4A REGION 1 SOCCER: Lakeland suffers tough ouster at Moscow

MOSCOW — A red card on Lakeland’s goalkeeper midway through the first half changed the complexion of the match, and the Moscow Bears went on to beat the Hawks 5-0 in a loser-out semifinal of the 4A Region 1 tournament at Moscow School District Community Playfields on Tuesday.

Some 20 minutes into the match, Lakeland junior Ruby McIntosh ran up to the top of the penalty box, and just outside of the box, to clear a ball.

A Moscow player shot the ball toward the goal, and the ball bounced off McIntosh’s arm, with her outside the box.

The Hawks thought the touch was unintentional, and felt a free kick should have been given to the Bears.

But the officials gathered and ruled a handball outside the box on the keeper, and McIntosh received a red card, forcing her from the game.

Lakeland coach Kevin Rogge put in another goalkeeper, but the Hawks had to play a man down the rest of the game.

“We were dominating, and I think Ruby McIntosh had her best 20 minutes; she made some awesome saves,” Rogge said.

With McIntosh out of the game, Moscow scored three goals in the next eight minutes, and never looked back.

“It’s devastating,” Rogge said. “That’s a whole lot of game to be a man down. We dominated them the first 20 minutes; at one point we spent 3 minutes on their side of the field. That red card is tough to deal with, morale goes down. Tough to bounce back from that.”

Lakeland, which played Moscow tough in 4-2 and 2-0 losses in Inland Empire League play, finished 5-8-0.

Moscow (7-4-2) plays at top-seeded Sandpoint (7-5-3) on Thursday at 5 p.m. in the championship game for the region’s lone berth to state.

First half — 1, Mos, Elli Rainer, 23:00. 2, Mos, Rainer, 26:00. 3, Rainer, 28:00. Second half — 4, Mos, Kiera Steele, 45:00. 5, Mos, Edie Sumner (penalty kick), 49:00.

Shots on goal — LL 7, Mos 17.

Saves — Ruby McIntosh 6, Ressa Saxe 6; Mos, unknown 7.