Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Shootout win, sportsmanship trophy to WRHS

Keeper Gove, Foley lift girls over Century


By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Wood River High School sophomore Teagen Palmer made quite a splash in her first year with the Wolverine girls’ soccer program, scoring 17 goals including a clutch penalty kick shootout goal in Friday’s state win over Century. Photo by David N. Seelig

Wood River High School's girls' soccer program has never gone home empty from its 15 state tournament trips, and last weekend's State 4A tournament in Caldwell was no exception.

Sparked by the hot goalkeeping of junior Madison Gove and a decisive shootout goal by junior Shaylee Foley, Wood River beat Century of Pocatello 1-0 (2 OT, 5-4 kicks) in Friday's loser-out game at Brothers Park.

In large part because of Wood River's boisterous but positive rooting section at the dramatic overtime shootout, the Wolverines of first-year coach Jenni Conrad won the 2009 4A Sportsmanship Trophy.

Going 1-2 over three days of top-flight soccer action, Wood River (16-4-1) wasn't completely where it wanted to be, given the fact that the Wolverines lost to eventual state runner-up Kuna 2-1 Thursday and to consolation champion Bishop Kelly of Boise 3-0 Saturday.

Sandpoint (13-4-2), a 3-2 overtime winner over two-time defending champion Bishop Kelly Thursday, captured its fifth state soccer title with a 7-2 romp over Kuna in the finale.

But Wood River made progress with a still-young squad, highlighted by Friday's grudge match against Century in a rematch of last year's State 4A consolation final won by Wood River 5-0 on the same field.

Century, another young team with three seniors plus 13 freshmen and sophomores, out-shot Wood River 20-12 in the 80 minutes of regulation. That disparity was unusual for a Wolverine team that normally applies tons of pressure. But Gove (15 saves regulation) kept her team close for a 0-0 tie.

In the second 10-minute OT, Gove was spectacular in the closing moments—denying a breakaway by freshman Chandler Yost and a dangerous cross by Hannah Fort, with Yost lingering in the box. "Madison made incredible saves in the second overtime," Conrad said.

The outcome went to a five-player shootout, Wood River's second shootout in three games. In the first, against Twin Falls at home Oct. 15, Gove had amazing success moving to her left. She stopped all the Bruins shots and the Wolverines prevailed 2-0.

Against Century, the Diamondbacks went the other way, shooting into the left corner, to Gove's right. Jenika Johnson and senior Kallie Johns both beat Gove on that side. Gove said, "I had confidence because of that Twin Falls shootout, but because of that game I was also used to going to my left."

Fortunately, Tanner Dredge and Megan Morrell both made their shots for Wood River, Dredge's goal improving her career total to 86, a new school record. By the third set of shooters, Gove started catching on—moving to her right. She went to her knees and got a piece of a Katherine Roberts shot. It slipped in. "I could have made that save," said Gove.

Wood River enjoyed a piece of good luck when Erin Murphy's shot hit the left upright and bounced safely into the net.

The shootout was tied 3-3 and the Wood River boys' soccer team was yelling "Wolverines!" when Gove correctly dove to her right and blocked a shot by Century's Marais Hicks. It gave the Hailey girls an advantage. Teagen Palmer capitalized on it for a 4-3 lead.

Century freshman Morgan Shaver, who scored the winner in her team's 2-1 home victory over Wood River Aug. 29, went top-shelf on the fifth shot for a 4-4 tie. The outcome came down to Foley, a sniper who hadn't played much in 2009 despite scoring 12 goals for last year's Wolverine junior varsity.

"I have a lot of confidence in Shaylee and have been trying to find the best opportunity to put her in the game. I knew she could do it," said Conrad.

Certainly it wasn't easy, not with everybody watching—the Wood River girls standing and holding hands along the sideline and Blaine County School District administrators John Rade, Lonnie Barber and John Blackman watching from the crowded rooting section.

But Foley did it, striking the ball into the left corner and waiting for her entire team to pile upon her in celebration. Foley said, "I was nervous but settled myself down, just did it and it went in. I told myself we weren't going to go home tonight. So I had to make it."

Final team statistics: Wood River 16-4-1 (8-0-1 home, 8-4-0 away, 10-0-0 league) with 8 shutouts in 21 games. Goals scored: 102 (4.9). Goals against: 28 (1.3). Individual scoring: Tanner Dredge 33 (86 career, #1 all-time), Teagen Palmer 17, K.T. Martinez 15, Ashley Hesteness 7, Nicole Roos 6, Maddie-Kate Currie 5, Ellen Davis 4, Shaylee Foley 4, Erin Murphy 3, Kelly Chapman 2, Megan Morrell 2, Taylor Hayes 1, Ali Appleton 1, Madison Gove 1, Sloan Storey 1.




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.