A first, but second for Charter boys
JASON ELLIOTT/Press Coeur d’Alene Charter junior Ronan Malaghan battles for position with Bonners Ferry forward Ian Beazer during the first half of the 3A District 1-2 boys soccer championship at The Fields at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls on Saturday.
JASON ELLIOTT/Press Bonners Ferry forward Carson Spencer celebrates with Thomas Rivkin after Spencer’s goal in the first half. Spencer recorded a hat trick for the Badgers in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Coeur d’Alene Charter in the 3A District 1-2 boys soccer championship.
JASON ELLIOTT/Press Coeur d’Alene junior defender Lucca Correa attempts to head the ball to a teammate during the first half of Saturday’s 3A District 1-2 boys soccer championship at The Fields at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls.
JASON ELLIOTT/Press Coeur d’Alene Charter senior Dennis Klein celebrates after his goal in the 58th minute of Saturday’s 3A District 1-2 boys soccer championship match at The Fields at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls.
POST FALLS — Bonners Ferry coach Brycen Lunger was aware of how quickly the Coeur d’Alene Charter offense could strike.
Then again, his guys did fine in that department on Saturday afternoon.
Senior Carson Spencer recorded a hat trick with goals in the 20th, 22nd and 24th minute for the Badgers in a 4-1 win over Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy in the 3A District 1-2 boys soccer championship at The Fields at Real Life Ministries.
“For the first half of going against them, we were intimidated a little bit,” Coeur d’Alene Charter coach Justin Nitti said. “It was a hard match for us. But I think once the boys got the second half going, got a goal and got some momentum, they started to play a little bit.”
Coeur d’Alene Charter (10-6-3) — in its inaugural season — opens at state with American Falls on Thursday at Vallivue High in Caldwell starting at 1 p.m. PDT.
“From the very beginning of the season, we’ve been talking about what kind of legacy we want to start at Coeur d’Alene Charter,” Nitti said. “Our seniors are definitely leading the path, and we wanted to start on the right track, and I know some boys are buying into that. Some of those seniors wanted to have a great memory, and going into next week with two fresh games, and not knowing anything about the team we’re going to play is good for our guys. Hopefully we can get some rest and be ready to go next week.”
Bonners Ferry (16-2-1) opens against Weiser (13-1-4) on Thursday at 10 a.m.
Dennis Klein scored in the 58th for Charter’s lone goal.
“The challenge with Charter is that they’ve got a really explosive offense,” said Lunger, in his first season as coach at his alma mater. “If you get pinned in your own end by them, it’s hard to defend that. I think we overcame that with our counter attack. Once our team gets going, it’s tough to stop as well.”
Bonners Ferry has won 14 of the last 15 district titles, having that streak snapped by Timberlake in 2018. Bonners Ferry lost its season opener to St. Maries on Aug. 29, then won 16 of its last 17 matches.
“It was kind of a wakeup call,” Lunger said. “After that, we’ve won eight straight (after losing at Timberlake Sept. 26) and have allowed one goal since that loss, and that was today.”
First half — 1, BF, Daniel Walker (unassisted), 15:00. 2, BF, Carson Spencer (unassisted), 20:00. 3, BF, Spencer (Walker), 22:00. 4, BF, Spencer (Walker), 24:00. Second half — 5, Charter, Dennis Klein (unassisted), 54:00.
Shots on goal — BF 11, Charter 8.
Saves – BF, Josh Beazer, 7; Charter, Miles Taylor 7.