It's a pity that Allstate Insurance, card sharks or George Costanza (before he grabbed the hot iron) cannot help them out, because the Community School girls' soccer team is in dire need of some good hands people.
Boasting three net minders last season, the position this season is a complete question mark thanks to the graduation of Kathryn Farmer and Jean Montgomery, as well as the transfer of Maddie-Kate Currie to Wood River High School.
"I think our best defense is going to be a good offense this year," seventh-year head coach Kelly Feldman remarked. "We have got to keep the pressure on and keep the ball out of our own zone."
Just who will step forward and play goalie of the 19 members on the team is unclear, but she is going to get plenty of on-the-job experience. Feldman said she is looking at sophomore Chelsea Cloud as well as freshmen Josie Bunce and Hailey Rheinschild.
To offset what could be the team's Achilles heel, Feldman and assistant coach Carolina Stevens hope to get plenty of production out of the attackers in the 3-5-2 formation, which uses three fullbacks, five halfbacks and two forwards.
"Personnel-wise it's what works for us. It's what we have ability-wise," Feldman said. "Some of our strongest players are our midfielders, but we have many flexible players who can fit in anywhere."
On the squad are four seniors, Madi duPont and co-captains Mattie Griswold, Keller Gibson and Marin Shepardson. Four players also make up the junior class: Madison Murach, Kerry Lee Nelson, Nellie Brown and Kayla Cloud. Feldman will rely heavily on contributions made by the underclassmen with sophomores Chelsea Cloud, Freya Dickey, India Emerick, Bria Gillespie, Kelly Hennessy, Daniela Stokes and Emma Wilander, as well as freshmen Josie Bunce, Teagan Palmer, Gabi Perenchio, and Hailey Rheinschild.
"They have good skills and a good work ethic. I am very excited about the freshmen class," Feldman remarked.
As a nationally C licensed coach, Feldman is experienced enough to be completely familiar with the cyclical nature of soccer, and this fall the team is young and numbers are small with only 19 on the roster.
"We'll see what we can do," she said. "We don't have any superstars on the team, and it is going to depend on what happens with the team as a whole. But more playing time is always good."
Last year's edition of the Cutthroats rolled to a 12-0 mark in league play and went 17-3-0 overall. The team scored 104 goals, allowed just nine, and qualified for the 3A state tournament for the seventh consecutive year. But the goals that rolled in so easily against league foes didn't come as effortlessly at state in Buhl where the 'Throats managed just two goals in three games (1-2). Moreover, the top five goal scorers, led by Hannah Hennessy, who set the single-season scoring record with 30, are gone.
"Although we have the ability to possess the ball, we might be a bit of a kick-and-run team, but we have a bunch of good ball strikers," Feldman said.
But in soccer, speed can make up for plenty of deficiencies, and Feldman thinks she has the horses to set up a pressing offense.
"Teagan, Madi and Freya are so fast, and Emma played forward in Europe with Sawtooth Premier and rocked the world," Feldman said. "Freya is playing out of her mind right now. The girls that went to Europe with Premier or played Sawtooth United in the spring are really doing well."
Hard-working Nellie Brown will find herself in the thick of things at attacking center mid. With five goals, she is the top goal scorer to return from last season. Palmer is another offensive mid, who like Brown possesses tenacity and grit, as well as a nose for the net.
"She has a striker's mentality," Feldman said of the freshman.
Recovering from an ankle injury, Kelly Hennessy will see limited time at defensive mid and might platoon at the position with Kerry Lee Nelson. Other potential players at halfback include Madi DuPont, Hailey Rheinschild and Josie Bunce.
Much of the defense returns from last season, including state All-Tournament fullback Marin Shepardson, who is one of the fastest players in blue and white and has the skill and the never-give-an-inch attitude whether she is attacking or defending.
"She'll be in the middle and we will have Daniela, Keller or Kayla on the outside," Feldman said.
The seven-team High Desert Soccer League consists of The Community School, Bliss, Gooding, Wendell, Declo, Buhl and Filer, and Feldman thinks Filer to be her team's biggest challenge. The Cutthroats only surrendered two goals in 12 league games last season, though Feldman acknowledges that this year could be different.
"It's going to be the toughest road we have had in a while, but (qualifying for) state and to perform there are our ultimate goals," she said.
The Cutthroats will open the season today on the road against 2006 3A state champion McCall-Donnelly and follow up with Orofino tomorrow. Their opening home game against Filer coincides with the first day of school on Monday.
Sophomore Emma Wilander gets ready to clear the ball. Photo by Mountain Express
