Simply done by Trojans for second straight state berth

By BRUCE BOURQUIN

Sports writer

POST FALLS - With the Post Falls Trojans firmly in command of a 2-0 lead Wednesday over Lewiston, the only drama remaining surrounded forward Erica Simpson.

There was one lingering question in the semifinals of the 5A Region 1 girls soccer tournament at Post Falls High - could Simpson set a new school record with 22 goals scored in a season, especially in No. 2 seed Post Falls' final home game of the year?

The answer was no, but Simpson was able to tie the record of 21 goals, set by Kelcie Hedge in 2011, in a 2-0 win that sent the Trojans to the state 5A girls soccer tournament. No. 3 seed Lewiston ended its season at 6-9-1.

Simpson gave Post Falls a big 2-0 lead in the 49th minute in the second half. On a fast break dish from Madeline Roberts, Simpson scored the school record-tying goal on a strike from nearly 24 yards away from the goal, hitting a ball from left to right to beat the drawn-out goalie Kaysha Bailey.

"It feels pretty good," Simpson said of tying the school record. "Madeline crossed it to me. I've been working pretty hard, but I wasn't playing for myself. I was playing for my team. That's amazing (clinching a state berth), we really needed it. All our seniors are really excited."

Post Falls (10-3-2) will play at No. 1 Lake City (8-5-3) at the Irma Anderl Soccer Complex in the regional title game on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Timberwolves were a 1-0 winner on in the other regional match against No. 4 seed Coeur d'Alene.

Should Post Falls win Saturday, it will play at 11:30 a.m. (PST) next Thursday against Boise (15-2-1), the third seed out of the Boise region at Meridian High in Meridian in its tournament opener. If the Trojans lose, they will play at No. 1 seed Rocky Mountain (15-1-2) of Meridian, also at 11:30.

On Wednesday night in the 5A District 3 girls soccer tournament, Rocky Mountain beat Timberline, 2-1.

Simpson nearly scored a goal that would've tied the school record earlier in the game, in the 19th minute. Bailey was way out of the penalty box, which left a wide-open net. Simpson delivered a touch toward the goal, but Bengals fullback Jessica Kloepfer made a spectacular play to kick-save the ball away from harm's way. In the 75th minute, Simpson came close to scoring again, but she couldn't get to a rebound on a ball shot by America Ellison, before it was cleared away from an open net.

Simpson scored her first goal from within five yards away in the 10th minute, as she swung her right leg to nail a one-hopper passed by senior fullback Hayley Eklund, who had the assist. From the right side facing the goal, Simpson rifled a ball to the far post on the left side, beating Bengals freshman goalkeeper Kaysha Bailey, who made five saves.

"The whole season, Erica's been our target forward," Post Falls coach Briggs Anderson said. "We constantly try to give her touches on the ball, whether it was goal-scoring touches or just getting her involved with the play. So the more she's touching it, the more offensive, attacking-minded we are."

The Trojans reached the state tournament for the second season in a row after qualifying for the tournament for the first time in program history last year, finishing as runner-up.

"Just like last year, our goal was to get to state this year," Anderson said. "And now we have extra games. It's just a matter of having fun and letting the cards fall. Hopefully we get some good breaks down there (in the state tournament)."

Post Falls goalkeeper Sam Runkle preserved the shutout against some pretty serious shots by Lewiston, on her way to making seven saves. Her biggest plays of the game came in the 18th minute, as Runkle made two saves against Lewiston striker Madison Taylor, whose free kick was stopped by Runkle and the rebound by Taylor was also stuffed.

"We had plenty of opportunities," Lewiston coach Alison Lathen said. "We just didn't capitalize on them. They're a good team, they're fundamentally sound. When they were up 2-0, that was a big hole to climb out of."

Runkle picked up her seventh shutout victory. She made another brilliant save in the 78th minute. Runkle kicked the ball to Lewiston midfielder Kristin Rietz and Runkle was nearly 20 yards away from the goal. Runkle sprinted all the way back and corralled Rietz's kick before it crossed the goal line.

"My defense did the work," Runkle said. "I depend on them a lot. Basically, (their shots) were up in the air, so it was really hard for me. I just focused on catching the ball and not dropping it."

Simpson had three shots on goal. Trojans Alli Crain, Lexi Smith, Shaylee Morlan, Olivia Miller and Roberts each had one shot on goal.

First half - 1, PF, Erica Simpson (Hayley Eklund), 10:00. 2, PF, Simpson (Madeline Roberts), 49:00.

Shots on goal - Lew 7, PF 8.

Saves - Lew, Kaysha Bailey 5. PF, Sam Runkle 7.