4A REGION 1 BOYS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP: Golden goal sends Hawks to state
RATHDRUM — In the history of the Lakeland High boys soccer team, there hasn’t been many games like the one that was played at Lakeland Sunrise Rotary Soccer Field on Thursday afternoon.
Only two trips to the state tournament since 1996, never once clinching a regional title on its home turf.
That was then. This is now.
Cody Callahan scored on a 50-yard free kick to give Lakeland a 2-1 lead, then freshman Rodrigo Sierra saved the match after a late Moscow goal in the 79th minute with a golden goal in the 88th minute of the Hawks’ 3-2 victory over the Bears in the 4A Region 1 boys soccer championship match.
“We knew when we came into the season, this was our goal,” fourth-year Lakeland coach Andrew Craig said. “We knew we had to stay on course and didn’t let a slow start derail us this season. We just kept building, and that was our plan, and it worked out well for us.”
Lakeland (12-2-2) — which has won 10 straight matches after starting the season 2-2-2 — advances to the state tournament starting next Thursday at Brothers Park in Caldwell against the District 5-6 runner-up. The Hawks finished with the consolation title in 2011 and placed third in 2013 after winning regional titles at Sandpoint each year.
Callahan’s kick sailed into the right corner of the net to give the Hawks what appeared to be a final margin before Keith McGuire crept past the Lakeland defense to tie the match on a diving header in the 79th minute.
“I just knew I had to get the ball in the net, Callahan said. “This was our chance to get it done. It was a well-played game. Moscow played a great game. There was a lot of thought on where I wanted to get it into the back of the net. Winning here, it’s probably one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. We’ve never had a match like this before. We’ve got three seniors that have been on this team since they were freshmen, and we’re all just working hard for them.”
“Honestly, Cody’s goal in the second half was a great one,” Craig said. “He just drilled that thing from 50 yards out and I think it lit a spark under us. We were a little flat in that first half, and it’s hard to take that week off and coming off that opening-round bye. They had momentum from the Sandpoint game and it lit a fire under us. Cody’s free kicks were a game changer for us. Our boys have had a fantastic year, and it’s a great way to wrap it up for us at home.”
Sierra gathered a loose ball in front of the net and scored from about 3 yards out.
“It was so exciting,” Sierra said. “I don’t know what happened. I just found a space and went with all my heart and got it. We’ve worked hard for this, and we’re going to make it a good experience next week at state.”
Moscow (5-9-0) moves on to a play-in match on Saturday at Walker Field in Lewiston at 3 p.m. against the third-place team from District 3.
“In high school soccer, there’s nothing more exciting than when it comes down to this,” Moscow coach Richard Gayler said. “It’s playoff soccer. It’s fun and it was a great game. To come back and tie it in the 80th minute, it was wonderful. In the first eight minutes of the match, we were looking great. Hats off to the Hawks. That’s a good team.”
Lakeland beat Moscow 3-2 at Moscow on Sept. 10 and 1-0 in the regular season finale on Oct. 6 in Rathdrum.
First half — 1, Mos, Cooper Stephens (unassisted), 1:27. 2, LL, Daniel McDevitt (Juho Reiman), 11:27. Second half — 3, LL, Cody Callahan (free kick), 63:30. 4, Mos, Keith McGuire (unassisted), 79:00. Overtime — 5, LL, Rodrigo Sierra (unassisted), 88:00.
Shots on goal — Mos 8, LL 6.
Saves — Mos, Cullen Burke 5; LL, Max Baker 7.