Frosh O'Halloran sparks Post Falls boys in opener

- BOYS

MERIDIAN — Leave it to a freshman to spark a Post Falls team that hadn’t been to the state boys soccer tournament in three years.

Freshman forward Aidan O’Halloran evened the match in the 16th minute, then his assist on a Diego Esquivel header in the 62nd minute put the Trojans ahead to stay in a 3-1 victory over the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies in a state 5A tournament opening round match on Thursday at Rocky Mountain High.

“We just had some nerves early on and our bad touch on a ball led to their goal,” Post Falls coach Gabe Lawson said. “They really kind of played us back a little and we thought they were going to come at us. Once the second half started, they started to do that and it opened it up and we were able to captalize on it. Aidan has been quite a player for us all year and we were waiting to see which players would step up in a big match. And he had quite the day.”

Post Falls (11-3-0) will face Boise (16-1-1), the District 3 and defending state champion, in a semifinal match today at 10:30 a.m. PDT at Eagle High. It is the first meeting between the two schools since 2012, when the Trojans beat the Braves 3-0 in the state title match at Coeur d’Alene High.

“They’re a pretty big, physical team that’s highly technical and tenacious,” Lawson said. “It’s going to be a very big challenge for us. It’s going to be a good match and we’re hoping to surprise some people.”

Rocky Mountain (9-4-5), the fourth-place team from District 3, will face Madison (7-9-2) of Rexburg in a loser-out match at Eagle today.

First half — 1, RM, Alan Casey (unassisted), 11:00. 2, PF, Aidan O’Halloran (Mckie Gregory), 16:00. Second half — 3, PF, Diego Esquivel (O’Halloran), 62:00. 4, PF, Nick Morris (unassisted), 71:00.

Shots on goal — RM 6, PF 11.

Saves ­— RM, Zac Dean 4; PF, Tanner McCliment-Call 2.

Borah 2

Coeur d’Alene 0

EAGLE — In the end, the Vikings created chances but just couldn’t finish.

Borah scored a pair of goals in the final five minutes to beat the Vikings in the opening round of the state 5A tournament at Eagle High.

“Really, I’m proud of my team for how we played,” Coeur d’Alene coach Jeff Lake said. “We’re disappointed with losing, but in the second half, we had five high-quality chances and that was the deciding factor. It really could have gone either way.”

Coeur d’Alene (10-4-2) will face Mountain View (10-6-2) in a loser-out match today at 8 a.m. at Rocky Mountain High in Meridian. Mountain View, the third-place team from District 3 (Boise) lost 1-0 to Hillcrest in an opening round match.

Borah (13-4-1), the District 3 runner-up, scored in the 75th minute and picked up an insurance goal in the 78th.

“We had a couple of really good chances and missed some hitters on crossing passes,” Lake said. “Field turf is a different animal to play on, and it took us a bit to get used to it. They just scored before we did and that’s how it ended up.”

First half — none. Second half — 1, Bor, Hayden Sutten Jones (Ahmed Ibrahimovic), 75:00. 2, Bor, Ibrahimovic (unassisted), 78:00.

Shots on goal — Cd’A 7, Borah 10.

Saves — Cd’A, Shawn McKeeken 8; Borah, Eli Marler 7.

- GIRLS

Lake City 1

Eagle 0

MERIDIAN — It has been the mission statement for the defending state 5A champion Timberwolves most of the season.

Play solid defense and take advantage of the opportunities as they come.

Done and done.

Madyson Smith scored the game’s only goal, on an assist from Bridget Rieken in the 62nd minute, as the Timberwolves beat the Mustangs in an opening round match in the state 5A tournament at Meridian High.

Lake City (9-1-4), which held Eagle (11-6-2) to two shots on goal, advances to the semifinals to face Centennial High of Boise today 10:30 a.m. at Rocky Mountain High in Meridian.

“We didn’t play the best in the first half,” Lake City coach Matt Ruchti said. “In the second half, we settled in and were able to connect a little more on our passes and were really able to control the match. Our back line was tough today, and they’re tough every time we play.”

Centennial (17-2-0) beat Highland of Pocatello 4-0 in an opening round match.

“They’re a solid program,” said Ruchti of Centennial. “It’s been either us or them playing for a state title in the last five years. They’re a good program. We played them in the semifinals last year (won by Lake City) and the title game two years ago (won by Centennial on penalty kicks). We want to be one of the top programs in the state, and you’ve got to play for state championships. And that’s what we’re hoping to do after tomorrow.”

First half — none. Second half — 1, LC, Madyson Smith (Bridget Rieken), 62:00.

Shots on goal — Eagle 2, LC 8.

Saves — Eagle, unknown 7; LC, Capi Halliday 2.

Cd’A Charter 2

Sugar-Salem 1

CALDWELL — Freshman Sarah Hines scored a pair of first-half goals, the first one assisted by Sandy Faulkner, and the defending state champion Panthers held off the Diggers in a first-round game at Vallivue High.

Coeur d’Alene Charter (15-0-1), the defending state champion, will play Marsh Valley (14-2-1) in a semifinal game today at 1 p.m. PDT at Vallivue. Marsh Valley upended Community School (17-1-1) of Sun Valley 1-0.

“It seemed to take us a few minutes to settle into the game, but once we did, we controlled the flow of the game the whole first half,” Coeur d’Alene Charter coach Stacy Smith said. “We were able to capitalize on a few great scoring opportunities in the half to breathe a little. We also missed a couple of things that should have probably found the back of the net.

“Second half we looked tired, but were able to survive a ramped up Sugar-Salem team. They did a great job pressuring our midfield and back line. By far, one of the most competitive teams we’ve seen all year.”

First half — 1, Charter, Sarah Hines (Sandy Faulkner), 15:00. 2, Charter, Hines (unassisted), 24:00. Second half — 3, SS, M. Teichert (unassisted), 46:00.

Shots on goal — Charter 7, SS 3.

Saves — Charter, Mercedes Zepeda 2, SS, unknown, 4.

Weiser 4

Timberlake 0

CALDWELL — The Tigers ran into a tough foe in the first round at Vallivue High, yielding two goals in each half to the Wolverines (16-1-1), who won the 2015 state title.

“We’re disappointed, but at the same time we understand there’s really good teams down here, and we weren’t able to get on top like we wanted to,” Timberlake coach Steve Michael said.

Timberlake (12-5-1) faces Declo (12-5-0) today at 10 a.m. in a loser-out game at Vallivue.