After a second consecutive draw to start the 2025 season, Wood River High School boys soccer head coach Greg Gvozdas said he wants the team to focus on finishing the deal.
“We need to be mentally focused and make sure we take every opponent at face value to make sure we do our best from the first whistle,” he said.
The Wolverines got off to a quick start Tuesday, but the Idaho Falls Tigers’ Rex Sessions scored a second-half goal as the Idaho Class 5A teams drew 1-1 at Founders Field in Hailey.
“I feel like we were the better side,” Gvozdas said. “We just need to make sure we capitalize on our chances. They got one in against the run of play. For the most part, we just need to make sure we put the ball in the back of the net.”
The Wolverines were off and running in the second minute of the game as junior midfielder Wyatt Gilmour took a shot from the right side of the 18-yard box and got it past Tigers senior goalkeeper Josh Peterson. Gilmour took a pass from Wood River senior forward J.J. Wallace and dribbled around a defender to get the shot in the net.
“The sequence was nice,” Gvozdas said. “Wyatt had a strong shot to score. As we grow through the season, we need guys to be able to finish. That seems to be something we’re struggling with at the time.”
Toward the end of the first half, the Wolverines had a sequence where Wallace and senior midfielder Reidar Slotten each had chances but were unable to put a second goal past Peterson.
The Wolverines pushed forward in the first part of the second half before Idaho Falls used a nice counterattack to tie the game. Wood River senior striker Alberto Romo almost had a highlight-reel goal in the 64th minute on a bicycle kick that hit the left post.
Gvozdas felt the team pushed the pace of play in the second half, but the team was unable to find the finishing touch.
“We have strong players,” he said. “We [need] to continue to gel as a team and see if we can make a run. It’s still early.”
The Wolverines did not make things easy on themselves in the early portion of the season, as they drew at defending 6A champions Boise on Saturday. Idaho Falls lost in the third-place game in the 2024 5A state tournament.
Next, the Wolverines head to Nampa to take on the Skyview Hawks, a 5A foe, on Saturday.
“Skyview will give us another test,” Gvozdas said. “We’re crisscrossing the southern part of the state, so it’ll give us a chance to see a different type of look and different kinds of dynamics.”
The Wolverines’ next home game is Tuesday against former 4A District IV foe Canyon Ridge Riverhawks, out of Twin Falls, who now play in the 6A High Country Conference.
“Canyon Ridge is always extremely difficult,” Gvozdas said. “[They have a] good program down there. [We have] a bit of a rivalry through the previous conference. We’ll have to make sure we come out ready.”
Kickoff for the Canyon Ridge contest is set for 4 p.m. at Founders Field in Hailey on Tuesday.
“Skyview and Canyon Ridge back-to-back is going to be a busy Labor Day weekend,” Gvozdas said. 
