PREP BOYS SOCCER: Lawson wins 100th in Post Falls return after short hiatus
POST FALLS — Nick Morris scored off the rebound of a free kick in the 39th minute, giving the Post Falls Trojans a 1-0 win against the Lakeland Hawks in the nonleague opener for both schools on Saturday.
The win was Post Falls coach Gabe Lawson’s 100th in his career.
“I wasn’t really sure if it was my 100th, but in the back of mind I thought it was great,” said Lawson, in his 12th season as Trojans coach. “It marks an era of good time with good talent. We’ll take it and move forward.”
Lawson returned to coaching at Post Falls after taking the 2014 season off.
“It was a really good game,” Lakeland coach Andrew Craig said. “Post Falls had a lot of chances and we gave them some in the final third of the field. Both teams played really, really well for a first game. Defensively, I thought we were really sound. We had a lot of chances, but just need to convert them. Having this many chances this early in the season will help us later in the season.”
Levi McElwain had five saves for Post Falls, which travels to Moscow on Wednesday.
“Andrew has a good team and we were lucky to pull one out,” Lawson said. “We defended well. They put the pressure on us to see how good we were, or weren’t, and did a good job.”
Max Baker had seven saves for Lakeland, which travels to Lewiston on Tuesday.
First half — 1, PF, Nick Morris (unassisted). Second half — none.
Shots on goal — LL 14, PF 10.
Saves — LL, Max Baker, 7; PF, Levi McElwain, 5.
Sandpoint 1
Coeur d’Alene 0
COEUR d’ALENE — Charlie Crane scored an unassisted goal in the 38th minute, sending the Bulldogs past the Vikings in the nonleague opener for both schools.
“It was the first time out for both teams, and you could see that in both,” Coeur d’Alene coach Jeff Lake said. “It was a competitive match and the play got a lot better throughout. We came out kind of flat in the first half and it took us some time getting into the match. As a coach, even though we lost, I like how we competed and showed improvement throughout, even though we lost.”
The game was moved up to a 10 a.m. start, not due to smoke from area wildfires, but to get the JV match played at Coeur d’Alene High.
“Yesterday (Friday), I didn’t think the match was going to get played,” Lake said. “I golfed and felt it when I woke up (Saturday).”
Coeur d’Alene hosts Moscow next Saturday.
Sandpoint travels to Lake City on Tuesday.
First half — 1, Spt, Charlie Crane (unassisted), 38:00. Second half — none.
Shots on goal — Spt 12, Cd’A 6.
Saves — Spt, Kyle Hertel, 2, Mitch Rust, 2; Cd’A, Shawn McKeeken, 7.
St. Maries 0
Bonners Ferry 0
BONNERS FERRY — Zach Hills had eight saves for the Lumberjacks in a draw with the Badgers in the Intermountain League and season opener for both schools.
“The kids did a great job,” St. Maries coach Chris Renaldo said. “Zach had a really good game. Our defense has always done a great job, but having three freshmen on the back line, it was a really nice start.”
It is the only the second time that the Lumberjacks have either tied or beat the Badgers, and first shutout in school history against Bonners Ferry.
St. Maries hosts Timberlake on Monday.
First half — none. Second half — none.
Shots on goal — SM 4, BF 11.
Saves — SM, Zach Hills, 8; BF, Caleb Blackmore, 1.