior Sean Higgins converted a centering pass from freshman Austin McCann at the 12-minute mark. McCann then scored his first varsity goal by heading home a John Hayes cross at 18 minutes.

Those two goals, combined with aggressive goalkeeping by senior Drew Detwiler and tough defense led by stopper Zac Brown, were just enough for coach Richard Whitelaw’s Cutthroats to hold off Wood River’s second-half flurry of chances.

"We were on our heels the entire second half. We were glad we had a two-goal cushion, but guarding it was a test of character," said Whitelaw. "Drew played well and came up big for us. And I thought we did a good job of defending Maicol Corrales."

The speed and finishing ability of Corrales, who scored two goals in each of Wood River’s first three wins, was a challenge for the Cutthroats. Once, Detwiler and Corrales clashed for a 50-50 ball, but Detwiler had the inside track. He snagged it, and Corrales was flagged with a yellow card.

Aware of how dangerous 2-0 leads can be in soccer, Whitelaw used his half-time speech to go over the various two-goal scenarios. "We knew what was going to happen in the second half, that Wood River was going to come on strong," he said.

Corrales was fouled early in the second half. Detwiler saved the subsequent direct kick by Chase Cleveland, but the ball bounced free and Wood River senior co-captain Mike Sinnott scored for a 2-1 game.

The rest of the game was "full of drama," Whitelaw said, as the Cutthroat defense led by "Men of the Match," Brown and right back Ash Higgins withstood several Wood River attacks. Also playing well was Cutthroat left back Taylor Rothgeb.

With six minutes left, Detwiler ranged far from the net to stop Wood River’s Marcus Acker. He made another big save, but he strained tendons in his ankle in the collision. Detwiler didn’t play Friday at Bliss.

The Community School (5-0 overall, 2-0 league) dominated in the offensive zone but barely won at Bliss by a 2-1 score, with junior Luke Fostvedt in the net. "We spent 98% of the time in their zone," said Whitelaw.

Junior MF Yancy Caldwell scored his first goal for a 1-0 Cutthroat half-time lead. Bliss equalized on a penalty, then Sean Higgins tallied the game winner eight minutes from time.

"Man of the Match," was Rothgeb, the sturdy defender who moved up to center midfield after Josh Sonneland hurt his ankle in the first 20.

"Give credit to Bliss. Their strategy was to put everyone back. We fell into their trap. But, like the game against Wood River, we found a way to win," said Whitelaw.

The Cutthroats, outscoring foes 20-3 in the last three games, stayed unbeaten Monday with a 9-0 league triumph at Wendell. "Man of Match" Sean Higgins tallied three goals, McCann two, Caldwell two, Sonneland one and Bobby Flanigan one.

Whitelaw’s team next plays Thursday, Sept. 19 at Buhl, while Wood River (3-1, 1-0 league) entertains Declo today, Wednesday.

Coach Brian Daluiso’s Wood River squad will try to regroup after the hard-fought 2-1 setback, only the fourth time in 21 meetings that Wood River has lost on its home field to the Cutthroats. Wood River’s fourth straight loss in the 20-season rivalry trimmed its series lead to 26-16-3.

The only consolation for Wood River was that Wednesday’s game against The Community School didn’t count in the league standings. Only the second meeting, Oct. 14 in Sun Valley, counts toward league records.

Assuming both teams run the table in league games, that game will determine the regular-season league champion. Just last week, athletic directors of the league schools decided that the higher-seeded teams will host all games in the tournament.

 

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