The Community School girls' soccer team captured the Fourth District 3A championship Wednesday evening in Elkhorn with a 6-2 victory over the feisty Buhl Indians.
Next on the Cutthroat's agenda is the state tournament which starts Oct. 19 in Meridian. If the #2 state-ranked Community School girls continue their winning ways, there's a good possibility they'll square off with #1 ranked Teton for the state championship.
Wednesday's defeat of the Indians boosted the Cutthroat's season record to 9-2-2. They're 8-0 in league play.
Adroit defense by Buhl goalkeeper Janna Lively kept the Indians in the game, until an overwhelming second half Cutthroat onslaught was too much for her to handle. The Indians matched the Cutthroats point for point for a 2-2 halftime tie, but were unable to score in the second half as the Cutthroats kept the ball in Buhl's zone nearly the entire second period.
Shot after shot pounded the Buhl net. Lively blocked many, some missed altogether, but the Cutthroats got four of them through. Tough to the end, Lively stayed in the game even when a sprained left ankle late in the second half had her limping to make saves.
"We really dominated the whole game, but they had an excellent keeper and she really kept them in the game," said Community School coach Kelly Feldman.
Things were mostly quiet in the Cutthroats defensive zone, especially in the second half, as the Cutthroat offense, led by Grayson Palmer, Rian Ervin and Cody Curran kept pressure on the Buhl net.
Curran scored twice, once in the first half and once in the second. Amanda Alexander scored the other first half goal. Palmer, Alexis DuPont and Jessie Curran contributed second half points.
Buhl's goals were both scored by team standout Autumn Yturbe.
The Indians (8-6-2 overall, 6-3 league) still have a shot at a state tournament berth, but they'll have to win two games to make it. They played Declo Thursday night, and could face a Fifth District team Saturday in Burley.
Wednesday was Senior Night for the Community School girls' soccer team. Following their victory, younger team members presented seniors Alexander, DuPont, Ervin, Palmer, Sara Berman, Krista Detwiler and Katie Rothgeb with flowers, crowns, balloons and congratulatory hugs.
Grayson Palmer scores a second half goal to help The Community School Cutthroats beat the Buhl Indians 6-2 in Elkhorn Wednesday evening. The victory gave the Cutthroats the Fourth District 3A championship and secured a berth in the state tournament that starts Wednesday in Meridian. Photo by David N. Seelig
