PREP BOYS SOCCER ROUNDUP: Trojans win stunner, advance to title match
COEUR d'ALENE - Post Falls coach John Mueller asked the question.
His players responded.
Roberto Esquivel had two goals to lead the third-seeded Post Falls Trojans past the second-seeded Coeur d'Alene Vikings 2-1 in the opening round of the 5A Region 1 tournament on Saturday.
"Going into the game, I had the boys circle up and I told them despite Coeur d'Alene beating us in the past two confrontations, I was not ready for this season to be over," Mueller said. "I asked them if they were ready for the season to end. I received my answer three minutes into the game when Roberto Esquivel scored, and brought us the momentum we needed to secure the victory."
Post Falls (8-6-1) travels to top-seeded Lake City for the regional title match on Tuesday.
"I am so immensely proud of my team," Mueller said. "Every single player played their heart out and no one player gave us the win. We won due to tenacious play from every player all across the pitch."
Gunnar Skindlov scored in the 56th minute for Coeur d'Alene, which finishes 12-3.
First half - 1, PF, Roberto Esquivel (unassisted), 3:00. Second half - 2, PF, Esquivel (Zach Smith), 43:00. 3, Cd'A, Gunnar Skindlov (unassisted), 56:00.
Shots on goal - not provided.
Saves - not provided.
Lake City 3
Lewiston 0
COEUR d'ALENE - In his 10 years as coach at Lake City High coach, Chad Beadell hadn't seen anything like his squad's match against the Bengals in the 5A Region 1 tournament.
After a 25-minute lightning delay, where fans had to evacuate to their cars or the school's gymnasium, then a goal on a simultaneous kick, the Timberwolves advanced to Tuesday's championship game with a victory at the Irma Anderl Soccer Complex.
"We were about 25 minutes in and a cloud rolled through," Beadell said. "We heard thunder as the game kicked off, but never saw anything as far as lightning went. Then I had my back to the school and a big bolt came down and it look like it was right on top of the school, so we had to evacuate the field. It's the first time that's ever happened to me during a high school game."
After resuming play, Lake City's Max Mularski scored on an assist from Devon Hoffman to give his team a 1-0 lead. Lake City took a 2-0 lead and then capped the scoring after Hoffman and Garrett Harrison appeared to strike the ball at the same time, scoring past the Lewiston goalkeeper in the 62nd minute.
"We clawed and scratched our way through it," Beadell said. "We got the flow going and our guys played well."
Lake City (14-0) faces Post Falls in the championship game on Tuesday.
Lewiston finishes 5-11.
First half - 1, LC, Max Mularski (Devon Hoffman), 29:30. Second half - 2, LC, Jack Barrett (Alec Maldonado), 50:00. 3, LC, Hoffman/Garrett Harrison (Maldonado), 62:30.
Shots on goal - Lew 1, LC 17.
Saves - Lew, Jameson Meeks, 12; LC, Jared Stone, 1.
Priest River 7
Orofino 0
SPIRIT LAKE - Corbin Maltba had a goal and three assists as the Spartans beat the Maniacs in the opening game of the 3A District 1-2 tournament at Van Tuinstra Memorial Field.
Kris Morey had two goals for Priest River (4-8), which faces top-seeded Bonners Ferry on Tuesday in Priest River at 4 p.m., followed by the Timberlake-St. Maries match at 6.
First half - 1, PR, Kris Morey (Corbin Maltba), 17:00. 2, PF, Maltba (Marcus Weiler), 18:00. 3, PR, Tyler Jones (Gabe Macalevy), 26:00. 4, PR, Macalevy (Jones), 28:00. Second half - 5, PR, Clay Pelton (corner kick), 60:00. 6, PR, Morey (Maltba), 69:00. 7, PR, Weiler (Devin Gilli), 75:00.
Shots on goal - Oro 5, PR 29.
Saves - Oro, Jaden Roberts, 18; PR, Adam Irvine, 3.