5A: Early Post Falls lead doesn't last
JASON DUCHOW/JasonDuchowPhotography.com Diego Esquivel of Post Falls rises up the back of a Borah defender for an attempted header in Saturday night’s state 5A boys soccer championship game at Rocky Mountain High in Meridian. At left is Aidan O’Halloran of Post Falls.
MERIDIAN — Post Falls started fast in Saturday’s state 5A championship match at Rocky Mountain High.
Borah High of Boise closed even faster, notching the final three goals of the match as the Lions roared past the Trojans 3-2 for the state title.
Post Falls took an early lead on a Diego Esquivel goal in the fourth minute, then extended the advantage to 2-0 on Ethan Lawson’s one-timer goal from 12 yards out in the 18th minute.
Borah — which beat Region 1 runner-up Coeur d’Alene in the opening round Thursday — took the lead for good on Ahmed Ibrahimovic’s second goal of the night, scoring in the 70th minute on a 28-yard, bending strike to put the Lions on top.
Gerard Kebika tapped in a rebound of a shot by Ibrahimovic for Borah’s first goal, in the 23rd minute, which cut Post Falls’ lead to 2-1 at halftime.
Ibrahimovic tied the game in the 49th minute, one-timing a deflected corner kick from 30 yards out into the upper “V”.
Post Falls, which won the 5A Inland Empire League and 5A Region 1 titles, finished 12-4-0 in its first trip to state since beating Lake City in the consolation championship match in 2013. It was the first appearance in the title game for the Trojans since beating Boise in the 2012 title game.
Post Falls coach Gabe Lawson could not be reached for comment following the match.
Borah (15-4-1) won its first state title since 2010.
First half — 1, PF, Diego Esquivel (unassisted), 4:00. 2, PF, Ethan Lawson (unassisted), 18:00. 3, Borah, Gerard Kebika (Ahmed Ibrahimovic), 23:00. Second half — 4, Borah, Ibrahimovic (unassisted), 49:00. 5, Borah, Ibrahimovic (unassisted), 70:00.
Shots on goal — unavailable.
Saves — unavailable.