PREP SOCCER: Lake City boys on to state

• BOYS SOCCER

PAYETTE — Same team, same goal.

So when Lake City opted to switch from Aiden Hassell — who’d saved 14 shots in regulation and two overtimes — for Chase Norris in the penalty kick shootout, it didn’t bother either player.

Lake City picked up goals from Travis Swallow, Riley Glover, Spencer Messina and Cole Fawcett in the shootout, beating the Timberline Wolves of Boise 4-3 in a state 5A tournament play-in game Saturday.

Norris saved three shots in the shootout to secure the win for Lake City.

“Both of our goalies are sophomores and played on the same club team for years,” first-year Lake City coach Alan Rich said. “They’re used to competing for minutes and we rotate them game by game. Chase, both in practice and in games, the penalty kicks are more of his niche, and to Aiden’s credit, he’s fine with that.”

It is the fourth straight trip to state for Lake City, which finished third at state last year.

“It was a good game and never more than a one-goal difference,” Rich said. “Timberline’s a great team and we tightened up our defense in the second half. It really went back and forth, but the boys stepped up and played really well. We had our share of the possession and opportunities. I’m proud of how the boys showed up in the game.”

Lake City (8-7-1) opens state vs. Boise (13-3-1) on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Post Falls High.

Swallow, Fawcett and Jake Schriger scored in regulation for Lake City.

Timberline’s scoring and saves were not available.

Wendell 1

St. Maries 0

LEWISTON — A free kick by the Trojans from 20 yards out found the back of the net late in the first half at Walker Field, and once again the Lumberjacks came up just short in a state 3A play-in game.

St. Maries (6-9-4) fell despite outshooting Wendell 20-6.

“How do you shoot 20 times and not one go in?” wondered St. Maries coach Chris Renaldo said. “Heartbreaking. They (the Lumberjacks) were just all over the place. They were just hammering, hammering, hammering. They just could not finish.”

Wendell advances to state, which begins Thursday in Twin Falls.

St. Maries will stay home after its second narrow loss in three days.

“The boys had a whale of a district tournament,” Renaldo said. “They’ve improved so much. Unfortunately, two one-goal losses, they’re done.”

First half — 1, Wen, Carlos Pineda (unassisted), 34:00. Second half — none.

Shots on goal — Wen 6, SM 20.

Saves — Wen, Felipe Paniagua 12; SM, Ben Bailey 3.

• GIRLS SOCCER

Rocky Mountain 3

Coeur d’Alene 2

PAYETTE — No report was received from the Vikings (9-5-1), who lost to the Grizzlies in a state 5A play-in game.