All that work for this weekend

You’ve got to hand it some of the area soccer teams from this part of the state.

Since 2014, North Idaho has been represented in a title game each year, whether it be just one school, or over a variety of different classifications.

And chances are, it might be extended come this Saturday afternoon.

A MAJORITY of those teams have come in girls soccer, with Coeur d’Alene Charter (2014, 2016, 2017) winning 3A titles and Lake City (state title in 2016, runner-up in 5A in 2015) leading the pack.

Boys teams from Post Falls (runner-up 2017 in 5A) and Lakeland (runner-up in 4A in 2015) have also advanced to championship games in recent years.

Coeur d’Alene Charter hasn’t lost a match this season, entering at 18-0-0 and facing Teton (12-5-0) in the opening round on Thursday at the Sunway Soccer Complex in Twin Falls. Charter has played some 5A competition this year as well, beating the Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene junior varsities, as well as 4A Lakeland.

Lake City is 13-2-0, with early season losses coming to Greater Spokane League foes Gonzaga Prep and Mead. Lake City hasn’t allowed a goal since a 5-2 win over Lewiston at home on Sept. 22.

It might not come as a surprise to any if both the Coeur d’Alene and Lake City boys wind up crossing paths at state either.

Of the four losses for Coeur d’Alene (11-4-0), three have been to the Timberwolves, who open at state against Boise on Thursday at the Idaho Falls Soccer Complex. Coeur d’Alene faces Rocky Mountain of Meridian, the District 3 champion, in its opener.

Lake City has yet to lose, entering state with a 14-0-0 record so far.

Despite everything these teams have going for them, anything can happen once the tournaments get started on Thursday.

A few bounces could be the difference in a trophy or an early trip home on Saturday morning.

So far, the teams up north have had a lot of luck on their side. Seeing that continue through the weekend might not shock those making the trip to see it in person.

WHEN IT comes to being a little more battle tested, you might not need to look any further than Timberlake’s boys soccer team.

Timberlake had to outlast St. Maries in a penalty kick shootout just to advance to the 3A District 1-2 championship game and qualify for state, then did it again in the championship, beating Bonners Ferry for the program’s first district title last Saturday at Sunrise Rotary Field in Rathdrum.

Bonners Ferry had won 13 straight district titles.

“I think the league is really tight and the teams are all really close to each other in skill,” said Timberlake boys soccer coach Steve Michael following Thursday’s win over St. Maries. “Anytime you can get a win in this (Intermountain) League, you consider yourself fortunate.”

How fortunate the Tigers wind up at the end of the season remains to be seen.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.