Pirates make Cutthroats walk the plank
Payette wins opening round game at state
The Community School found out firsthand why the Payette Pirates are ranked #1 in the state in 3A girls? soccer.
In the first round of the 3A State soccer tournament in Boise Thursday, Payette (19-2) pounded the Cutthroats 7-1.
Coach Kelly Feldman remarked, ?Payette is a good team. We haven?t seen that kind of competition. Our league is not at that level.?
Playing in soggy conditions at the Capital Soccer Complex in Eagle, the Cutthroats (8-4) struck first, scoring the first goal five minutes into the contest.
Cassidy Doucette tracked down a beautiful lead pass by Sara Berman, which bounced over two defenders. The sure-footed Doucette collected the ball and cracked a left-footed shot over the goalie?s head for the game?s initial goal.
The advantage held up for exactly seven minutes, and the tie evaporated even faster than that.
Payette?s star striker, junior Mandy Grief scored at the 12-minute mark and sophomore Hannah Peterson gave the Pirates the lead just a minute later.
Payette pushed the score to 3-1 within 15 minutes. Grief notched her first assist on a goal by Jennifer Stemple and also served up a header, which Eva Thomason converted. Right before that, Grief buried the fourth goal of the game.
The score stood 5-1 at the half and the Pirates had outshot the Cutthroats 17-3 with goalie Oey Parker making seven saves.
Feldman put in freshman keeper Jean Montgomery (six saves) in the second half and she held the Pirates in check, allowing two goals on 10 shots, with one, an own goal, coming off a Cutthroat defender.
?Payette?s defense was their weak link but we could not get the ball to our forwards. We were forcing it down the middle instead of getting it to the outside,? Feldman said.
Feldman was pleased with the performances of several players, including defensemen Lexie Pragasstis and Caitlin Enright.
?Lexie Pragasstis had a great game and Caitlin Enright was fabulous, She had to mark their toughest player,? she said.
?Our freshmen Jessie and Cody Curran also did a great job in the middle.?
The Cutthroats are now faced with a must-win game today to play again on Saturday.
Today, Friday, Oct. 29, The Community School meets Shelley (a 5-2 loser to Bonners Ferry) at 11 a.m. The winner will play Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Feldman remarked, ?We?ll try and leave this game behind and just go forward from here.?
