Lady Pirate soccer team looks to build on last year’s success
By Ray Rodriguez
Argus Observer
Monday, September 1, 2008 10:40 AM PDT
Payette—In one season under coach Gordon Peterson, the Payette girls soccer team managed to take the 3A ranks by storm.
Peterson and the young Lady Pirates worked their magic and finished third at state.
With 11 freshmen and five upperclassmen on the roster, Payette defeated Snake River 3-2 in overtime, before losing to Teton 3-1 in the next round.
The Lady Pirates clinched a third-place finish with a 3-1 win over Shelley on penalty kicks.
The performance was one of courageous proportions for Peterson, who said the bar has been raised.
“Being freshmen and experiencing the level of play that they weren’t used to was a big factor in our success,” Peterson said. “For them not to buckle under the pressure, but to step up and help contribute to the team was huge. They still are young and still maturing, trying to play through things. They made good strides last year. This year we expect more.”
If they do respond, it will take a totally rebuilt defense, as Payette lost three graduated seniors Brynn Elliott, Patty Flores and Riley Ortega.
“We took a hit on the back line, but we have some young kids who can step in and contribute. I’m not worried much about that,” Peterson said.
Peterson expects seniors Cass Gross and Hillary Byars to take over the role as leaders of the young bunch.
Both bring four years of varsity experience and have a 2005 state championship ring to prove it.
“They have been there before, and they know what it takes, and that helps the younger players,” Peterson said.
In addition to Gross and Byars, the Pirates welcome back sophomores Mayra Flores, Jordan Rodriguez, Alexis Page, Esmerelda Gonzalez, Hailey Gross, Emily Jaeger, Paola Aguilar, Carrie Frates, Kaylee Fugate and Crysta Gutierrez.
The biggest returner is goalkeeper Brandy Blackburn.
The rangy sophomore made several key stops last year, and Peterson expects more of the same heroics.
“Brandy, as a freshman last year, I don’t know if she ever played much goalie, but she did a great job,” Peterson said. “But that was last year, it’s a new year. She has shown a little of what she can do.”
Leah Turner, Leslie LaMue, and incoming freshmen Sonny Franek, Lex Walters and Lexi Mendoza round out the rest of the roster.
Given the extreme expectations and the limitless potential of his young group, Peterson just wants to see steady improvements — one game at a time.
“The goal is to get better each game. I don’t look at wins and losses. If we are getting better and peaking at the end of the season, then we will be right there playing our best soccer,” Peterson said. “It is not bad to lose. Hopefully it motivates them, knocks them down and let’s them know we are not there yet.”
