Senior Charlie Evans tallied his team-leading fifth goal of the season on a header after a nice left-to-right cross from senior Bryan Donoso with 13 minutes left in Tuesday's Great Basin Conference home match-up with Canyon Ridge.
That game-winning goal salvaged Wood River's 3-2 league victory over the Riverhawks in a contest that was important in Hailey's drive for one of the top two positions in the six-team GBC tournament coming Oct. 7.
Canyon Ridge (1-10-0, 0-6-0) has been shut out in seven of its 11 games but has managed to solve Wood River, scoring five goals in its two losses to Hailey.
Senior Alejandro Garcia had given WRHS a 2-0 lead with goals at three minutes (from Donoso) and 33 minutes (on a beautiful right-to-left cross from Trevor Brand). The Riverhawks equalized early in the second half on scores by Jesse Partida and Craig Bartlett.
Wood River coach Luis Monjaras said, "The three points from the win has put us back in a good spot for one of the top two spots. Overall, we out-shot Canyon Ridge 25-4. We started off well and then laid back and let them back into the game."
The Wolverines were playing without their two main senior defenders, Spyder Turco (injured shoulder) and Harlan Collins (ankle). Monjaras utilized a 4-4-2 formation with junior Jeffrey Espejo, senior Alexander MacMillan, sophomore Zack Freeman and junior Nathan Moses back on defense.
After scoring only five goals in their last five games, Wood River needed Garcia's contribution in the first half.
"Alejandro had a solid game," said Monjaras. "We've been looking for scoring. We've been practicing every day on taking the ball down the flank, going one-on-one and finishing."
Monjaras said other contributors included Cody Levitan on the right wing and freshman Stephen Pfeiffer in the middle of the field, freeing Evans to move up front and eventually tally the decider.
Wood River hosted the Burley Bobcats (6-1-4, 2-0-4 league) Thursday in a pivotal Great Basin clash. Jerome (7-1-3, 4-1-2) hosted Twin Falls (4-4-3, 2-3-1) Thursday, and the Wolverines visit Twin Falls Tuesday. The host Minico Spartans (7-4-0, 3-3-0) nipped Twin 3-2 Tuesday.
