Sandpoint set for Skyview showdown

MERIDIAN, Idaho – And now for the game everyone’s been waiting for.

The Sandpoint and Skyview boys soccer teams cruised into the State 4A championship game Friday afternoon at the Boise Capital Soccer Complex. They know little about each other besides the reputations, which for both teams are intimidating to most other opponents.

Sandpoint beat Pocatello 3-1 in the semifinals to improve to 18-1-2. The Bulldogs have won four of the past five state titles, including last year.

Skyview (15-1-2), of Nampa, smacked Burley 4-0.

Both teams’ only loss was to Nampa, which Sandpoint beat 4-2 on Thursday in a first-round thriller. They meet at 11:15 p.m. (PDT) today.

“I know they’ve got a heck of a good team,” Sandpoint coach Randy Thoreson said of Skyview. “I’m looking for a real similar game (to the Nampa game). I know they’ve got some good inside mids and a fast forward we’re going to have to contend with.”

Sandpoint’s experience showed, as Thoreson rested a few starters with a 1-0 lead in the second half. He knew the Indians didn’t have the talent to beat the Bulldogs, and he also knew his team needed fresh legs for today.

The Bulldogs dominated the play in the first half. It took 6 minutes for the Indians to push the ball more than a few feet past midfield. The Indians, though, dropped all but two forwards deep into their territory and did a good job of snuffing out scoring chances.

The Bulldogs didn’t crack the scoreboard until the 25th minute. Midfielder Michael Brewer earned a penalty kick, and teammate Brandon Eddy converted with a boot into the lower-right corner of the goal.

“They just took (Brewer’s) legs out,” Thoreson said.

The Bulldogs pushed in front 2-0 in the 49th minute. A long shot glanced off the crossbar right to Chase Lowther, who was by himself in front of the goal. He headed the rebound into the net.

The Indians tried to rally when Jim Merkley set up Mario Wade’s goal in the 56th minute.

Three minutes later, Eddy redirected Kyle Van Dyk’s free kick with the top of his head for his second goal of the game and a commanding 3-1 lead.