For the week of August 27 - September 2, 2003

Team looks to Arritola for tough defense

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By LAURA GVOZDAS
Express correspondent

The Community School girls soccer team hopes senior Morgan Arritola did her weightlifting over the summer because she’ll be carrying the team on her shoulders this fall.

The squad will be looking to the first-team all-state defender for her on-field intensity and distribution skills that she has consistently displayed since joining the Cutthroat squad.

Last year, senior captain Erika Connelly, who helped the 6-6-2 squad win the 2002 District Tournament, carried such responsibility. Connelly recently walked on to the women’s soccer team at the University of Denver.

The team is also looking to rebound from the two heartbreaking losses suffered at the 2002 state tournament in snowy Pocatello.

The cold weather was not very welcoming to the Cutthroats: they lost both games in shoot-outs.

"The state tournament is a good experience because we play teams that we just don’t see during the regular season," said coach Kelly Feldman.

"As always, our goal this year will be to advance to state and win a game at the state tournament."

Arritola and senior co-captain, Jenny Rutherford, will be in charge of helping the team achieve that goal.

"Jenny and Morgan have set a great example for the team on the field and we will definitely count on their experience as upperclassmen."

Rounding out the senior class are Amy Alexander and Kira Tenney.

This year’s squad has only a handful of upperclassmen but a large crop of freshmen. Feldman, in her second year as head coach, is trying to sort out how the pieces can fit together.

"It’s challenging to see where everyone is going to fit and see how the team gels," said Feldman.

Feldman is also looking to fill the hole left in the sweeper position.

The team suffered an early blow when Lexie Pragasstis blew out her knee while playing for Sawtooth United in the spring.

Pragasstis, who was second team all-state as a sophomore last year, won’t complete her rehabilitation in time for the soccer season.

"Losing Lexie was huge for us not only because she was our sweeper but because she’s an upperclassman."

The junior class now consists of only two players. Cassidy Doucette and Gussi Ochi.

The team graduated four seniors last year, but also lost several players in the junior and sophomore classes who did not return to the program.

"I’m really looking at the sophomores and freshmen to fill the blank spots," said Feldman.

The sophomore class includes Caitlin Enright and Corinna Pidgeon, who played on the team last year. Christina Walsworth and McKenna Peterson are both new to the program.

Eleven freshmen have come out for the team and Feldman is excited about so much interest.

"It’s great to see so many freshmen and many of them played Sawtooth United in the spring so they’ve been able to play a lot of soccer," said Feldman.

The freshmen are: Sara Adicoff, Mandy Alexander, Sara Berman, Alexandra Delago, Krista Detwiler, Lexi DuPont, Rian Erving, Erin Lebow, Ross Mills and Katie Rothegab.

The Community School season kicks off in high gear with an opening match-up against league foe, Buhl.

"It’s hard to start off the season with a league game because you would like to have a game to kind of work things out," said Feldman.

"But we’ll be ready."

 

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