N. Idaho Teams Will Challenge

State soccer preview

When it comes to high school soccer in Idaho, the state is gaining ground on the city.

Through the 1980s, Boise was the hotbed of high school and club soccer. As programs have developed statewide, Boise-area teams have found more challenges along the road to state championships.

A handful of North Idaho girls and boys teams hope to provide plenty of obstructions beginning Thursday when the State A-1 tournaments are held in Boise. Double-elimination play continues Friday. Championship and consolation title matches will be played Saturday.

New champs will be crowned as both the Bishop Kelly boys and girls teams were eliminated in state-qualifying tournaments.

The teams favored to replace the Bishop Kelly teams at the top are the Boise boys and girls.

A couple of the area teams figure to challenge for trophies, if not gold.

North Idaho teams put up formidable opposition last year. The Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint girls teams, for example, placed second and third, respectively. And Sandpoint’s boys took fourth.

“The potential is there for anyone of us to come back with the prize,” Sandpoint girls coach Amy Wells said of her team, CdA and Moscow.

A-1 girls

Last year, CdA was adamant about making it to the state championship match. While the Vikings haven’t been as outspoken this season, they hold no less of a goal.

Sandpoint shares the same aspiration. And it’s possible that the Panhandle rivals, on opposite sides of the bracket, could end up in a state title showdown.

If both prevail in their openers, Sandpoint faces the stiffest test in the semifinals. That’s when the Bulldogs could face undefeated Boise. “If we play Boise we’ll have to play one of our best games of the season,” Wells said.

Defense has been the strength for CdA and Sandpoint.

Any of CdA’s top defensive players would be standouts offensively on other teams. But they’ve been placed on defense for a reason.

“That’s what must carry you (at state),” CdA coach Geary Jerde said. “You’re not going to see many blowouts at state. We’ll score a couple of goals, but our defense is the key.”

Five Vikings share the defensive load. They are stopper Angela Hughes, sweeper Tiffany Beck and fullbacks Casey Joyner, Teah Beckman and Cassie Gatten.

Stopper Anna Snedden, sweeper Tonia Kritzeck and fullbacks Rebekah Reifsnyder and Jillian Sturm lead Sandpoint’s defense.

Of the two teams, CdA’s offense has been more consistent. Sophomore Janee Andre leads with 22 goals and two assists, freshman Elizabeth Hail has 10 goals and six assists and junior Jaime Jerde has six goals and 12 assists.

A-1 boys

While most North Idaho teams have played considerably fewer matches than the state field, they will take teams loaded with talent.

Half of Lake City’s team, for example, played on the U-17 Sting club team that won a state cup last spring and advanced to the western regionals.

“Given all the disadvantages we should still be able to compete,” LC coach Jim Facciano said. “We shouldn’t be taken lightly.”

If LC wins its opener, it would likely face favored Boise in the semifinals. Boise draws from the respected Boise Nationals club program. As one Boise-area soccer official said, “Boise cuts players who would start for most teams.”

LC prevailed as district champ, but had to go to a shootout to defeat Sandpoint.

The Bulldogs return 10 of 11 starters from last year’s team, and 12 of their 18 players have played on the same club team this fall.

“We’re extremely prepared; we’re going to do well,” said Sandpoint co-coach Tom Atencio, the director of coaching and player development for the Sandpoint Youth Soccer program.

CdA coach John Smith will take a young team to state. The Viks have just one senior.

“I think Lake City and Sandpoint could do very well,” Smith said. “We’re very good as individuals. Whether we come together well in a short period is our greatest test. We haven’t played well together so far.”

A-2 tournaments

Post Falls, an A-1 participant in all sports except soccer, sends its first boys and girls teams to state.

The Trojans will be playing in the State A-2 tournaments in Blackfoot beginning Thursday. Play continues Friday and concludes Saturday. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: STATE SOCCER TOURNAMENTS Thursday A-1 At Simplot Sports Complex, Boise (All times MST) Boys Match 1: Boise (12-0-2) vs. Pocatello (8-4-1), 1 p.m.; M2: Lake City (2-0) vs. Capital (5-6-4), 1; M3: Meridian (11-4-1) vs. Coeur d’Alene (1-1), 3; M4: Sandpoint (1-1) vs. Highland (13-4-1), 3.

Girls Match 1: Boise (14-0-1) vs. Pocatello (2-1-2), 1 p.m.; M2: Sandpoint (15-1-2) vs. Centennial (7-5-3), 1; M3: Coeur d’Alene (15-6) vs. Capital (10-3-3), 3; M4: Moscow (14-5) vs. Skyline, 3.

A-2 At Blackfoot (Local pairings only) Boys Post Falls vs. Blackfoot, noon. Girls Post Falls vs. Caldwell, 2 p.m.