Defending state champ Sandpoint opens 4A soccer with win

Sandpoint girls soccer coach Conor Baranski could sense it as his team ate breakfast at its motel Thursday morning.

“They had an air about them that was confident,” Baranski said.

It’s a confidence that has been burnished through some difficult lessons this season. The defending State 4A champions graduated nine starters and lost two other juniors off last year’s team.

The Bulldogs played like seasoned veterans even as a handful of freshmen were in the middle of things as Sandpoint shut out Twin Falls 2-0 in a state opener on a rain-soaked pitch at Lake City High.

Sandpoint (7-8-2) faces Middleton (13-6) in a semifinal at 11:30 a.m. today. Middleton tripped Century 2-1.

The Bulldogs started quickly when a pair of freshmen teamed up on the first goal. Riley Couch took a pass from Rachel Meyer for the first goal in the 10th minute.

About 12 minutes later, junior Nan Kiebert took a long pass from junior Madi Schoening a couple of feet in front of the goal and put Sandpoint ahead 2-0.

That score stood. The defense took over thereafter.

Defenders Corinne Aris, Heidi Skinner and Grace Johnson took turns deflecting shots from an open net that got past goalie Paige DuMars, who had pressed high to try to stop through balls on the bouncy wet grass.

“We talked about the rain was going to be a factor with through balls and we had our keeper pressing a little higher to get those through balls and told our defenders to make sure and cover for her,” Baranski said.

Baranski couldn’t praise his young team enough. It’s no surprise that most of the team’s victories have come later in the season as the Bulldogs have matured.

“It was a perfect start, really,” Baranski said. “We came out confident, which is not something we’ve always done this season. These girls have come a long ways. There’s been so much improvement. The record is an indication of the growth pains we’ve had this year.”

Kiebert has watched the transformation first hand.

“At the beginning of the year we had a hard time but we all came together and we are as good as we are now,” she said. “We started at the bottom and we’re playing our best now.”

The Bulldogs’ fast start eased some nerves, too.

“Getting goals in the first half and all of us being positive and working together as a team were keys,” Kiebert said.

5A

Lake City kept its hopes of capturing a second state title in three years by knocking off Eagle 3-2 in overtime at Idaho Falls.

LC (15-2-1) takes on tourney favorite Boise (19-0-1) today in the semifinals. Boise opened with a 4-1 win over Madison.

The Timberwolves fell behind 2-0 quickly. But they cut the lead to 2-1 when Alissa Joliff scored off a pass from Havana Johnson.

Then in the first 20 seconds of the second half, Maddi Ward ran down a ball, taking a crossing pass from Johnson for the tying goal.

In the 72nd minute, LC lost Ward, its standout, to a red card. That meant LC had to play the final 8 minutes and the first 5 minutes in overtime a player down.

Still, Johnson got loose for the winning goal. She collected a missed shot from 6 yards out.

Ward will have to miss LC’s game today.

“We’ll have to move some players around but this team was built to be deep,” LC coach Matt Ruchti said. “We’ve got to battle through some moments. Soccer’s a team sport, but it comes down to individual moments from players.”

• Coeur d’Alene (9-7-1) had a rough start, falling to Rocky Mountain 3-0 at Idaho Falls.

The Vikings take on Skyline today in a loser-out match.

3A

Shelby Starr scored twice as Timberlake defeated Bliss 4-2 in the first round at Twin Falls.

Timberlake will meet McCall-Donnelly at 1 p.m. today in the semifinals.

Also at the tourney, Katie Baxter scored off a corner kick in the 79th minute as Coeur d’Alene Charter defeated Sugar-Salem 1-0 in an opener at Twin Falls.

The Panthers will play Shelley at 1 p.m. today in the other semifinal.

Boys

5A

Lake City picked a rough time to lose its first match of the season.

Centennial tripped the Timberwolves 2-1 in an opening-round match at Idaho Falls.

LC (15-1) faces Madison in a loser-out match today.

“We absolutely played amazing soccer today,” LC coach Chad Beadell said. “We had our chances. We just couldn’t get them to pay off.”

Beadell said his team lost on one of the luckiest shots he’s seen.

“The kid was running to the end line and somehow got his toe on it and lifted it over (Jared Stone’s) head to the very far post,” Beadell said. “He could never do it in his life again. When you get to state you have to have a little luck.”

Max Mularski scored LC’s goal, tying the match with a minute to go before intermission.

Beadell expects his team to bounce back.

“We’ve got to regroup,” he said. “We’ll be fine.”

4A

Enrique Sandoval scored to lift Jerome to a 1-0 win over Moscow in the first round at Post Falls.

Moscow will meet Preston at 9 a.m. today in a loser-out match at Post Falls.

3A

Diego Coronado’s hat trick led Wendell to a 5-0 win over Bonners Ferry in an opener at Twin Falls.

The Badgers will play American Falls at 10 a.m. today in a loser-out match.