Prep recap: Rocky Mountain gets revenge in clash of girls soccer state powers
The Boise High girls soccer team owned a perfect record and stood in first place in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference for the entire season.
Until Monday night.
Rocky Mountain scored in each half to down the Brave 2-0, vaulting the Grizzlies (10-3-0, 9-1-0 5A SIC) into a tie for first place and preventing Boise (11-1-0, 9-1-0 5A SIC) from clinching the top seed at next week’s district tournament.
“It’s amazing (to beat Boise) because we had a rough start to the season,” Rocky Mountain forward Kaitlyn Slocum said. “But to be able to come back and be able to prove to them that we are a team to beat this year, it feels really good.”
Slocum wasted little time spotting the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead. The Boise State commit drove down the right side in the 2nd minute, slid by a Brave defender and slotted a shot past goalkeeper Sophie Hills at the back post.
“Her speed is track-level speed,” Rocky Mountain coach Donal Kaehler said. “You see her beating basically any defender out there, and I don’t think there’s a defender in the conference that can stay with her when she’s got the ball.”
The early goal did not faze the Brave, who put pressure on the Grizzlies’ defense throughout and led 14-9 in shots. But Rocky Mountain goalkeeper Bea Levi made six key saves for the shutout.
“Normally, (Boise) has good combination play inside the 18(-yard box), but they did not have that today,” Kaehler said. “I think our defense was pretty disruptive.”
That sparked more chances for Rocky Mountain in the second half, including a backheel pass from freshman forward Campbell Wilson to midfielder JuliAnn Orchard for an insurance goal in the 53rd minute.
Boise’s best chance to score came with two minutes left, but Rocky Mountain defender Carli Messmer blocked the shot inside the 6-yard box.
“Everyone on this team is just super supportive, and it’s just a really positive atmosphere,” Slocum said. “We all push each other to be better.”
Since a 1-3-0 start, Rocky Mountain has won nine straight and now holds the tiebreaker over Boise for first place in the conference. Both have two regular season games left before the district tournament starts Oct. 8.
“We got Boise our first game, and that was rough for us,” Kaehler said. “After that, we’ve continued to improve. We have some great players and the defense has gelled. I think we’re a very good team.”
Monday marked Boise’s first game this season without junior winger Sammy Smith. She left Sunday to join the U.S. women’s national team for the U-17 Women’s World Cup in India next month.
MONDAY’S STANDOUTS
Abbi Roubidoux, Fruitland (girls soccer): Poured in 10 goals in a 12-0 victory over Emmett. She has scored 66 goals in 11 games so far this fall.
- Jaylene Womack, Kuna (girls soccer): Recorded a hat trick to lead the Kavemen to a 4-0 win at Meridian.
- Roxy Keeley and Taeya Park, Capital (girls soccer): Each scored twice as the Eagles routed Nampa 7-0 on the road.
- Annelie Wilson, Horseshoe Bend (volleyball): Racked up 11 kills, five blocks and three aces as the Mustangs swept Adrian, Oregon.
- Maud Slots, Riverstone (volleyball): Had 11 kills in the Otters’ sweep of Vision Charter.
This story was originally published September 26, 2022 at 10:14 PM.
