3A DISTRICT 1-2 GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP: Game of the season

COEUR d'ALENE - After a couple years away from the sport, Harper Robnett decided to turn out for soccer this year as a freshman at Timberlake High.

The Tigers are glad she did.

Robnett's unassisted goal, in the 12th minute, turned out to be the game's only goal as second-seeded Timberlake upended the top-seeded Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy Panthers 1-0 in the 3A District 1-2 girls soccer championship game Thursday at Community United Methodist Church.

"My first goal ever," beamed Robnett, a midfielder who last played in elementary school.

The victory over defending district champion Coeur d'Alene Charter (13-2-1) gave Timberlake (10-4-1) its fourth district title in five seasons, and sends the Tigers to state starting next Thursday at the Sunway Soccer Complex in Twin Falls.

Coeur d'Alene Charter can still make it to state by winning a play-in game vs. Fruitland on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Lewiston.

Not only did Timberlake drop both games to Charter in Intermountain League play, the Tigers failed to score, losing 3-0 and 4-0.

"It's kind of like Timberlake's M.O., or reputation," Tigers coach Steve Michael said. "They step up on the important games, and they definitely stepped up on this game here. That was the game of their season, obviously."

Robnett's goal came on a defensive error by Coeur d'Alene Charter. Panthers goalkeeper Jackie Jensen was unable to cleanly field a ball back to her. Robnett, hanging out nearby, came in, tapped the ball to her right and drove a shot past the keeper from about 5 yards away on the right side.

"She was fumbling with it," Robnett said. After she scored, "I started crying," she said.

"That was just not giving up on the play," Michael said of Robnett. "She was playing inside mid, and we made adjustments - actually, we made quite a few adjustments, and fortunately for us, those adjustments paid off."

"Normally if you make one big mistake in a game, you're going to survive it," Coeur d'Alene Charter coach Dave Baxter said. "You make two, you're putting your game at risk, you make three, you're going to lose. It's unfortunate that that happened, but we made the mistake, and we paid a huge price for it."

Action picked up in the second half as Charter, with Mary Nicklay leading the way, pushed forward in search of the equalizer. Timberlake goalkeeper Courtney Sutton came up with several big saves, including snuffing Nicklay from point-blank range early in the second half.

"She's been big all season long for us," Michael said. "This was a combined effort on all sides. Good defense, midfield, and our offense worked together better than we've done before. Our defense came up fantastic. It's the right time to be peaking as a team."

"Timberlake deserves all the credit; they outplayed us," Baxter said. "We did not take them lightly in any way, shape or form. They were quick to the ball today. We were quick to the ball, but they just had a step on us."

"This goes out to my athletic director," Michael concluded. "The hay is in the barn."

First half - 1, TL, Harper Robnett (unassisted), 12:00. Second half - none.

Shots on goal - TL 4, Charter 5.

Saves - TL, Courtney Sutton 4; Charter, Jackie Jensen 4.