One goal in mind: no goals

The Coeur d’Alene High boys soccer team has averaged nearly four goals per match this season.

The Vikings, in fact, have scored more than five times than what they’ve allowed. But if they capture a state championship this week, it will happen because of their defense.

CdA has allowed just 12 goals in 18 matches, eight of which have been shutouts.

Anchoring the defense are four seniors: defenders Jalon Eborall, Jon Latorre and Hayden Walker and goalkeeper Marc Hilbert.

“They’re the backbone of the team,” senior forward Jordan Correia said. “They keep us in the game. (The defenders) keep knocking the balls forward for us to run on to. Marc barely ever sees the ball because they keep popping it out of there.”

CdA (15-0-3) opens state this morning when it meets District III fourth-place team Timberline (10-6-3) at 11 at Lake City High School.

The defenders and the goalie have been playing together since their first year in club soccer (U-11). Latorre and Eborall go back even further to fourth grade and “micro” soccer.

“All of us know each other well and we’re good friends,” Latorre said.

It’s no coincidence that the team’s three captains are Latorre, Eborall and Hilbert.

“I think it says something about the leadership of the team,” Eborall said.

Lake City coach Chad Beadell knows the Vikings have had a prolific offense. There’s no question in his mind where the heart of the team is, though.

“Defense is the strength of their team,” Beadell said. “You can tell they’re comfortable together.”

CdA coach Eric Louis agrees.

“It’s definitely the best four defensive combination we’ve had here in the last five years,” Louis said. “The confidence they play with inspires everybody else. They could be the difference for us going into state.”

It’s a sizeable back four, too. Eborall is the shortest at 5-foot-11, but he plays much taller because of his jumping ability. In fact, he probably plays as much in the air as he does on the ground. Latorre is 6-0 and Hilbert and Walker are both 6-2.

“They’re scary. Throw them into football pads and you wouldn’t want to go against them,” Vikings junior midfielder Robby Astin said. “They’re fast, they’re big, they’re great out of the air. It helps knowing that if you get beat you have those guys back there.”

The size and athleticism will come in handy against the Boise-area state qualifiers who traditionally have tall, thick forwards.

Latorre and Eborall both said that CdA football coach Shawn Amos has tried to recruit them.

“If high school soccer was played in the spring, I’d definitely have turned out for football,” Latorre said.

Hilbert said that what makes the defense click is chemistry.

“I’m really comfortable with all of them,” Hilbert said.

Of the 12 goals opponents have scored, none has been cheap.

“I don’t think a team has scored a goal on us that they didn’t have to earn it,” Walker said.

The defense’s success starts with communication.

“If something’s wrong, we can talk about it and figure it out,” Hilbert said. “We can criticize each other without ticking each other off.”

“We do bite at each other at times,” Latorre said.

Latorre was asked if it’s constructive criticism.

“I don’t know if that’s what it sounds like on the field,” he said. “When we let a goal be scored, it’s not a good thing.”

That probably explains why opponents haven’t scored often.