STATE HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER TOURNAMENTS: Home for the run ... Staying north, area teams hope to chase titles

By JASON ELLIOTT 

Sports writer 

In his first year as Lake City boys soccer coach, Chaz Donovan just believes in his group of boys. 

Believes that, despite an early season setback to Coeur d’Alene, the Timberwolves will learn. 

Believes that, following a 1-1 home draw with Post Falls, the Timberwolves were going to grow from it. 

Lake City advanced to the state 6A tournament starting today with a pair of 2-1 overtime wins over Coeur d’Alene, including one on Oct. 12 at Coeur d’Alene High, site of this year’s tournament. 

“The composure that we have when the cards are against, or things just aren’t going our way, we just find a way to get it done,” Donovan said. “I’m confident this group will come together collectively, and we’ll work on some things in practice. And we’ll give it a big run at state.” 

6A BOYS: Lake City, in its fourth-straight trip to state, has won nine straight matches since the tie with Post Falls on Sept. 3. 

"The entire game, no matter how long it goes on, we find a way to score,” said Lake City senior midfielder Jacob Molina, who was the 5A Inland Empire League MVP as a junior. “No matter how much adversity we’ve got, we always find a way to get it done. We’re all very positive with each other, no matter how hard it gets. We always find a way to calm each other down.” 

Lake City (11-1-2), the third seed, faces sixth-seeded Owyhee (12-5-2) of Meridian today at 9 a.m. at Coeur d’Alene High. 

“We just need to find a way to play our game,” Molina said. “We’re a great team and all of our players, even the guys on the bench, bring something to the table. We just need to continue to play together and do our thing.” 

It is the first time since 2020 that the tournament has been held in Kootenai County. 

“Hopefully it gives our legs a little bit of a rest,” Molina said.  

6A GIRLS: In the span of the past 16 years, Lake City has claimed three state titles (2012, 2016 and 2021), with the first two on the grass at Coeur d’Alene High. 

For the first time, the tournament ends further north to War Memorial Field, where the Timberwolves (12-3-2) open against third-seeded Owyhee (11-4-2) today at 9 a.m. The Storm of Meridian are the defending champion. 

“We’ll try to play well wherever we play,” said Ruchti, whose team had to win two elimination games to advance to state against Coeur d’Alene. “I tell our kids that these are the best kinds of games to be in. We need to embrace it because it will get the best out of you.” 

Lake City was 0-2 last year at state. 

"Where we are, and we talk about this all the time is people expect you to win and there’s pressure,” Ruchti said. “And pressure’s a good thing because there’s an expectation to fulfill that. We’ve got a great group of kids and we’ll be up for the challenge.” 

Lake City will have the advantage of playing close to home, which has its good and bad. 

“We don’t have to travel as much and get to sleep in our own beds,” Lake City sophomore midfielder/forward Chloe Burkholder said. “We’ll have more of our supporters there and it’s more of a tradition with us being there.” 

4A BOYS: Coeur d’Alene Charter (15-0-2), the tournament’s second seed, faces seventh-seeded American Falls (13-5-1) today at 10:30 a.m. at The Fields in Post Falls, where the Panthers play their home matches. 

Being at home could be an advantage according to Coeur d’Alene Charter coach Craig Daigle, in his fourth season. On the road, teams are usually together for extended periods of time, doing schoolwork and having team meetings. 

“It helps because it’s a larger field than most are used to,” Daigle said. “I don’t think it hurts us in a ‘team kind of scatters’ after the game idea. We’ve got a tight team, and I believe our focus has been great this season.” 

Coeur d’Alene Charter has outscored its opponents 73-5 this season. 

“Our offense needs to convert for us to be successful,” Daigle said. “We can not get 20 shots and only covert 1 or 2 to win.” 

Sugar-Salem, last year’s champion, failed to qualify. 

Charter lost in the consolation championship game at state last year to Wendell, the tournament’s top seed. 

4A GIRLS: Since 2014, Coeur d’Alene Charter has won six state titles and brought home trophies in each, including a 2020 title on The Fields, where this year’s tournament begins. 

But, last year, the Panthers failed to bring home a trophy for the first time, falling in the third-place match to Marsh Valley. 

Coeur d’Alene Charter (10-2-3) is the seventh seed and will face second-seeded Fruitland (16-1-1) in an opening round match today. 

“We’re the underdogs, so we’ve got no pressure this year,” said Coeur d’Alene Charter coach Stacy Smith, in her ninth season. “It’s a refreshing approach to tournament play. I think our girls are in the right headspace, that we’re here enjoying playing the sport.”

Sugar-Salem (16-1-0) is the defending champion and opens with eigth-seeded Homedale (11-5-0).

“Sugar-Salem has been racking up high scores against everyone this season, so they are definitely a powerhouse,” Smith said.

Smith added the team will do some team activities to when not on the field to simulate a road trip.

“It’s always nice for the girls to sleep at home and be with family,” Smith said. “We do have some things planned throughout the three days, so it feels more like an away tournament. However, nothing beats a good night’s sleep in your own bed.” 

5A BOYS: Sandpoint (10-5-2), runner-up to Wood River last year, faces fourth-seeded Blackfoot (11-3-2) in the opening round today at Bonneville High in Idaho Falls. 

Wood River (17-1-0) is the top seed and faces play-in winner Moscow (4-9-2), with the winner facing either Sandpoint or Blackfoot in the semifinals. 

5A GIRLS: Sandpoint (9-5-2), the defending champion, enters this year’s tournament at Hillcrest High in Ammon as the fourth seed and will face fifth-seeded and tournament host Hillcrest (16-2-0) in the opening round. 

Lewiston (15-4-0), the tournament’s second seed, faces seventh-seeded Wood River (12-7-0) in its opener. The Bengals remained in the 5A classification in the latest cycle.