Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Hailey girls put 1-0 hurt on Skyview’s Hawks

Early Evans goal stands up for Wolverines


By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Wood River High School girls’ soccer coach Greg Gvozdas didn’t shy away from playing a bunch of talented freshmen in Saturday’s important home game against powerful Skyview of Nampa. Here, freshman Morgan Brimstein (right) tries to push through a slide tackle by Nampa’s Kaeli Laxson. Wood River won 1-0. Photo by David N. Seelig

Saturday's big early-season girls' soccer game between Idaho 4A powers Wood River and Skyview of Nampa turned into a big success for the host Wolverines. They got several things accomplished right off.

First of all, Wood River (1-0-0) started its 15-game season on the right foot with a 1-0 non-conference triumph over Skyview. A goal in the first five minutes of the tight game by senior midfielder Aimee Evans (52 goals career) turned out to be the deciding tally.

On a windless late-summer day in Hailey, it was Wood River's first-ever win over Skyview after a demoralizing 6-2 loss to the Hawks in the State 4A tournament consolation game in 2006 in Boise and a 3-0 home loss to Skyview last fall.

Not only did fifth-year Wood River coach Greg Gvozdas celebrate the win with his 23-member varsity, Gvozdas and assistant coaches Aaron Thompson and John Koth watched five of their six freshmen get plenty of playing time in a "baptism by fire" against one of Idaho's best sides.

Four of the ninth-graders, Sloan Storey, Morgan Brimstein, Ali Appleton and KT Martinez, did a lot of running up front. Appleton just missed a first-half chance that could have given Hailey a 2-0 lead. Hard-nosed freshman Megan Morrell won her share of 50-50s.

Gvozdas stationed his veterans and seniors in the midfield and defensive positions—and he needed all their efforts when Skyview switched strategically from one frontrunner to three frontrunners in the second half and threw a kitchen sink of shots at sophomore keeper Madison Gove.

In the second half Gove made two brilliant game-savers on Skyview senior Courtney Boling. Gove stopped Boling, point blank, after the Hawks striker slipped past the defense at 57 minutes. Nine minutes later Gove came out of the net and stopped Boling's initial shot, then Gove retreated and chased the ball down before it dribbled into the net.

The defense of seniors Sam Johnson, Laura Elgee and Makayla Cappel handcuffed Skyview's speedy senior Dominique Alston. Two years ago at state, Alston had two goals and one assist in the first 24 minutes as Skyview routed Wood River 6-2. Saturday, Alston didn't have a good look.

Gvozdas credited his three defenders Johnson, Elgee and Cappel, along with central midfielders Aimee Evans and junior Ashley Hesteness. "And Madison, of course," he said about his second-year keeper who withstood the late Skyview barrage. "She has grown a lot in one year."

The coach acknowledged there is room for improvement.

He said, "On offense we had a couple of good ideas, but we need to adjust and continue to manage the game, execute better and play more of a possession game. When Skyview went to the three frontrunners, it took us a while to see it. But it was great to see the kind of physical play Skyview brings, so early in the season.

"Some of our strong newcomers saw a lot of playing time and we continue to hope our large freshman class makes us deeper as a team as the season goes on."

Wood River had eight seniors, same as Skyview. But the Hailey varsity was deeper with four juniors, five sophomores and six freshmen.

Other seniors on this year's team are Elsa Sweek, Bailey Ireland, Delaney Fox and Devan Annan. Juniors are Kelly Chapman, Maddie Kate Currie, Lina Klumpp and Hesteness. Sophomores are Tanner Dredge, who shot a breakaway chance high early in the first half, along with Halsey Pierce, Taylor Hayes, Ellen Davis and Gove. Back-up goalkeeper is freshman Cheyenne Swanson.

Wood River's tough early-season non-conference schedule continued Tuesday with a visit to Pocatello and a game against a State 5A qualifier from 2007, the Highland Rams.

Wolverine teams have never beaten Highland, going 0-2-2 including last fall's 3-2 loss in Pocatello and a 0-0 tie in Hailey. Highland carried a 15-0-4 mark into last year's State 5A meet, then went two-and-out with a 2-0 loss to eventual champ Timberline and 2-0 loss to eventual consolation winner Boise High.

On Thursday, Aug. 28 at 4:30 p.m., Wood River resumes its series with its oldest girls' soccer rival, 5A Twin Falls. It will be the first meeting since 2006 between the two teams. Wood River holds a 17-3-5 advantage in the rivalry but has won only two of the last six games.

Twin Falls (1-0-0) opened its season with a 9-0 home win over Jerome Saturday. The Bruins hosted Minico of Rupert on Tuesday.

In other news, Century of Pocatello opened its season Saturday with a 2-0 win over Blackfoot. Century played Hillcrest of Idaho Falls Tuesday in a rematch of last fall's State 4A third-place game won by 2006 State 4A champion Century 2-0.

Skyview handles WHRS boys

Wood River High School boys' varsity soccer coach Matt Phillips knew his Wolverines were going to have their hands full with the Skyview Hawks Saturday in the 2008 season-opening game in Nampa.

He was right. Skyview's only loss last fall came in the State 4A tournament title game, 1-0 to Bonneville of Idaho Falls. And the Hawks (20-1-0) weren't about to cave in to Wood River (3-9-2 last season). The Hawks scored twice in the first half and coasted to a 5-0 victory.

Phillips said, "We held this powerhouse team off for the first 32 minutes and looked good doing it, for about 30 of those minutes. Four mistakes later, we were down 4-0, and the fifth goal was a good shot."

Amadeo Escobar scored three goals for the Hawks (4-0-2 all-time against WRHS, outscoring the Hailey boys 20-2 in four straight wins). Meanwhile, the Hailey junior varsity won its game 2-1 with Alejandro Garcia scoring twice, the second on a Nathan Moses assist.

Wood River hosted Highland of Pocatello Tuesday and goes to Twin Falls Thursday, Aug. 28 at 4:30 p.m. Twin Falls (0-1) lost 6-2 at home to Jerome last Saturday and played on the road against Minico Tuesday.




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