Weiser’s soccer team played hard in harsh conditions to bring home the runner-up trophy

This last week the Weiser high school boys’ soccer team traveled to Post Falls, Idaho, for the state tournament held October 22-24.
 The team played in very close games and unruly weather to end the week as the State runner-up.
 The first game was a nail-biter. Weiser faced the Sugar-Salem Diggers from Eastern Idaho, and the teams proved to be equally matched. The first half of the game saw almost no attempts on the goal by either team, so the half ended 0-0.
 Both teams came out of halftime ready to score.  In the first five minutes, the Diggers worked the ball to the Weiser net twice, but goalkeeper Gabe Rasmussen deflected both of them. Then Weiser’s Cris Cornejo was able to get a shot on the Diggers’ goal that went too wide.
 Back to the other end of the field, Sugar-Salem had a nice corner kick that Rasmussen caught mid-air for no score. Weiser had one more attempt by Edgar Ayala in the next 15 minutes of play, but the Diggers’ goalkeeper kept it out of the net.  
 Sugar-Salem had a couple more corner kicks that went right to the goal, but Rasmussen effectively protected the Weiser net.
 The last 15 minutes of the half gave the Wolverines two more attempts by Cornejo and Marcos Tarelo, as well as a couple corner kicks, but all of them missed the mark. That left the score 0-0 at the end of regular play, sending the game into overtime.
 After the first overtime ended with no winning goal, that led to a second ten-minute overtime, and again, neither team scored.
 Weiser Coach Kathy Bokides prepared all season for this moment: the shootout.  Chris Gonzalez, Cris Cornejo, Pablo Hernandez, Edgar Ayala, Marcos Tarelo, then Rafael Delgadillo, Danny Klemmer and Gabriel Avila were chosen to complete the penalty kicks.
  “After no scores in regulation or two, ten-minute overtimes, the teams headed into a shoot-out.  After nine exciting shots, the Wolverines came out victorious,” Bokides said.
 On Friday there was a winter storm warning forecast for the Post Falls area, to begin at 1 p.m. with expectations of 3 to 7 inches of snow.  When the Weiser game began at 2, there was approximately 4 inches of snow on the field. The snow was heavy and slick and continued to falling during the entire game.
 “What a new way to play soccer,” said Bokides.
 Wolverine Cris Cornejo scored within the first minute. Slipping and sliding, the boys chased the ball up and down the white field. Gooding scored about halfway through the first half, but Weiser’s Marcos Tarelo nailed the ball across the goal box into the far corner of the net for a second Wolverine goal, making the score 2-1 at halftime.
 Just minutes into the second half, Gooding scored and tied the game. Wet and cold, the Weiser boys showed what they were made of. They ran, slid and kicked through the snow while volunteers shoveled the sidelines to keep them visible. Senior Wolverine Chris Gonzalez chased that ball all over the field.
 His determination never wavered and paid off midway through the second half when he scored the third goal of the game. Weiser’s defenders kept the Senators from scoring again, and the Wolverines took the snowy victory.
 Weiser vs Sun Valley
Community School
 After two days of intense play, the Wolverines faced a strong opponent. They played hard, especially their defensive game. The Cutthroats got two goals into the Weiser net during the first half, and Weiser was unable to connect with the Sun Valley net.
 As the sun set, the temperature dropped to 25 degrees. Soccer was never intended to be a winter sport. True grit kept the Wolverines passing the ball, defending their goal, and playing their game. The final score was not in their favor, 2-0 Sun Valley.     
 “Congratulations Weiser boys’ soccer.  The 2020 State Championship was within our grasp.  Your performance over the past seven days has exceeded expectations,” Bokides said.
 With traveling to McCall three times in three weeks, Twin Falls last weekend and Post Falls, Idaho to attend the state championship this past weekend, Weiser once again met Community School of Sun Valley, Idaho.  This was the teams’ third meeting in a state final game.  Weiser was victorious in 2015, and in 2019 and 2020 we were the State Runners’ Up.  
 Since 2013 Weiser’s standings have been 2013, second; 2014, third; 2015, state champs; 2016, consolation; 2017, state champs and 2019 and 2020,  state runner’s up.
 “Thank you parents for all of your help, goodies and support.  Thank you to bus drivers, Mike Aubrey and Scott. Thank you to Mr. Davies and Weiser High School for taking such good care of us and giving this team a great experience. A special thank you to Zach Rose for helping coach and putting up with me, and thank you Seve for all of your extra help and training the keepers. Parents you have wonderful kids. They were a pleasure to coach and take to a state championship out of town. They represented you, the soccer team and Weiser High School beyond comparison,”  Bokides said.