Viking boys win state play-in game
- BOYS
LEWISTON — Heading to Lewiston for a state 5A play-in match, Coeur d’Alene coach Jeff Lake knew that a fast start might be the biggest key to the day for his team.
And he was right on the money on that one.
Gabe Nazemi scored twice on headers in the first 17 minutes as the Vikings beat the Timberline Wolves of Boise 3-2 in a state 5A boys soccer play-in match Saturday at Walker Field.
Coeur d’Alene (10-3-2) will face Borah (14-3), the District 3 runner-up, in the opening round of state Thursday at Eagle High.
“We knew the first 10 to 15 minutes would be so important,” Lake said. “And they were. We had some chances before (Nazemi’s first goal at 14 minutes), and really dominated the first 20 minutes to halftime. And that was the deciding factor.”
Coeur d’Alene finished runner-up to Boise in last year’s state tournament.
“I can’t say enough about the effort we’ve put in,” Lake said. “It’s been a long couple of weeks. From playing Lake City three times, our effort was through the roof and the boys were rewarded by qualifying.”
Drake Prohaska scored in the 37th minute to cap the scoring for Coeur d’Alene.
Graham Elder had two goals in the loss for Timberline (11-8-1).
First half — 1, Cd’A, Gabe Nazemi (Dempsey Brewer), 14:00. 2, Cd’A, Nazemi (Cameron Dance), 17:00. 3, TL, Graham Elder (Marcello Iragi), 22:00. 4, Cd’A, Drake Prohaska (Chris Swider), 37:00. Second half — 5, TL, Elder (unassisted), 74:00.
Shots on goal — Cd’A 15, TL 10.
Saves — Cd’A, Shawn McKeeken 8; TL, Brayden Gropp 9.
McCall-Donnelly 1
Timberlake 0 (PKs)
LEWISTON — After 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, someone had to win and someone had to lose.
Saturday wasn’t the Tigers’ day.
McCall-Donnelly converted on four penalty kicks to Timberlake’s three to win a state 3A play-in match at Walker Field.
Timberlake had goals from Denton Meijerink, Wade Scott and Lucas Hiertz in the shootout, but the Vandals (7-7-3) advanced to state starting Thursday at Vallivue High in Caldwell.
“It was a good game all the way through by both sides,” fourth-year Timberlake coach Bert Bentley said. “We played a great overall game and everyone did their part to keep us in it. We had many opportunities and in the shootout, it was a heartbreaker and super crushing. It’s just a bummer, and we felt we could have advanced, but it wasn’t there today.”
Timberlake, bidding to qualify for state for the first time since its program started in 2014, finishes 12-5-1.
First half — none. Second half — none. First overtime — none. Second overtime — none.
Shots on goal — TL 12, M-D 19.
Saves — TL, Sheldon Kistler 12, M-D, Max Billingslea 5.
- GIRLS
Rocky Mountain 1
Post Falls 0
LEWISTON — The Trojans (4-9-3) allowed the game’s only goal in the first half and fell to the Grizzlies (13-6-2) in a state 5A play-in game at Walker Field.