Coyle’s score sends Lakeland to state

The Lakeland girls soccer team is headed to the state tournament via its 2-1 win over host Sandpoint in a 4A Region I playoff contest on Wednesday.

It marked the third meeting of the season between the Inland Empire League foes, with each team winning a game during the regular season.

After Sandpoint’s Bulldogs (11-5-4, 9-1-2) took a 1-0 lead, the Hawks (13-4-1, 8-3-1) responded with a goal less than a minute later. Natalie Nichols and Kayla Stiegemeier worked the ball down the field, and Stiegemeier scored from 8 yards out after receiving the give-and-go pass from Nichols.

Lakeland took the lead in the 75th minute on Lauryn Coyle’s unassisted goal. After winning the ball from a Sandpoint defender, Coyle finished with a low kick from 15 yards out that made its way into the net despite the Bulldogs goalkeeper getting a hand on it.

The Hawks will play their first game at state on Oct. 27 in Boise as the No. 1 seed out of the 4A North Region.

Sandpoint’s next contest will be a play-in match for a state berth at Lewiston on Saturday.

•In the Greater Spokane League, Central Valley pulled off the biggest upset of the day with a 1-0 win at home over second-place Gonzaga Prep (12-2, 10-2). Molly Nordstrom scored and Mallory Flesher made eight saves in net for the Bears (8-6, 8-4).

Washington slowpitch softball

After losing to Rogers twice during the regular season, the Ferris Saxons’ offense picked an opportune time to come alive, defeating the host Pirates 9-7 in the District 81 championship game. Lauren Viau got the Ferris offense rolling early with a two-run double in the third inning. Kiona Zbylski added to the Saxons’ lead in the seventh with a solo home run. Ashley Clark and Jen Knight both picked up three hits apiece for Rogers, the regular-season champion.