University of Idaho soccer captain Kelly Dopke was in a meeting last Wednesday with President Chuck Staben as the student-athlete advisory committee president when discussion turned to the potential for the school to cut three sports — including soccer.
Staben didn’t realize the athletic department at large wasn’t aware of the budget dilemma that will reach the State Board of Education later this month. Dopke, who just learned her team might be cut, was asked to keep the information quiet. She went straight to practice and worked out with her teammates. She then told coach Derek Pittman to see acting Athletic Director Pete Isakson right away.