Drama ... times 3

COEUR d'ALENE - As soon as the whistle sounded at the end of double overtime with no score, Post Falls goalkeeper Sam Runkle let her feelings about what was about to unfold known to her coaches.

"I hate it when it comes to this."

Runkle's save in the fourth round of a penalty kick shootout, followed by a goal from Erica Simpson gave the Trojans a 1-0 win over the Boise Braves in the first round of the state 5A girls soccer tournament Thursday at Coeur d'Alene High.

"I'm so amazed with what my team has done," Runkle said. "Everyone was getting on the bus this morning listening to music and getting in the zone. We had a chance to have a team breakfast and a chance to talk about it and once we got here to warm up, we were ready and in the zone."

Post Falls (12-6) hadn’t even won a regional playoff game until beating Lewiston on Oct. 4. Now they’re one victory away from playing for a state title.

“For momentum and program-wise, this is huge,” Post Falls coach Briggs Anderson said. “Our goal was to get to state this year. Everything we do from here is extra.”

Post Falls will face Eagle (11-6-1) in the semifinals today at 2 p.m. at Lake City High. Boise (11-4-3) faces Skyline (12-5-1) of Idaho Falls in a loser-out match at Coeur d’Alene High.

Runkle finished the game with eight saves on 11 Boise shots on goal.

“I’ve never had the chance to go to state,” Runkle said. “This was really big for our team.”

Of the clinching goal, Simpson was confident she would come through.

“I was nervous, but I knew I had it,” said Simpson, a sophomore. “We were all a little nervous getting off the bus today and had to overcome being nervous during the first half.”

“We haven’t really practiced (penalty kicks) before,” Anderson said. “But we’re always shooting at practice. Basically I talked to the girls before to see who was comfortable doing it, and if there was a little hesitation, we’d go to the next girl. Everyone was honest and we put them in.”

After a Boise shot went wide right to start the shootout, Lexi Smith gave Post Falls a 1-0 lead. Sadie Schmeling and Kelcie Hedge also had goals for Post Falls in the shootout.

Sarah Smith and Rikki Fix scored for Boise.

“Post Falls played us really tough,” Boise coach Chris Siegenthaler said. “There were a lot of things going on out there that didn’t quite add up, whether it was physically or a lot of hands on the ball, and our girls didn’t respond very well to that. We had enough chances in regulation, and we’re upset right now — but in a shootout, that can happen.”

First half — none. Second half — none. First overtime — none. Second overtime — none.

Shots on goal — Boi 11, PF 12.

Saves — Boi, Katelyn Dayhoff 9; PF, Sam Runkle 8.