Russell Saves Day As Lc, Cda Tie Timberwolves’ Goalie Makes A Face-First Stop

Sophomore goalkeeper Jeanne Russell sacrificed her face to stop a point-blank shot by Coeur d’Alene midfielder Kara Kovatch 55 minutes into Monday afternoon’s high school girls’ soccer game.

It was one of eight saves for Russell and went a long way toward preserving Lake City’s 0-0 tie in the crosstown matchup at Hayden Meadows Elementary School.

Kovatch’s shot sent Russell diving directly in front of the goal line.

It was also as close as either team came to scoring despite 16 shots by the Timberwolves and 15 by the Vikings, who got 11 saves from sophomore goalkeeper Rachel StormoGipson.

”(Kovatch) kind of shot at my face,” Russell explained. “I just jumped in front of it and blocked it. It was pretty close to the line.”

“It was really upsetting when (Kovatch) couldn’t put it in,” Coeur d’Alene senior Jenny Vredenburg said. “We had some opportunities. The balls were good, and (the offense) just wasn’t there.”

The tie keeps the Vikings atop the North Idaho Independent Soccer League standings at 4-0-1 and 5-2-1 overall. Lake City is 2-0-2 and 3-2-2.

“We both tried to play an up-tempo-type game,” Coeur d’Alene coach David Tabakman said. “We can play better. Our defense out there was absolutely fabulous.”

The Vikings’ defense, keyed by junior Britta Andersson, has given up just four goals in the last six games.

“They were trying to play keep-away, and we were trying to contain,” Tabakman added.

Both teams were tired from hectic weekend schedules, especially Coeur d’Alene. The Vikings play their fifth game in as many days today at Canfield Middle School against East Valley of Spokane.

Lake City took only five shots in the first half. Coeur d’Alene bunched its seven first-half shots, as the Vikings went for 20 minutes without an attempt.

“It was like slow motion,” Timberwolves coach Jim Facciano said.

Both teams came out firing to start the second half, including a 25-yard attempt by Lake City’s Ali Chisholm that was just wide to the right of the goal at the 42-minute mark.

Andersson was back patrolling the Vikings’ goal area 10 minutes later, and cleared a 15-yard shot by Timberwolves’ senior Callie Meyer. Andersson’s effort set the Coeur d’Alene offense in motion, and Kovatch’s foiled shot capped the drive.

At 60 minutes, Lake City came within inches from a goal as senior Kristi Jacobson fed junior Colleen Ryan on a narrow miss.

In the next 5 minutes, Ryan and Jacobson each came up empty on shots. Ryan’s breakaway try from the left side went behind the goal, while StormoGipson scooped up Jacobson’s shot from 10 yards.

“It’s really hard if you want to go out there and start playing,” Russell said of watching the action from the goal area. “It’s pretty frustrating. We had some pretty close shots. We were just so determined to win, we were trying a little too hard.”

Lake City and CdA meet again Sept. 26.

Prep volleyball

Joy Sperry had seven kills and two solo blocks as Wallace (14-4) defeated Kootenai 15-8, 15-2. Lisa Calabretta served 3 for 3 off the bench in the final game.