They’re the 8th wonder

CALDWELL, Idaho – It was a good day to be a Sandpoint High soccer fan.

Hours after the Sandpoint girls won the State 4A championship Saturday at Syringa Middle School, the boys successfully defended their 4A title on the same field with a 2-1 victory over the Bonneville Bees.

It is the eighth state championship this decade for the Sandpoint boys, who had to fight tooth-and-nail for the 2009 title after cruising through the 4A bracket in 2008.

“We overcame a ton of obstacles this season,” said Bulldogs coach Randy Thoreson, whose team won all three of its state tournament games by a single goal. “These guys found a way to somehow get the job done, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Senior forward Anders Nostahl scored the winner in the 74th minute, taking a pass from junior teammate Tanner Williams and sneaking a low shot just inside the left post.

“I just made a run and Tanner hit me with an awesome ball,” Nostahl said. “I thought I missed it at first, but then it trickled in.”

The late goal was the highlight of a physical game that featured 10 yellow cards and three ejections. Nostahl was tossed for leaving the field of play while celebrating his game-winner.

“It was a very physical game,” Thoreson said. “There were a lot of cards, a lot of controversial cards, but that’s the game of soccer.”

Sandpoint (16-2-2) never trailed after taking a 1-0 lead on Danny Anderson’s goal in the 21st minute. Bonneville’s Alejandro Garcia tied the game with a long shot that bounced past Sandpoint keeper Eric Wehse in the 38th minute.

“For the championship, you expect a hard game,” Bonneville coach Ali Siahpush said.

Anderson, a senior, was ejected in the second half after picking up his second yellow card and had to watch the waning minutes of his final high school game from the bench.

“It was hard to watch, but I’m just happy we won,” Anderson said. “It meant a lot more this year. It was an emotional ride.”

With Anderson out, senior Adam Crossingham made a surprise appearance. He suffered a concussion during Friday’s 3-2 semifinal win over Hillcrest and was not expected to play Saturday.

“It feels great to win it again, especially being a senior,” Crossingham said.