The Front Row with MARK NELKE Oct. 18, 2012

They moved the state high school soccer tournaments in Idaho up a week a few years ago in hopes of a little bit better weather in October.

So naturally, after a near-record stretch of dry weather, and unseasonably mild temperatures the last month and a half, all of a sudden it starts pouring down rain and the wind starts howling in the days leading up to the state 5A boys and girls soccer tournaments, which begin today at Coeur d'Alene, Lake City and Post Falls high schools.

Forecasts call for a chance of rain on Friday and Saturday, but you know how that goes.

So bundle up and prepare for anything if you're headed out to the games, which are scheduled for 9 a.m., 11:30 and 2 p.m. today and Friday. On Saturday, the title games are at 11 a.m. (boys) and 2 p.m. (girls), both at Coeur d'Alene.

It's been five years since the state 5A soccer tournament has been held up here, and I remember a little bit of snow, a little bit of rain and a lot of cold while covering the girls games at Post Falls High.

For those who say the weather is always better in Boise, well, I remember standing in the rain at state soccer down there. And it has snowed in eastern Idaho at state in the past as well.

STATE SOCCER isn't like state volleyball - they still let teams play at home.

Last year's tourneys were at Eagle, Meridian and Rocky Mountain, with the title games at Rocky Mountain. Eagle's boys played at home in the first round. Rocky Mountain's girls played at home in the first round, and would have played at home in the title game had the Grizzlies not lost in the semifinals.

Post Falls' boys play today at home, and will play at home on Friday if the Trojans make it to the semifinals. Coeur d'Alene's boys would have played their first-round game at home if they'd won their state play-in game last Saturday.

In the girls bracket, by the luck of the draw, Lake City's girls, who lost to Post Falls in the Region 1 title game, but went on to win a play-in game, get to play at home today. Post Falls, which won its first regional title in school history and qualified for state for the first time, opens today on Coeur d'Alene High's field.

Last year's title games were played under the lights at Rocky Mountain High in Meridian. That isn't going to happen anytime soon up here, unless they put lights on one of the fields at the North Idaho Sports Complex, which is being planned in Hayden. The football fields at Coeur d'Alene and Lake City high aren't wide enough for soccer at the championship level.

IDAHO IS known as the "second chance" state in high school athletics. In most cases, the loser of a regional or district title game gets a chance to come back and try to win another match to go to state.

Not in 4A Region 1 boys and girls soccer. The third seed plays the No. 2 seed, the winner plays the No. 1 seed — winner to state, loser done for the season. Just like that.

A few times, Sandpoint’s boys were the No. 1 seed, only to be stunned at home by Moscow in the regional title match and have to follow the state tourney from home.

This year, it was the Lakeland boys’ turn to suffer a sudden, sickening end to their season. The Hawks were the top seed for the first time in school history, and coming off their first trip to state in school history last year. But Lakeland was stunned 3-2 at home by Sandpoint in the title game.

TIMBERLAKE’S GIRLS are at state for the third straight year, scheduled to play Marsh Valley in the opener of the 3A tournament today in Twin Falls. However, they were listed as the Timberlake “Wolves” in the state program.

Where’s the love? But, at least Timberlake is at state. Go Wolves! ... er, Tigers.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.