STATE 3A GIRLS SOCCER TOURNAMENT: Better together

Apart, the Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy senior trio of Sarah Hines, Riley Jo Anderson and Kiley Cutler could skill be quite successful on the soccer field.

But together, well, they've been unstoppable.

Cutler, a four-year starter, currently plays defender for the Panthers.

"I started playing soccer when I was 5-years old," Cutler said. "My dad (Camron) played in high school and my family is very sports-orientated. I started playing parks and recreation, and then club ball."

Same goes for Anderson, also a four-year starter at centerback.

"My brother was going to play club soccer," Anderson said. "My parents didn't want me to feel excluded, so they had me try out and I've never looked back."

Hines has played soccer since she could walk.

"My parents wanted me to try out sports," said Hines, who plays striker/forward. "They wanted me to try different at different stuff, so I also did softball and basketball. But I liked soccer, so I stuck with that."

Together, Charter is 69-2-2 with the trio in the program, including a 21-0-0 season in 2018 as sophomores and 17-0-1 in 2017 as freshmen.

"I've played with Riley on club since I was 6-years old," Cutler said. "So we've gotten really close on the backline. She's really taught me to be aggressive on the field. Sarah's very good about passing the ball and being an awesome friend. They're both just really awesome girls and great to be around."

"Kiley, she's able to put a curve on the ball," Hines said. "She does a lot of give-and-go's and takes our corners (kicks) for us. She's got a way to curve the ball into the post. Riley, she's got a big foot, and I've really learned to have a good attitude from them."

"They're each different, but compliment each other so well," fifth-year Coeur d'Alene Charter coach Stacy Smith said. "Riley is a little more outspoken. All three are intelligent, but Kiley is highly intelligent and you can see that in how she makes decisions on the field. Sarah is very joyful and a naturally gifted athlete. The way the three of them act, Riley with her voice, Kiley with her intelligence and Sarah with her automatic know of what to do. They've grown as players, but continue to compliment each other. They've stayed together and want nothing but the best for the rest of the program."

Coeur d'Alene Charter (13-1-1) opens the state 3A tournament today against Kimberly (13-1-0) at The Fields at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls starting at 9 a.m. For the Panthers — and the three — it's a final run at a state title and the program's fifth straight.

"We've got some people that haven't played soccer before and there's some that have played since they were young and have really built their technique," Cutler said. "But everyone builds each other up and wants to help each other. It's a great atmosphere to be around. Everyone is working toward the same goal."

And that goes for wins, losses or just getting through those first couple days of workouts at the start of the season.

"We're out here in the heat and on the verge of throwing up during conditioning, but we get through it together," Anderson said. "It's a struggle, but we do it as a team and makes it a little more special. We can go to practice and have so much fun, then go to a game the next day and still be goofy. But as soon as the whistle blows, we're focused, dedicated and driven to play. And that's the same way in each of us."

This season, as Washington schools were unable to play this fall due to COVID restrictions, Charter picked up games against all four 5A Inland Empire League schools — Coeur d'Alene, Lake City, Post Falls and Lewiston — going 2-1-1. The team's lone loss came to a mix of JV and varsity players from Lake City.

"Those teams definitely have a lot of skilled players," Cutler said. "It was a fun challenge because we've got some speed and were able to challenge them. It was a great opportunity for us. It gave us a chance to work on our technique and skill to match up against teams at that level."

"At the start of the season, I was a little nervous that we wouldn't have a season because of COVID, or get shut down half way through," Anderson said. "We've been fortunate to play some 5A schools and they've given us some good competition."

This weekend will be a little different as Charter might have a little bit more of an audience than in previous years with the state tournament at The Fields, where Charter plays its home games.

"I like the fact that we can have more fans hopefully," Anderson said. "My grandparents haven't been able to go to Boise any of the previous years. This year, I'm hoping that they'll be able to get some tickets and come to one of my games. It's kind of nice to be on the turf this year. This team is well suited for that."

Saturday's championship match is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

"I've never experienced state here before," Hines said. "I think there might be some more pressure because we might get a few more family members instead of just a few when we travel. We feel we need to win and show it's our territory and represent really well."

"For those three, they sense it's their last go-around," Smith said. "So they want to do as well as they did the first three times. And they're going to do everything possible to make sure that happens. And they've got a great supporting cast to make sure that happens as well."