Senior domination

The Coeur d’Alene High girls soccer team rode the shoulders of a talented group of seniors to a State 5A championship last fall.

The Coeur d’Alene boys, with 10 seniors on their roster, would like to use a similar blueprint this season.

“This is a senior class we’ve been looking forward to,” Vikings boys coach Eric Louis said. “They’re a good unit. We have a deep bench so we’re able to play a lot of guys with a lot of experience.”

The team also possesses some talented underclassmen.

“We have both youth and experience,” Louis said.

In Coeur d’Alene’s first three wins, sophomores scored eight of the 12 goals.

The bulk of the Vikings’ experience can be found among the midfielders, defenders and in goal. The youth can be found on the offensive end.

Two of the Inland Empire League’s four 5A boys and girls teams will earn state berths this year, eliminating the need for a play-in match. The three 4A teams will tangle for one state berth.

The Vikings’ chances of capturing a state berth are enhanced by the fact that the state tournament will be held in Coeur d’Alene.

So it’s no wonder that Louis and his boys are being asked if they think they can contend for a state title.

“That’s a question a lot of people are already asking,” Louis said. “We think we can make a legitimate run for it. We’ll be disappointed if we’re not in the running.”

Louis thought his team should have been in the running last year. But the Vikings fell 1-0 in a state opener. After winning a loser-out second-round match, CdA found itself matched up against crosstown rival Lake City for fourth place. The Timberwolves, who finished 18-2-1, won the showdown.

CdA played in the state final four years ago, falling to Idaho Falls 2-1.

Lake City, meanwhile, appears to have the best shot at challenging for a state berth. But the T-Wolves may be a mere shell of the team that cruised to league and regional titles a year ago.

“We’re a little beat up and bruised right now,” LC coach Chad Beadell said.

While CdA perhaps has more seasoning, LC’s nucleus is nine juniors. In fact, it’s as if CdA and LC have split the city’s club soccer team in half. CdA’s 10 seniors and LC’s nine juniors comprise the club team.

“Last year our teams were almost even in club kids, but we had the older ones,” Beadell said. “Now this year Coeur d’Alene has the older players.”

Despite the early injuries and a smaller-than-usual turnout, Beadell is optimistic.

“My biggest concern is they’ve got big shoes to fill and I don’t want them (the juniors) to feel like they have to do it on their own,” Beadell said. “We’re going to play a lot of young guys because of the injuries. Hopefully, it will help us down the road.”

Beadell, a CdA High grad, isn’t about to concede anything to his alma mater.

“If we get healthy, I think we can play with them,” Beadell said. “But we’re going to have to play our best soccer.”

“In 4A, Sandpoint rebounded from an uncharacteristic 1-8 start last year to capture a state title. The Bulldogs return the nucleus of that team, but Moscow is poised to challenge the Bulldogs.

“In the girls, Sandpoint will most likely have to move up to 5A after its school board allowed two players from Clark Fork to join the program. Under state rules, Sandpoint must count Clark Fork’s enrollment with its own, and the added numbers pushes Sandpoint’s enrollment to the 5A level.

Sandpoint has appealed to the Idaho High School Activities Association, but it is rare that the state association rules in the appealing school’s favor. The IHSAA is expected to make a decision by next week.

If Sandpoint is in 5A, it will most likely be favored to knock off CdA. Those two schools would be heavily favored to capture the two state berths.

If Sandpoint leaves 4A, that would leave Lakeland, the defending regional champ, and Moscow to go head to head for the single state berth.

CdA and Sandpoint should engage in some entertaining battles.

“This year’s team is very technically sound,” CdA coach Tarragh Carr said. “We will not have the same style as last year. Last year was a phenomenal year, but it’s over. I’ve told the girls, ‘You’re no longer state champions. You can say we’re defending state champions.’ They can be just as good if not better.”