Sandpoint falls in title game

MIDDLETON - The Sandpoint Bulldogs girls soccer team started and ended regulation time of the state 4A championship with a goal-scoring flourish, but a quick goal by Bishop Kelly Knights' forward Celia Harrington in the second minute of overtime sent the Bulldogs home with a second-place trophy.

Harrington's goal gave the Knights a 3-2 win Saturday afternoon at Middleton High. The win capped a perfect undefeated season for Bishop Kelly (22-0-0), extending its winning streak to 46 games.

For the second year in a row, the Bulldogs (7-9-5) took an undefeated Knights squad into overtime in the state championship, and for the second time ended up in defeat.

Sandpoint coach Julie Pitre said after the match that she felt heartbreak as well as an overwhelming amount of pride.

“It boiled down to that golden goal and who was going to score first (in overtime),” she said.

“It was a phenomenal final,” Bishop Kelly coach Curtis Eisenberger said. “I think Sandpoint’s an outstanding team. Tying it and us winning the first overtime was as exciting as it gets.”

Sandpoint took the lead in the ninth minute on a quick counter attack, with senior forward Ellie Engel scoring on an assist from her strike partner, junior forward Meghan Pagano.

“I was able to run on it and kick it in,” Engel said. “Luckily the keeper missed it and it went right into the net. It was exhilarating.”

Bishop Kelly evened things up less than 10 minutes later on a goal by junior Megan Martinez. In the early part of the second half, the Knights took the lead when a long throw-in near the Sandpoint goal ended up at the feet of senior Kati Bartles, who knocked it into the top netting.

Bishop Kelly led for most of the second half, with the more than 60 Sandpoint fans who made the trip south cheering for an equalizing goal. It came from Pagano less than three minutes before the end of regulation.

With her back to the goal, she flicked the ball over her head in the center of the field and guided a pass to Engel. After Engel lost her footing jostling with defenders, Pagano pounced on the ball inside the 18-yard penalty box and scored to tie things at 2-2.

Pagano sparked the offense despite coming off the field in the first half holding her head. She missed several weeks of games earlier this season due to a concussion. Pitre said Pagano’s still sensitive due to the injury but also key to the team’s success.

“Both Ellie and Megan come in in clutch situations,” Pitre said. “I trusted that we were in this game until the very end, because of our two forwards.”

The sudden death overtime started with Bishop Kelly booting the ball deep into Sandpoint territory. The ball never left, as Bishop Kelly junior midfielder Ylena Gazdik intercepted a bad clearance by Sandpoint, and passed to Harrington for the winning goal.

“I wanted to touch it into space and shoot it,” Harrington said. “We are a great team. We have a lot of heart and we don’t give up.”

BK’s last loss was in the 2009 state tournament to Sandpoint.

Sandpoint won the state title in 2009 and has won the state championship five times.

Pitre also singled out sophomore defender Alanna Robinson for keeping the Bishop Kelly offense at bay for much of the game. Robinson said the team had some breakdowns, but did a good job marking and defending opponents. Robinson fell to her knees when Bishop Kelly scored the winning goal.

“It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “We wanted it so badly. We did not want Bishop Kelly to beat us like they did last year in penalty kicks.”

Sandpoint senior goalkeeper Maggie Kirscher was credited with five saves, including a deflection that the ricocheted off the top crossbar and bounced out of harm’s way.

Pitre said the team’s record is deceptive, since it played several games against 5A and Greater Spokane League schools.

“Our record has never shown what the team is capable of,” Pitre said.

“We got second at state,” Robinson said. “We can’t hang our heads about that.”

First half — 1, Spt, Ellie Engel (Meghan Pagano), 8:20. 2, BK, Megan Martinez (Lizzie Thometz), 16:30. Second half — 3, BK, Kati Bartles (unassisted), 50:00. 4, Spt, Pagano (unassisted), 76:00. 5, BK, Celia Harrington (Ylena Gazdik), 81:30. 

Shots on goal — Spt 4, BK 8.

Saves — Spt, Maggie Kirscher, 5; BK, Abi Yanke 2.