Huskies shovel soccer field, then rout Rifle, 10-1

Bears face Eagle Valley Saturday

By Chris Freud
Vail Correspondent
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
April 11, 2008

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EDWARDS, Colorado — Battle Mountain athletics are best known for their prowess in soccer, cross country, hockey and volleyball, but perhaps, the Huskies ought to turn shoveling into a varsity sport.

In a manner that would have made the school’s cross country program proud — the harriers and copious parents cleared the regional meet course two falls ago in Eagle-Vail — Battle Mountain soccer pushed a ton of snow off Freedom Park, so it could host Rifle Thursday.

“That’s our new warmup,” Huskies coach David Cope said. “That was great. The snow was so thick that it took two people to push a shovel. When we chose partners, I choose McKenzie (Stevens).”

The coach knows enough to pick a hockey player. And the Huskies efforts were rewarded with a 10-1 win over the visiting Bears.

“It was a rough one,” Rifle coach Mark Knighton said. “You know, that’s the cream of our league right there. That’s the team to beat and they showed why. We didn’t make that many mistakes, but every mistake we made, they capitalized on. They’re deep. They’re fast. They can all handle the ball. Battle Mountain impressed today. We’ll take it as a learning experience.”

Marisa Ammaturo had a hat trick in the first half, while Lizzie Seibert, Maddie LyBarger and Kelsey Plath each scored two. Sydney Idzikowski also ripped the twine for her first varsity goal.

Rifle’s Caitlin Clay got one late to break up the shutout.

“I think people are starting to find their roles,” Cope said. “At times, I think we played as well as I’ve seen us play as group.”

Early and often
Ammaturo to Seibert has been a constant all season for Battle Mountain. Thursday, the two traded places on the Huskies’ first score. Ammaturo got the next leg of her hat trick with a long run down the left side, beating two Bears defenders and Rifle goalie Abby Schmidt.

Lost in that run was the pass from Stephanie Woodruff that started it. The backs were key in launching Battle Mountain’s attack all day.

“You can’t overlook the contribution the girls made in back,” Cope said, “I thought our best offensive weapons in back were Kelly VanHee and Stephanie Woodruff. Playing from there and getting balls over, that’s so good. Those girls are reading the game and picking their spots to go forward.”

Plath also made solid runs from her midfield spot and her efforts were rewarded with the first of two late in the first half. Ammaturo capped the half with a wicked shot from the left side to the far post for a hat trick and a 4-0 lead.

Seibert scored the next two and her second was the goal of the day.

Ammaturo, no longer allowed to score, having logged her hat trick, did the next best thing. She fired a cross from the right side. Seibert was right there at the top of the box and perfectly one-timed the ball into the net.

“I think since we have kind of a young team and we’ve played together for a long time, our offense just works really well together,” Emily LyBarger said. “We know how to find each other really well.”

Not to be left out, LyBarger put two in during the second half, including a penalty kick. Idzikowski also notched her first varsity tally on a free kick from LyBarger, sparking an original celebration dance and loud cheers from the Battle Mountain bench.

“That was sweet,” Idzikowski said. “I just play as hard as I can when I get out here. I’m usually on the bench, cheering on my team. I guess I was in the right place at the right time. I just tapped it on in.”

New challenges
Rifle (2-5-1) has played six of its eight games this season on the road, which means it’s time to come home. The Bears will try to get back on the winning track Saturday at 11 a.m. at home against Eagle Valley.

Meanwhile, Battle Mountain (6-0 in the 4A Slope and 7-0 overall) got a little help from Glenwood Springs Thursday as the Demons knocked off Steamboat, 3-2. The Huskies continue their homestand Saturday against Delta at 10 a.m.