For the week of August 27 - September 2, 2003

Last year to win 3A soccer crown

Wood River team aims high

---

There is only one more year to wear the 3A state championship crown and the Wood River High School girls soccer team is hoping that this is their year.

The team won the A2 state championship title in 2000, before the divisions were reclassified. But since the change to 3A in 2001, the team has finished fourth at the state tournament two years running.

"Our goal this fall is to win the district tournament and then take that momentum and win state," said Coach Doug Stouffer.

However, the state tournament is still two months away, and navigating the road to state may prove to be a little more difficult this year.

In anticipation of next year’s jump to the 4A division, the team is facing its most difficult schedule yet, including the defending state champions, McCall-Donnelly, Bishop Kelly and Capital out of the Boise area and Century out of Pocatello.

"This year is going to be a good experience in competing with 4A and 5A schools. We just want to have good, competitive games, even if we don’t always come out on top," said Stouffer.

In addition, this year’s squad will have to compensate for the loss of two key components from last year’s 10-6-2 squad. Goalkeeper Kelly Haisley and forward Robin Kearns, the second leading career goal scorer for Wood River, both graduated last spring.

Regardless of these obstacles, Stouffer is optimistic. Now in his fourth year at the helm of the program, he is counting on the experience of his seven seniors to help the team face such challenges.

Leading the charge up front will be senior Charlotte Gourlay, who was the second leading goal scorer for the team last year. The team will also rely on the speed of senior Rebecca Schwartzenberger, a track star in the spring, to make runs down the outside. Senior Kate Elgee will be key to ball distribution and controlling the midfield.

Other seniors include Kaylie Aaker, Danielle Maniere, Nicole Carlsen and Kim Brown, who recently transferred from the Community School.

"The seniors recognize that it’s a harder schedule this year and that’s good motivation," said Stouffer.

A tenacious junior class will aid the seniors, including sweeper Gina Thomas, who was first team all-state last year as a sophomore.

Marking back Ashley Mardian, forward Ireland King and midfielder Jessi Pieschel were key players for the junior varsity squad in 2002 and contributed minutes on varsity during last year’s state tournament.

Danielle Donovan, who played goal for the JV last year, will fill the gap left by Haisley. Other juniors include Erin McQueen, Casey Fahey and Ashley Hurley.

Margie Driscoll, a formidable force for the JV last year, is the lone sophomore on the team.

The JV squad is facing a similarly difficult schedule and third-year coach, Greg Gvozdas, feels that his talented squad is up to the challenge.

A large group of freshmen, many of whom played for Gvozdas during the spring season with Sawtooth United, will join sophomores Katie Jensen, Simone Kastner, Kate Sawicz, Nicole Schulz, Laura Speck and Kimbra Turner.

The freshmen include Ellen Ard, Calley Brown, Tara Cappel, Alix Cayce, Kacie Femling, Kaitlin Gasenica, Brianna Hull-Mullins, Grayson Palmer, Gabrielle Sisson, Danielle Smith and Alex Turzian.

 

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.