As The Community School girls' soccer team walked off the Buhl soccer field on Saturday, the sense of "been there, done that" was palpable.
Recording their seventh straight appearance at the state soccer tournament, the Cutthroats managed to score only two goals in three games, dropping the program's state record over the years to 7-17.
Bringing an outstanding, school-best 16-1-0 season mark to state, the #1-ranked Cutthroats fell to Shelley 1-0, beat district foe Filer 2-0 and exited with a 2-0 loss to Snake River.
It was a depressing bit a déjà vu for coach Kelly Feldman.
"We could do everything but score," Feldman said. "Who would think you could score 102 goals in the regular season and have trouble scoring at state? We just couldn't get a decent shot on net."
Traditionally, goals at state are few and far between for the 'Throats, who have been outscored 39-26 and suffered eight shutouts dating back to 2001. Their most successful trip to state during the span was a third-place finish in 2003 (2-1) when they scored five goals.
But three days of play can't overshadow a very successful season during which the Lady Cutthroats set a new school record for wins with 17, compiled their best ever record at 17-3, scored the most goals ever (104) and allowed the least (9).
Senior Hannah Hennessy set the single-season school scoring record (30 goals) and ended up second on the all-time career scoring list with 42.
"You know, it was great season and a great team. As the numbers show, we had 26 girls with 19 regular varsity players and everyone contributed," Feldman said. "It was definitely a full team effort."
Feldman said she was very happy with the team's overall performance during State 3A soccer tourney captured Saturday by first-time winner Teton of Driggs (21-1) in a 5-4 shootout over Fruitland (16-0-1). Teton scored 12 goals at state plus four in the shootout and ended with 10 straight wins and an 85-14 goals against (13 shutouts).
"The good thing is we showed up and played, as opposed to years past when we showed up and were intimidated. The girls played the way we knew they could," Feldman said. "Maybe we just used up all our scoring during the regular season."
Neither The Community School nor District 6 runner-up Shelley (14-6-3) could find the back of the net in Thursday's opener at Buhl, but, in the end, it turned out that luck was riding shotgun with the Russets.
The teams played 79 minutes of scoreless soccer, before senior forward Mikayla Cowley (44 goals season) cleaned up a loose ball in the box to put Shelley on top with 1:30 left. It was unfortunate, because the Cutthroats did so well containing Cowley and set-up striker Sheryl Bitter. To a girl, they outplayed Shelley for most of the game.
"We played a great game. We were just unlucky," Feldman said. "We really deserved that win, because we fought so hard. The field made a big difference. We couldn't play a ball on the ground that was going to get there."
As tournament host, Buhl did not exactly roll out the red carpet for the 16 teams to play in the 3A boys' and girls' tournaments: if they had it could have been used to cover the fields, which were more suited for monster track rallies than state soccer competition.
Pure passing teams like the Cutthroats had trouble as nothing played true, and goaltending was an adventure, especially on diving shots.
Before the first game, Feldman and Community School athletic director John Remington patched holes and pitched rocks off the field.
"That was a little disappointing to have to do field maintenance," Feldman said.
The Cutthroats performed their own patch up job on Filer Friday, beating the Wildcats 2-0 to make the consolation final.
It was a fine showing for the first-year Wildcats (9-8-1) who had lost to the Cutthroats 8-0 in the district championship in Sun Valley the week before.
"We definitely overlooked Filer a little bit. We took a little mental break and then after the first 20 minutes realized what was happening and got it together," Feldman said.
Hennessy and Jessie Curran scored for the Cutthroats. Kelley Hennessy had an assist. Sun Valley outshot Filer 27-4.
In Saturday's consolation final, Snake River scored twice and played stifling defense to blank Sun Valley 2-0 for the consolation title. Payette beat Shelley 3-2 in another shootout for third-place hardware.
"On the whole, we weren't surprised. Snake River was very good. We haven't played a team all year that could run with (fullback) Marin (Shepardson) and they were very fast and aggressive," Feldman said.
"But our girls never quit and they played hard. That is a positive."
The Cutthroats will graduate six seniors from the 2007 squad, Cody Curran, Jessie Curran, Emily Eshman, Kathryn Farmer, Hannah Hennessy and Jean Montgomery.
Fall Sports Banquet night is Saturday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m.
Final statistics:
Record: 17-3-0; 104 goals for, 9 goals against. Individual scoring: Hannah Hennessy 30, Jessie Curran 17, Erica Eshman 16, Cody Curran 15, Maddie-Kate Currie 6, Nellie Brown 5, Emma Wilander 3, Madison Murach 3, Jean Montgomery 2, Maddie duPont 2, Kerry Lee Nelson 2, Daniela Stokes 1, Kelly Hennessy 1, Freya Dickey 1.
