Lc Boys, Sandpoint Girls Head Into State Soccer Play

The Lake City High School boys soccer team wanted a tougher push into the State A-1 Tournament.

The Sandpoint girls, meanwhile, pushed past No. 2 seed Lake City (1-0) and league champion and top-seeded Coeur d’Alene (2-1) en route to the Region I tournament title and berth to state.

Boise’s boys and girls swept the state championships last season, but neither won its district tournament.

The Meridian boys make their first state appearance, as the Boise area’s top seed.

“I’m maybe a little surprised they’re at the top of the league and that they won the district,” Timberwolves coach Bill Eisenwinter said of Meridian. “That’s the toughest league in the state. They went undefeated in league.”

Lake City (2-0) was third at the 1994 state tournament, while Coeur d’Alene won the 1993 title.

The Boise area girls district champ was decided in a shootout, with Centennial prevailing over the Braves 2-1.

Sandpoint (10-3-2) hasn’t made the trip to state since 1992.

Girls

Consistency may be the key for the Bulldogs, who were seeded third in their regional.

“Last year we saw a little bit of it,” Sandpoint coach John Ferguson said. “We saw that intensity come out from time to time, but not always. This year, sometimes the intensity comes out, but not always. They all have a big heart.”

Scoring threats for the Bulldogs lie in seniors Kelly Bowser and Jenny Wells, and juniors Elisa Scherb and Jodi McKitrick. Midfielder Chrissy Russell may be Sandpoint’s strongest all-around player.

The Bulldogs moved Kati Lyster to goalkeeper halfway through last season, and the junior opted to return to that same position this season. “She has a tremendous amount of instinctive reaction,” Ferguson said. “She’s quick. She’s aggressive.”

Boys

The Southern Idaho teams already have a 12-game advantage over the Timberwolves, who play a spring regular season to coincide with Washington high schools.

“It’ll be tough for us because the games in district weren’t as tough as I expected,” Eisenwinter said of 4-1 and 5-1 wins over Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, respectively.

Lake City graduated standout midfielder Robin Bundy, but returns a veteran senior nucleus led by midfielders Mike Thompson and Jamie Landwehr, defender Ean Estep and goalkeeper Chad Beadell.

“It’ll be interesting to see how the boys react down at state where the pressure will be a lot greater,” Eisenwinter said.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: State A-1 soccer Where: Boise, at Simplot Sports Complex When: Today through Saturday Boys Today: Pocatello vs. Meridian, 3:30 p.m. PDT; Boise vs. Centennial, 3:30. Friday: Meridian vs. Lake City, 8 a.m.; Centennial vs. Idaho Falls, 10; Lake City vs. Pocatello, 1:30 p.m.; Idaho Falls vs. Boise, 4:30. Saturday: Fifth-place game (pool losers), noon; Third-place (pool second placers), noon; Championship (pool winners), 3 p.m. Girls Today: Centennial vs. Skyline, 3:30; Boise vs. Bishop Kelly, 3:30. Friday: Bishop Kelly vs. Pocatello, 8 a.m.; Sandpoint vs. Centennial, 10 a.m.; Pocatello vs. Boise, 1:30 p.m.; Skyline vs. Sandpoint, 3:30. Saturday: Fifth-place game (pool losers), noon; Third-place (pool second placers), noon; Championship (pool winners), 1 p.m.