State prep soccer berths up for grabs this week

Coeur d’Alene High’s boys and girls soccer teams will be looking to break droughts against Lake City when the city rivals meet this week in 5A Region 1 championship games.

But even if they don’t they’ll both get a second chance.

Coeur d’Alene’s girls (8-3-1) travel to Lake City (11-0-2) on Tuesday at 3:30 for the regional title. The winner advances to state Oct. 22-24 at Meridian and Rocky Mountain. The loser can still make it to state by winning a play-in game vs. the fifth-place team from the District 3 tournament Saturday at Lewiston.

“We’re looking to finally get a win against Lake City; it’s been since 2009,” Coeur d’Alene coach Andy Vredenburg said.

Coeur d’Alene’s last win over Lake City came in the ’09 regional championship game. The teams have met 17 times since then, with Lake City winning 15, and the other two ending in ties.

Lake City has won the last two regional titles.

“We’ll have to grind one out, I’m sure,” Lake City coach Matt Ruchti said.

On Wednesday, Coeur d’Alene’s boys (6-6-0) visit Lake City (11-1-1) at 3:30 p.m. for the Region 1 title and a berth to state Oct. 22-24 at Eagle and Rocky Mountain. The loser faces the No. 5 team from District 3 Saturday in Lewiston in a state play-in game.

Lake City’s boys are the defending regional champs. Coeur d’Alene’s last win over Lake City came in 2012, in the first round of the regional tournament. Lake City has a 4-0-2 advantage since then.

• Usually, the 4A Region 1 soccer title games are winner-to-state, loser out, but this year, a second state berth is up for grabs.

The 4A Region 1 girls soccer championship will be decided Wednesday, when the winner of Monday’s Moscow-Lakeland game travels to Sandpoint at 3:30 p.m. The winner advances to state Oct. 22-24 in Caldwell. The loser goes to Lewiston on Saturday for a state play-in game vs. the third-place team from District 3.

The 4A Region 1 boys soccer title will be decided Thursday, when the winner of Tuesday’s Moscow-Sandpoint game visits Lakeland at 3:30 p.m. The winner advances to state Oct. 22-24 at Caldwell; the loser goes to Lewiston on Saturday for a state play-in game vs. the third-place team from District 3.

The 3A District 1-2 soccer champions will be crowned Thursday and Community United Methodist Church Field in Coeur d’Alene, across from Lake City High. The girls title game is at 1 p.m.; the boys at 3. The runners-up go to state play-in games Saturday in Lewiston. State for both is Oct. 22-24 in Caldwell.

• Lake City can wrap up the 5A Inland Empire League volleyball title with a victory Tuesday at Coeur d’Alene. The Region 1 tournament begins Saturday.