Vikings Turn Back Braves, 2-1 Stormogipson Weathers Barrage Of Shots In State Semifinal Upset

If Boise High had been shooting water guns instead of soccer balls Friday afternoon, Coeur d’Alene goalkeeper Rachel StormoGipson would have been soaked long before the girls State A-1 Tournament semifinal was decided in a shootout.

The Braves might have even emptied Lake Coeur d’Alene in the process of refilling.

It’s not how many scoring opportunities a team has that matters most, however. It’s how many balls find net. And after 100 minutes of play and a five-shot shootout, Coeur d’Alene knocked off the three-time state champions 2-1.

StormoGipson weathered 27 shots and recorded 20 saves during 80 minutes of regulation play, and then survived two tense 10-minute halves in overtime.

And she may not have stood taller or wider than she did in the shootout as she turned back four of Boise’s five shots.

Coeur d’Alene (19-4-1) will be seeking a 13th straight victory and its second state title today when it meets Bishop Kelly (12-4-1), the third seed from Boise, at noon. The match will be played at Field 1 at the Irma Anderl Complex at Lake City High.

Bishop Kelly shut out Sandpoint 2-0 in Friday’s other semifinal.

In earlier loser-out matches, Highland topped Pocatello 1-0 and Borah handled Skyline 5-1.

In afternoon loser-out matches, Sandpoint bounced back to shut out Highland 3-0 and Boise was forced into another shootout before subduing Borah 1-0.

In the consolation final following today’s championship, Sandpoint (16-5-2) will take on Boise (15-2-2) at 2:30 at LC.

Coeur d’Alene 2, Boise 1

The Braves did all but win the match in regulation. And the ball spent 90 percent of the time on the Vikings’ defensive half during overtime.

But the Viks withstood the steady onslaught from the quicker Braves.

“I’m a little sore,” StormoGipson said, smiling. “That’s probably more action than I got all season (combined). It’s unfortunate that the game has to be decided by a shootout, because it’s probably not a very good way to end a soccer game. But we held them out. It was a miracle or something.”

CdA shot first in the shootout and freshman Janee Andre pounded the ball into the right corner of the goal.

After Boise’s first shot flew over the crossbar, Teah Beckman promptly put the Viks ahead 2-0.

Chavon Weimer scored Boise’s lone goal on the ensuing kick.

It didn’t matter, however, as StormoGipson stopped Boise’s final three attempts, the last with a sliding save. Seconds later, she was mobbed by her teammates and coaches.

“What’d they outshoot us, 20 or 30 to 1?” CdA coach David Tabakman asked. “(StormoGipson) steps up big every match. She hasn’t had to play very hard (during the season), but when she’s challenged she plays very well.”

StormoGipson praised defenders Kelly Garasky and Linsey Mattison and freshmen Casey Joyner and Tiffany Beck.

Desirae Ward put Boise ahead 1-0 in the ninth minute when her kick from 25 yards out beat StormoGipson to the left corner.

CdA’s tying goal came on a kick that had the hang time of a punt.

Nicolette Richards, who didn’t start because of a slightly pulled hamstring, entered the match mid-way through the first half. Two minutes later, Richards’ high shot landed in the goal after bounding off the fingertips of Boise goalkeeper Jenny Campbell.

“We took everything they had,” Tabakman said of Boise. “They were unlucky. But that’s soccer. It doesn’t matter who we play (today). We’re ready.”

Bishop Kelly 2, Sandpoint 0

The Knights used single goals in each half by Jennifer Belzer to knock off the Bulldogs.

It was a defensive-minded match from the outset. Sandpoint had six shots on goal, five in the second half. The Knights had just five shots.

“They just outworked us, really,” Sandpoint coach Amy Wells said. “They outworked us to the ball. We had some good chances, but we didn’t finish.”

The Bulldogs rebounded in the afternoon against Highland as Melissa Kingsland scored three goals after being moved by Wells from sweeper to forward.

Kingsland put Sandpoint ahead 2-0 in the first half with scores at 7 and 29 minutes. Her last goal came with 3 minutes left.

Sandpoint is looking forward to playing for a trophy today.

“Our goal is to play focused for 80 minutes,” Wells said. “If we do that, we’ll play well.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo