For the week of October 16 - 22, 2002

Showdown in 
Sun Valley

Local girls square off for 
district title tonight

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If any of the players, parents or coaches tell you they are not fired up for tonight’s game between the Wood River and Community School girls’ soccer teams, you might check for a pulse.

Games do not come much bigger— or better—than this.

The local squads played to a 1-1 tie in Hailey more than a month ago, but tonight’s game has much more riding on it.

The winner is the Fourth District league champion and will gain homefield advantage in the playoffs, plus a major momentum boost heading into the post-season.

Wood River coach Doug Stouffer remarked, "The Community School is the big one. We are gearing up for it."

Kickoff is 4:30 p.m., Browning Field at the Sagewillow Farms in Elkhorn.

Hailey (5-3-2) is averaging a healthy 4.2 goals per game and allowing 1.1 against. The Wolverines have six shutouts to their credit and on the flip side have been blanked four times.

The Cutthroats (4-3-2) are scoring 2.5 goals per game and holding opponents to a 1.2 gpg. average. Ketchum has been held scoreless just once, and has four wins by shutout.

 

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Games versus Twin Falls

Both teams were at Twin Falls Monday night for non-conference play.

In varsity action, Wood River and Twin played to a scoreless draw.

The Bruins jayvee squad bested the Cutthroats 3-2. Morgan Arritola and Jenny Rutherford scored for Sun Valley.

 

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Conference matches last week

Both squads collected conference wins last week.

Hailey hammered Buhl 8-0 at home Saturday. The game marked the return of senior midfielder Krista Burns, who has been out with an ankle injury.

Burns scored the first two goals of the game, finished with three, and, according to Stouffer, has really raised the bar on both the team’s expectations and confidence.

"Since practice last week, the whole team has started to respond. I think they are relieved she is playing again," he said.

Chipping in on the point total against Buhl were Tami Harrison and Charlotte Gourlay with two goals each and Robin Kearns with one. Kearns and Gourlay lead the Wolverines with 10 goals each.

The Cutthroats collected a 3-0 victory at Declo on Oct. 8.

Alissa Praggastis scored her first goals of the season to give Ketchum a 1-0 advantage at the half. Morgan Arritola and Cassidy Doucette added goals in the second stanza at 10 and 20 minutes in.

"Their goalie had an excellent game," Kelly Feldman remarked. "We had our chances."

 

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Senior Night, Thursday

The Community School and Wood River both round out the regular season with home games on Thursday, Oct. 17.

Sun Valley’s "Senior Night" opponent is Wendell at 5 p.m. Senior starters are Pauli Ochi, Erika Connelly, Tracy Chubb and Alissa Pragasstis.

Wood River entertains Century, 4:30 p.m. at the South Valley Sports Complex.

Upperclassmen to be honored are Krista Burns, Robin Kearns, Erin Northrop, Monique Lloyd, Kelley Haisley, Sage Pressman, Abby Dubois, Tami Harrison and Amie Thomas.

 

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District format

The five-team district tournament gets underway on Friday, Oct. 18 with #4 Declo playing #5 Wendell. The winner of the first game travels to the #1 seed on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 11 a.m. The #2 seed hosts #3 Buhl, also at 11 a.m. The winners of games two and three play each other in game four on Monday at 4 p.m. The loser of game four plays the winner of game five on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. The top two teams advance to the State 3A Tournament at Highland in Pocatello, Oct. 31-Nov. 2.

 

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.