3A DISTRICT 1-2 BOYS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP: St. Maries falls in overtime
<p>LOREN BENOIT/Press St Maries' Diego Papetti (12) fends off Bonners Ferry midfielder Ethan Wilson (11) during the 3A District 1-2 championship game on Thursday at Lake City High School.</p>
<p>LOREN BENOIT/Press St Maries' Kolby Moore (22) and Bonners Ferry's Tyler Blazer (13) run stride for stride as they battle for the ball during the 3A District 1-2 championship game on Thursday at Lake City High School. Banners Ferry won 2-1 in overtime.</p>
COEUR d’ALENE — They couldn’t finish it in regulation.
And it took a little chaos in front of the goal in overtime to finish it, but the result was the same as it’s been since 2005 in the 3A District 1-2 tournament.
Brazilian exchange student Pedro Cordoso scored the game-winner in the 83rd minute to send the top-seeded Bonners Ferry Badgers past the third-seeded St. Maries Lumberjacks 2-1 in the district title match on Thursday at the Irma Anderl Soccer Complex at Lake City High.
“You take the goals however you can get them,” Bonners Ferry coach Wayne Wilkerson said. “Pedro just happened to be in the right place at the right time and finished it.”
Bonners Ferry (9-5-1) captured its 12th straight district title.
“We’re still fairly young, but have an amazing foundation of seniors that we play off of,” said Wilkerson, who coached the Badgers to a state 3A title in 2007. “Our goalkeeper (sophomore Seth Bateman) has never touched a soccer ball (prior to this season), but is just amazingly talented. It’s amazing.”
Cordoso scored the first goal of the match on a penalty kick in the 30th minute for Bonners Ferry, which opens the state tournament next Thursday at the Sunway Soccer Complex in Twin Falls against Community School (15-3-0) of Sun Valley, the runner-up from District 4.
“It was an amazing feeling,” Cordoso said. “I’ve never had a feeling like that before. I just wanted to make these guys happy. I’m just glad I’m here and be able to help this team to state.”
After fighting off 11 shots on goal, Bonners Ferry was able to slip the winner through a crowded defensive front.
“It was just a scramble in front of the goal,” St. Maries coach Chris Renaldo said. “The kids, they played well. Bonners is a good team, and what are you going to do?”
Gage Mitchell evened the score for St. Maries in the 39th minute on a penalty kick to make it 1-1 at halftime.
St. Maries (6-8-4) beat Grangeville in the opening round, then upset second-seeded Timberlake in the semifinals on Tuesday to advance.
“Districts has been a great tournament for us,” Renaldo said. “We started the season young and they’ve improved tremendously. Timberlake’s a good team and we outshot them 30-8. Then we get on the field today and it was a little tough.”
St. Maries will face Wendell, the third-place team from District 4, in a state play-in game on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Walker Field in Lewiston.
First half — 1, BF, Pedro Cordoso (penalty kick), 30:00. 2, SM, Gage Mitchell (penalty kick), 39:00. Second half — none. First overtime — 3, BF, Cordoso (unassisted), 83:00.
Shots on goal — SM 6, BF 11.
Saves — SM, Ben Bailey 8; BF, Seth Bateman 6.
ALL-INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE
Most Valuable Player — Jaden Robertson, sr., Orofino.
Coach of the Year — Wayne Wilkerson, Bonners Ferry.
OROFINO — Granger Arnsberg, sr., Dashiell Tyler, sr. BONNERS FERRY — Ethan Wilson, sr., Mason McGinnis, sr., Anthony Shutes, sr. TIMBERLAKE — Cody Bentley, sr. ST. MARIES — Gage Mitchell, sr., Diego Papetti, jr., Kolby Moore, fr. PRIEST RIVER — Cody Pelton, sr., Clay Pelton, sr.