3A DISTRICT 1 GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP: Hardware in the rain

COEUR d’ALENE — Both had already punched their tickets to state, but the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy Panthers, in particular, still had plenty to play for in Thursday’s 3A District 1 high school girls soccer championship game.

A trophy that had escaped the Panthers in their last two appearances in the district title game.

“We wanted to redeem ourselves, for sure,” said senior forward Cece McAfee, who scored two goals as No. 2 seed Coeur d’Alene Charter beat the top-seeded Timberlake Tigers 3-2 on a rainy, darkening afternoon at the Irma Anderl Soccer Complex at Lake City High.

Coeur d’Alene Charter (13-3-1), which won its first district title since 2013, will open state tourney play vs. Filer (8-4-1), the District 4 runner-up, next Thursday at 1 p.m. PDT at the Sunway Soccer Complex in Twin Falls.

Timberlake (11-3-1), which beat Charter in the last two district title games, will open state vs. Marsh Valley (16-2-1), the District 5 champion, next Thursday at 10 a.m. PDT.

In a game played in a steady drizzle, Coeur d’Alene Charter domininated the run of play in the first 30 minutes.

In the fifth minute, senior midfielder Brooklyn Cunningham sent a shot from 10 yards out on the right side over the top of Timberlake keeper Keelie Lawler to give Charter the early lead.

Charter led 2-1 at the half, but it could have been way worse had Lawler not made at least three big-time saves on other Panther shots.

“We tend to function better when we’re coming from ahead,” first-year Charter coach Stacy Smith said. “Our goal was to get on top, put the pressure on early, because it seems to fluster some teams, and it was to our advantage today.”

Timberlake tied it in the 19th minute, on a rare foray into the Charter end. Junior Caylee Springer looped a shot from 35 yards out over Charter keeper Rachel Callister and into the net for a goal that seemed to surprise both sides.

Cd’A Charter went up 3-1 in the 52nd minute when McAfee took a feed from Cunningham and, from about 12 yards out on top, slotted a shot low and inside the left post.

Springer brought the Tigers within a goal in the 70th minute when, with her back to the defender, back-heeled the ball past the defender, then drilled in a shot from 10 yards out on the right side.

“We had some struggles with their speed of play,” Timberlake coach Steve Michael said. “They were quicker to the ball than we were today. We weren’t surprised by their speed of play; I was surprised that we didn’t deal with it.”

Allison Kirby, Timberlake’s standout midfielder, sat out the second half after aggravating a leg injury. Kirby suffered a bone bruise in a game a week ago, and took a shot to the same leg late in the first half against Charter.

The teams hadn’t met since Sept. 6, when they tied 2-2. Timberlake won 2-1 at home on Aug. 23.

“We definitely tried to come out fast,” McAfee said of Thursday’s game. “I think we were more mentally prepared, and a lot more focused. We just had the goal in mind; I just think it’s more tangible, with (being) actual district champions.”

First half — 1, Charter, Brooklyn Cunningham (unassisted), 5:00. 2, TL, Caylee Springer (unassisted), 19:00. 3, Charter, Cece McAfee (penalty kick), 30:00. 4, Second half — Charter, McAfee (Cunningham), 52:00. 5, TL, Springer (unassisted), 70:00.

Shots on goal — Charter 16, TL 9.

Saves — Charter, Rachel Callister 7; TL, Keelie Lawler 10.

ALL-INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE

Most Valuable Player — Allison Kirby, sr., Timberlake.

Coach of the Year — Ed Moe, Bonners Ferry.

TIMBERLAKE — Keelie Lawler, sr., Shelby Starr, jr. COEUR d’ALENE CHARTER — Natalie Goetz, sr., Brooklyn Cunningham, sr., Elizabeth Lehosit, so., Cece McAfee, sr. BONNERS FERRY — Natasha Webster, sr., Grace Coughlin, sr. KELLOGG — Sage Bryant, jr., McKenzie Speelman, jr. PRIEST RIVER — AveryLynn Summers, sr.