For the week of November 6 - 12, 2002

Shootouts end 
state dream

Cutthroat girls exit early

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Shootouts haven’t been friendly to The Community School girls’ soccer team at the State 3A tournament.

Last year South Fremont and The Community School went through two overtimes tied 1-1 in their opening game of the state tourney at Buhl, and South Fremont won 3-1 on penalties.

Erika Connelly (right), outrunning Weiser’s Amanda Brent, scored all three Cutthroat goals at state and played well, wrapping up a fine four-year career. Express photo by David N. Seelig

It was a similar scenario for coach Kelly Feldman’s Cutthroats at last weekend’s state meet in Pocatello. Two excruciating shootout losses after 1-1 double overtime ties sent the Sun Valley girls (6-6-2) home early.

The Cutthroats tied eventual state runner-up Weiser 1-1 after two 10-minute overtime periods in Thursday’s opening game, then Weiser (16-7-2) advanced 3-0 on penalty kicks. Weiser fell to McCall-Donnelly 1-0 in Saturday’s championship contest.

In the Weiser game played on Thursday’s snowy field at Bannock County soccer complex, Erika Connelly’s free kick 13 minutes into the game gave the Cutthroats a 1-0 lead.

Sturdy sophomore defender Lexie Praggastis cleared a Weiser shot out of the goal to preserve the lead, but Weiser’s Tatianna Saito converted a pass from Nicole Picard for a 1-1 tie one minute before halftime.

That’s how it stayed the rest of the game, thanks to Weiser goalie Keri Huston, who fisted Morgan Arritola’s 40-yard rocket of a shot over the crossbar midway through the second half. Then Huston foiled the Cutthroats again in the shootout.

Huston made saves on kicks by Cassidy Doucette and Connelly, then Jenny Rutherford’s shot glanced off the crossbar. Weiser’s Cyndi Moore, Jessica Stakkeland and Krysta Baglien successfully put shots past keeper Erin Magee for the 3-0 win.

Coach Feldman encouraged the Cutthroats to work hard, gets lots of touches and play with determination in their Friday elimination game against American Falls (9-9-4).

Although the Cutthroats spotted American Falls a 1-0 lead on a long Marilou Garcia kick 10 minutes into the game, they created a lot of opportunities and had good shots.

Connelly scored on Rutherford’s centering pass at the 33-minute mark for a 1-1 deadlock. Connelly, Cassidy Doucette, Amy Alexander and Arritola all had solid chances in regulation, and Connelly in the first OT.

In the shootout Connelly shot first and scored first past Beaver frosh keeper Jamie Snow, giving the Cutthroats hope that their shootout curse was over. Another good sign—keeper Tracy Chubb made the first save.

But Pauli Ochi hit the crossbar, Lexie Praggastis shot wide and Arritola was so pumped up that she hit her shot halfway to Chubbuck. American Falls regrouped and Rosemary Martinez, Kascie Harris and Kari Udy all made their penalties.

Season scoring:

·  Community School (35 goals for/17 against)—Erika Connelly 8, Morgan Arritola 7, Cassidy Doucette 5, Jenny Rutherford 5, Kim Brown 3, Amy Alexander 3, Alissa Pragasstis 2, Pauli Ochi 1, Corinna Pidgeon 1.

 

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