Bulldog girls notch solid win over Vikings in opener
GIRLS
SANDPOINT — Sophomore Emi Lynch gathered a ball at the top of the box, pivoted and blasted the game-winning goal past a diving Ali Rollins to lead the Sandpoint Bulldogs to a 3-2 win in a back-and-forth season opening win over the Coeur d’Alene Vikings on Saturday in nonleague girls soccer at Pine St. Field.
Kylie Hanson started the scoring by converting a penalty kick in the 13th minute, staking the Vikings (0-1) to an early but short-lived lead, as Sandpoint target forward Riley Walkington scored the equalizer just three minutes later on a long individual run.
Sandpoint defender Yeo Yarnell capped the first half scoring by moving up into the attack and netting a goal to give the defending 4A runner-up Bulldogs (1-0) a 2-1 lead at half, while earning the praise of head coach Conor Baranski.
“I was so impressed with the first half. Every time we went forward, we looked dangerous,” he said of his experienced side. “A lot of our players’ confidence is really high.”
Hanson struck again early in the second half, bending a well-placed free kick from 25 yards out just under the cross bar and past leaping keeper Shea Kilpatrick for the equalizer.
Again the Bulldogs had an answer, as Lynch sealed the win a mere three minutes later. It was a disappointing loss for the Vikings, who were dealing with some health issues to go along with the normal first-game jitters.
“We found out some things we need to get a lot better at,” said Coeur d’Alene head coach Andy Vredenburg. “The team that makes the least mistakes wins, and today that was Sandpoint. Kylie was great. She kept us in the match.”
On Tuesday, Coeur d’Alene travels to Moscow, and Sandpoint hosts Lake City.
First half — 1, Cd’A, Kylie Hanson (penalty kick), 13:00. 2, Spt, Riley Walkington (unassisted), 16:00. 3, Yeo Yarnell (Hadley Marshall), 31:00. Second half — 4, Hanson (free kick), 49:00. 5, Emi Lynch (Casey Shaha), 52:00.
Shots on goal — Cd’A 11, Spt 14.
Saves — Cd’A, Ali Rollins, 10; Spt, Shea Kilpatrick, 8.
Timberlake 5
St. Maries 0
ST. MARIES — Georgina Simpson had two goals and Karissa Willis finished with nine saves, leading the Tigers past the Lumberjacks in the Intermountain League and season opener for both at City Park.
“We didn’t come out playing how we wanted to play,” Timberlake coach Steve Michael said. “It was a hard field, so the ball traveled a little bit and bounced. The first few minutes weren’t pretty to watch, but we settled down and were able to possess the ball a little bit and started making some quality shots.”
Both teams resume league play on Tuesday as Timberlake hosts Coeur d’Alene Charter and St. Maries hosts Bonners Ferry.
First half — 1, TL, Georgina Simpson (unassisted), 10:00. 2, TL, Erica Vanderhoof (McKenna Hughes), 31:00. Second half — 3, TL, Kayli Lynn (unassisted), 50:00. 4, TL, Simpson (unassisted), 63:00. 5, TL, Faith Gervais (unassisted), 70:00.
Shots on goal — TL 13, SM 9.
Saves — TL, Karissa Willis 9; SM, unknown, 4.
BOYS
Timberlake 3
St. Maries 0
ST. MARIES — After a scoreless first half, all it took was a little push to get things moving in the second half.
Denton Meijerink scored on a penalty kick in the 43rd minute, then added another goal five minutes later as the Tigers beat the Lumberjacks in the season and Intermountain League opener for both schools at City Park.
A foul was called on an inadvertant push in the penalty box, setting up the first goal.
“It kind of livened things up a bit,” St. Maries coach Chris Renaldo said. “It was clearly a push, they scored and it gave them some energy. I thought we played well for a first game. It was good to get out and play a game and get the kids on the field.”
Sheldon Kistler had six saves for Timberlake, which visits Moscow on Tuesday.
Ben Bailey had six saves for St. Maries, which hosts Bonners Ferry on Tuesday.
First half — none. Second half — 1, TL, Denton Meijerink (penalty kick), 43:00. 2, TL, Meijerink (unassisted), 48:00. 3, TL, Wade Scott (unassisted), 56:00.
Shots on goal — TL 11, SM 7.
Saves — TL, Sheldon Kistler 6; SM, Ben Bailey 6.