Already saddled with three canceled games because of wildfires, the Wood River High School girls' varsity soccer team came out ready to play Monday at home against the Pocatello Indians in Hailey.
In a very close battle, Wood River (3-3-1, 2-0-0 league) held off the hard-charging Indians 5-3 with junior forward Sam Johnson playing some great final minutes and scoring twice down the homestretch to keep Pocatello at arm's length.
Wood River's second straight victory wasn't finalized until Johnson's insurance goal at the 79-minute mark. Pocatello had rallied from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to make it close at 3-2 and 4-3. Wolverine coach Greg Gvozdas credited goalkeeper Madison Gove with excellent play to aid the win.
Monday's game was shifted at the last minute to the high school football field when irrigation problems made the South Valley Sports Complex soccer field unplayable. The Wolverines out-shot visiting Pocatello 10-5 in the first half and built a precarious 2-1 lead.
Junior Laura Elgee cranked a 28-yard cannon shot into the top left corner for a 1-0 lead at 20 minutes. A Sam Johnson lead pass to Aimee Evans on the right wing led to an Evans blast that hit the crossbar and bounced down. Senior co-captain Hannah Fuller ran in and finished for a 2-0 game.
Evans (6 goals) made a penalty kick 12 minutes into the second half after speedy Tanner Dredge was taken down. Pocatello answered twice, but Johnson had the final say.
Wood River's games against Moscow and McCall Saturday, at McCall, were canceled.
Gvozdas said, "Our two games in McCall were cancelled due to poor air quality, road closures, and the fire situation in the McCall area. The safety and welfare of the players is the school district's #1 issue. The administration thought it was best not to travel into that area of the state."
The Wood River girls visit Burley (2-5-1, 1-2-0 league) today, Wednesday and will try to further secure the Great Basin Conference West regular-season title Monday against Minico (3-7-1, 1-2-0) at Rupert.
Also Monday, the Wood River boys (2-3-2, 0-1-1 league) lost 4-2 at Pocatello, despite first-time goals by freshman Chris DeLaCruz (assisted by Ross Parsons) and Latner Straley. Coach Matt Phillips said, "We didn't come to play."
Wood River will need to pick up its intensity today, Wednesday when the undefeated Burley Bobcats (8-0-0, 3-0-0 league) come to South Valley Sports Complex for a 4:30 p.m. league showdown. Burley is the four-time defending Great Basin Conference West champion.
Burley has outscored foes 32-10 led by senior Carlos Gil (13 goals). Gil tallied a season-best four goals in Burley's 5-2 home win over Wood River Aug. 20. Last weekend the Bobcats beat Preston 5-2 to sweeping season series with the Indians.
Wood River then hosts Minico (5-4-1, 1-2-0) on Monday. It will be the first of two meetings against the Spartans.
