Vikings Hold On To Boot

Prep soccer

The Coeur d’Alene girls soccer team retained the Golden Boot Award Thursday evening with a 4-1 win over Lake City in a North Idaho League match.

Viking Janee Andre dominated the Timberwolves, scoring all four goals on eight shots.

“Our team sets her up,” said CdA coach Geary Jerde. “She knows how to read the team. She passes it, reads it, goes in and puts it in the net. She likes to win and she had an outstanding game.”

Andre booted in the first point of the game 7 minutes into the first half after an assist from freshman Elizabeth Hail. Her second score came later in the period, when she kicked one just right of T-Wolves goalie Jeanne Russell.

Two minutes before the half, however, Andre injured her ankle and was carried off the field by Jerde.

“It hurt a lot,” said a frustrated Andre. “I rolled my ankle in August and then I rolled it again just now. I don’t know what to do with it.”

But Andre returned 12 minutes into the second half and showed her determination by scoring two more goals for the Viks (10-4 overall, 8-1 league).

“She’s a tough kid,” said Jerde.

There was hope for the T-Wolves when striker Anna Moseley tied the game 1-1 18 minutes into the game. She zinged one past CdA’s goalie Kathy Cottrell on a free kick after a tripping penalty.

Cottrell had 15 saves.

LC finished with 18 attempts on Cottrell, which was a big improvement from the T-Wolves’ previous game against the Viks this year, when they came up with 10. The Viks took 22 shots.

“I’m very frustrated for the girls,” said T-Wolves coach Jim Facciano. “I told them they shouldn’t be disappointed in the way they played. They played with heart for the first time in a long time. Four-to-one sounds like we got slaughtered, but the fans know how we played. The score just doesn’t reflect the effort that was put out by the girls.

“We still have a go at the district playoffs, and that’s where it really counts,” Facciano added.

The victory leaves CdA, last year’s league champion, one game behind Sandpoint, the league leader.

Despite the standings, the Vikings are more than eager to come up against the Bulldogs a week from Saturday.

“Our performance has been on and off,” said Andre. “We hit a wall awhile back, but we’re getting over it and we are so ready for Sandpoint. We just can’t let them think they’re the best.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo