For the week of October 15 - 21, 2003

Wood River’s
speed, passing
add up to 5-2 win

Deep Wolverine arsenal
overpowers Cutthroats

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With a dazzling display of unselfish passing, the Wood River High School boys’ soccer team exploded for four second-half goals and beat their arch rivals from The Community School 5-2 Monday afternoon in Hailey.

K.C. Rivera, Wood River’s senior co-captain, flies through The Community School defense Monday in Hailey. Rivera scored the first goal and added three second-half assists to spark Wood River’s 5-2 win. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Of the four goals in a 15-minute span starting the second half, Wolverine senior co-captain K.C. Rivera assisted on three. The skilled midfielder from Carey had his best game with brilliant lead passes that cranked the dangerous Hailey offense into gear.

Coach Brian Daluiso of Wood River said, "In the second half we did more of what we wanted to do."

What Wood River wanted to do was sweep the season series with the Cutthroats and thus earn the top seed and home field advantage for the eight-team Fourth District 3A boys’ tournament starting Saturday, Oct. 18.

The Wolverines, drawing closer to a new school record for most goals, accomplished their mission convincingly. Their top five scorers—Maicol Corrales (26 goals), Rivera (10), Shane Cordeau (9), Chase Cleveland (9) and Tate Mills (8)—each scored goals.

Wood River (averaging 5.5 goals per game) used its superior speed to dominate the ball control for 80 minutes and wear down the brave Cutthroat defense. The Wolverines were always on the verge of breaking loose and scoring. Five times, they did.

"That’s a good team," said Cutthroat coach Richard Whitelaw admiring Wood River’s speed and depth.

The Wolverines, 5-1 winners over Sun Valley Sept. 10, snapped the eight-game Cutthroat unbeaten streak this season. Remarkably, it was the first Community School league loss in 33 games covering three seasons.

Wood River out-shot the Cutthroats 23-6 and the score would have been worse without Cutthroat goalkeeper Luke Fostvedt (15 saves). The Wolverines had a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks and their goalkeeper, Tristan Potters, made only three saves.

Nearly forgotten with the lopsided final score was the fact that it was only 1-1 at halftime. Wood River struck first when Cleveland, back after drawing a yellow card, was the middle man on a slick Corrales-to-Cleveland passing play that Rivera cleanly finished.

Incredibly, Cutthroat junior Bobby Flanigan (12 goals) dribbled through the entire Wood River defense and scored with one minute left to halftime. Whitelaw said, "It was an amazing goal." Flanigan earned "Man of the Match," honors for the game.

Wood River out-shot the Cutthroats 13-3 in the first half and Fostvedt was great with nine strong saves. Seniors Ash Higgins and captain Taylor Rothgeb led the Cutthroat defense that constantly scrambled to match Wood River’s passing and speed.

The beginning of the Cutthroat end started in the first minute of the second half when Rivera lead-passed to Mills who crossed to Cleveland for one of the prettiest goals you’ll see. Still, there was no quit in the ‘Throats.

Excellent hustle by Cutthroat senior Yancy Caldwell ended up in a Caldwell goal that floated over Potters’ head into the Hailey net. A collision on the scoring play sent Caldwell for medical attention with a lacerated toe.

So, it was 2-2 six minutes after half. Then it was over, Wood River exploding for three goals in six minutes.

Rivera sent Cordeau ahead for an impending collision with keeper Fostvedt, but Cordeau managed to lift the ball toward the goal and Corrales finished for the eventual game winner.

Once again, Rivera dished to Cordeau, who scored. Then, Corrales returned the favor with a bang-bang play that Mills finished for a 5-2 game.

So Wood River (28-18-3 in the series, 16-4-2 home) won the 49th meeting of the schools over 21 seasons and wrapped up the Hailey school’s most lopsided season soccer sweep over the Cutthroats since 1984.

Coach Daluiso saluted his defensive reserves, Dixon Mooseau and Reno Christino, who came in and did a fine job at backs with senior co-captain and sweeper Matt Hansen playing his usual steady game. Sagen Howard also had a very heady game.

Wood River (12-3-1, 7-1-1 home, 6-0 league) visits Filer today, Wednesday for its final regular-season game. The Cutthroats (8-2-2, 6-1-2 home, 4-1-1 league) hosts Wendell Thursday, Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m. at Browning Field.

On Saturday, Wood River opens the tournament with a 1 p.m. game against #8-seeded Filer at South Valley Sports Complex soccer field. At the same time at Browning Field, The Community School will start the district tourney against #7-seeded Declo.

If the two local teams win Saturday’s game and advance with semi-final home victories Monday in games due to start at 4 p.m., they would collide again for the district title Thursday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. on Wood River’s home field.

The Community School has won two straight district tournament titles, last year’s 4-0 over Wood River.

Leading the Idahosports.com 3A power poll is two-time defending state champion Payette (12-1), which has outscored opponents 66-6. Ranked second is McCall-Donnelly (13-1-2, 5.2 goals per game), a 4-0 winner over Emmett Saturday and 3-1 over Weiser Monday. Wood River is now ranked third in Idaho 3A polls.

 

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