Vikings advance to state

Coeur d’Alene High boys coach Eric Louis knew his young team would have growing pains this season.

Louis never lost faith or became inpatient. The reward came Wednesday when the second-seeded Vikings upset No. 1 Lake City 2-1 in a shootout as Coeur d’Alene captured its second straight 5A Region I title.

Coeur d’Alene (9-8) advances to state, Oct. 23-25 in Meridian. The Vikings will take on Mountain View of Meridian (13-3-1), the District III third-place team, in a first-round match.

Lake City (9-5-2) can still earn a trip to state. The Timberwolves meet Eagle (12-5-1), the District III fifth-place team, Saturday in a play-in match at Lewiston.

CdA outscored LC 4-1 in penalty kicks in the shootout. The Vikings’ Jordan Eborall, Scott McMurdie, Robby Astin and Austin Green made their shots in the shootout while goalie Jimmy Keith stopped two LC attempts.

It was apparent that the Vikings’ third regional title in five years under Louis may have been the best because it was unexpected – at least by everyone but CdA.

“It’s a long road to get here and coaches have made the comments throughout (the regular season) that we’ve gotten better each game,” Louis said. “The season’s been about limiting mistakes, and we made just one today.”

Jimmy Williamson put LC ahead just 2 minutes and 40 seconds into the match. Astin, who was fouled in the box, evened the score in the 29th minute on a penalty kick.

The teams couldn’t decide it thereafter in regulation and two 10-minute overtimes.

LC played without two starters who were suspended for the rest of the season for athletic code violations. They lost three players to injury during the game.

T-Wolves coach Chad Beadell didn’t offer any excuses.

“Credit to Coeur d’Alene,” Beadell said. “It’s just heartbreaking that in three games the only way they have scored on us is (penalty kicks).”

Girls

Greater Spokane League: Averi Hallman fed Allie Floyd for a goal at 17 minutes, and Mt. Spokane (7-2, 5-2) added a late own goal during a 2-0 win over Ferris (5-5, 4-4) at Albi Stadium. … Olivia Eldridge assisted on two goals and Mead (9-1, 6-1) scored three times on headers during a 4-0 win over visiting Central Valley (5-5, 3-4). The second-place Panthers travel to Hart Field to play at first-place Lewis and Clark (12-1, 7-0) on Friday. … Colby Smits and Kelly McNeal accounted for one goal and one assist apiece in the second half of LC’s 7-0 win at Rogers (0-8, 0-8). LC’s Shelby Lambdin added two second-half assists. … Megan Lindsay scored twice to guide Gonzaga Prep (10-2, 6-2) to a 4-0 win at North Central (3-9, 1-8). Lindsay has scored 12 goals this season. … Amie Weiler scored off an indirect kick at 72 minutes to force overtime, and host East Valley (5-5, 3-4) won a shootout 5-4 for a 2-1 victory over Shadle Park (3-7, 3-4).

Idaho 4A Region I: Jenifer Hansen scored in regulation and Hayley Couture made six saves during a 4-2 shootout as Moscow (5-7-5) posted a 2-1 win over visiting Lakeland (13-2-3) in a winner-to-state, loser-out game.