PREP SOCCER: Charter girls drop battle with Sandpoint
• GIRLS
SANDPOINT — 3A Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy had 4A Sandpoint on the ropes for more than 70 minutes, but the Bulldogs, who won the combined 5A/4A Inland Empire League, scored twice in a five-minute stretch to upend the Panthers 2-1 in nonleague play Thursday night at War Memorial Field.
After a scoreless first half, Rebekah Hines put Coeur d’Alene Charter (14-1-0) on the board in the 52nd minute. But Kailee McNamee tied it for Sandpoint (12-0-0) in the 73rd minute, and Erin Eddy tallied the game-winner in the 78th.
The loss ended a 22-match winning streak for the Panthers, who finished 10-0 in the Intermountain League earlier in the day when it accepted a forfeit from St. Maries, which has been idled by COVID-19 for the past three weeks.
“We went into tonight knowing that Sandpoint was going to be a tall order for us, but that we could hang,” Coeur d’Alene Charter coach Stacy Smith said. “We know that to get better and really test ourselves, we need to play better teams and tonight was a great test. Thrilled to be asked to play, our goals were team defending and playing through some mental and physical toughness. We wanted to disrupt Sandpoint's attack and shut down a few of their players. We met most of our pre-game goals. While no one ever likes to lose, I'm so proud of the grit and determination the girls showed. It was a great battle and both teams sure played as though it was a state matchup. Sandpoint just had a fire the last 10 minutes of the game that was a little too much for us to contain.”
Coeur d'Alene Charter has won five straight state 3A titles.
"I think [we] were a little shocked at the very beginning because Coeur d'Alene Charter came out and high pressed and were physical," Sandpoint assistant coach Alan Brinkmeier said. "I was hoping they were going to be this tough on us. We weren't really sure how it was going to unfold, but we were both very hopeful that we were going to push each other."
Coeur d’Alene Charter is idle until next Friday, when it plays a semifinal game at the 3A District 1-2 tournament at The Fields at Real Life in Post Falls.
First half — none. Second half — 1, Charter, Rebekah Hines (Ava Shivers), 53:00. 2, Sandpoint, Kailee McNamee (Hannah Harvey), 73:00. 3, Sandpoint, Erin Eddy (Kylie Williams), 78:00.
Shots on goal — Charter 6, Spt 14.
Saves — Charter, Danika Nowak 9, Spt, Lilliana Brinkmeier 3.
Bonners Ferry 6
Timberlake 3
SPIRIT LAKE — The Tigers (9-4-0, 7-3-0 Intermountain League) dropped their league finale to the Badgers (8-6-0, 6-4-0) at Van Tuinstra Memorial Field.
Further details were not available.
Timberlake is scheduled to play at Lakeland on Saturday.
Bonners Ferry will be the third seed to the 3A District 1-2 tournament starting Monday at The Fields in Post Falls, facing St. Maries (0-9-1, 0-9-1) at 3 p.m.
• BOYS
Timberlake 1
Bonners Ferry 1
SPIRIT LAKE — Gavin Mooney scored in the 65th minute for the Tigers, who played to a draw with the Badgers in an Intermountain League match at Van Tuinstra Memorial Field.
With the tie, Coeur d’Alene Charter (11-2-2, 10-1-1 IML) — which clinched the top seed to districts with a win over Priest River on Wednesday — won its first league title in the program’s third season. Timberlake (10-2-3, 9-1-2) will be the second seed and Bonners Ferry (10-2-4, 8-1-3) the third seed to the 3A District 1 tournament, which begins Monday at The Fields at Real Life in Post Falls.
Ke’ahi Robles scored in the 58th minute for Bonners Ferry.
Nate Anderson had seven saves for Timberlake, which concludes the regular season at Lakeland on Saturday.
First half — none. Second half — 1, BF, Ke’ahi Robles (unassisted), 58:00. 2, TL, Gavin Mooney (unassisted), 65:00.
Shots on goal — unknown.
Saves — BF, unknown; TL, Nate Anderson, 7.