District tournament update: Highland punches state ticket behind 5 Vawdrey goals; Pocatello still in hunt despite loss

EASTERN IDAHO — The Highland Rams, behind a career night from junior striker Alexis Vawdrey, bested the Rigby Trojans in Thursday night’s district championship, earning a return trip to the state tournament.

It didn’t take long for Vawdrey to put No. 1 seed Highland (12-5-1, 5-0-1) ahead of No. 3 Rigby (4-12-2, 1-3-2). Less than two minutes into the game, the Rams’ leading scorer found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

In the 10th minute, Vawdrey thought she had given her team some insurance. But her second goal was called for offsides.

Senior co-captain Taryn Roth missed her chance at a 2-0 lead in the 20th minute, maneuvering around the Rigby goalie before hitting the post with a sharp-angle shot from just outside the 10-yard box.

Roth hit the post again five minutes later. But Sunny Moysh did eventually put Highland’s second goal in the back of the net, in the 30th minute.

Rigby’s first real chance came on a free kick from 40 yards in the 35th minute. A Trojan attacker beat Highland goalie Eve Dixon on the rebound, but that goal was called off for offsides.

The Rams quickly countered when Roth sent a centering pass from the left wing to Vawdrey in front of the goal. Vawdrey cashed it in with her second goal of the night, and a 3-0 Highland lead, in the 39th minute.

After the half, the Rams pulled away with an onslaught of goals, led again by their junior star.

Vawdrey hammered three more goals home in second half before taking a set with roughly 25 minutes to play.

Her five goals led Highland to a 9-0 win, a district tournament championship and a spot in the state tournament.

With her massive performance, Vawdrey also took over the state lead in goals scored. She now sits at 33 on the season, in 18 games played. Hillcrest’s Quincy Daw, Skyline’s Isley Dixon and Pocatello’s Aryanna Gonzalez are all tied for second with 31.

Highland is the No. 10-ranked team, according to MaxPreps, meaning the Rams will likely receive a low seed when the state tournament starts on Oct. 22.

5A

The No. 3 Pocatello Thunder (13-4-1, 10-3-1) fell 4-0 on the road against the No. 2 Skyline Grizzlies (13-2-3, 10-1-3) Thursday, and are now backed into a corner.

Poky, looking to return to the state tournament, will now await the loser of Saturday’s 5A District 5-6 tournament championship between Skyline and No. 1 Hillcrest (16-0-1, 12-0-1). That loser will duel the Thunder on Monday for the district’s second state bid.

Either way, Pocatello will be on the road for that winner-take-all game. It is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.

4A

No. 1 Marsh Valley (14-1-2, 10-0) will face No. 3 Preston (12-4-1, 6-3-1) at Marsh Valley High School for the title of 4A District 5 champion and a spot in the state tournament.

That game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.