Wolverines leaning into season after first game loss

It was a rocky start to the season for Weiser’s Wolverines varsity boys’ soccer team in a disheartening 7-0 loss to visiting Columbia High School’s Wildcats on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Early in the season and with a 1-1-1 non-conference record thus far, Columbia is sitting ninth this week on Idaho Sports.Com’s power rankings list in 5A classifications.

 The first 20 minutes of the first half looked promising for the Wolverines on the bright and newly-fenced fields north of WHS, with a strong offensive attack and senior forward Santi Perez getting off two shots on goal. The wheels came off later in the half with a breakdown in Weiser’s defense, and the Wildcats capitalized, hitting four consecutive goals. 

 Moving everyone onto defense in the second half, Weiser kept Columbia out of open shots on goal. Senior Carlos Garcia recorded one shot on goal in the half, and the Wolverines midfielders took several runs with the ball towards the goal, but the Wildcats hit another three before time ran out in the half to sew up the 7-0 win.

 Meeting 4A conference opponent McCall-Donnelly in the mountains on their turf on Thursday, Aug. 29, Weiser gave a completely different performance, competing in a defensive dual that went down to the last two minutes without a score. Striking the only goal in the game with 1:40  minutes left on the clock, McCall earned the 1-0 win.

 Most of the game was played in the midfield, with Weiser getting one shot on goal, and Wolverine goalie Gabe McLaughlin making three saves. 

 Weiser defender Jackson Laird made a great defensive decision late in the first half, forcing the oncoming forward out of bounds instead of slide tackling, which would have resulted in a goal.

 “Our effort was way better than in our first game,” senior midfielder Jai Cervantes told the Signal American. “We all played like a team, and had better passes. We never gave up and kept pushing hard, as always, giving 110 percent.”

 “The boys played a great team game, maintaining positive attitudes,” Coach Kathy Bokides said late Monday. “We’re looking forward to this week’s games against Emmett and Ambrose.”