STATE 4A BOYS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHP: One play away ... Coeur d'Alene Charter, in first title game in program history, falls to Wendell at The Fields

By JASON ELLIOTT 

Sports writer 

POST FALLS — ‘Sometimes, it just takes one.’ 

On Saturday, try and they might, the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy Panthers couldn’t quite find the one they really needed. 

Wendell junior Cesar Muralles snuck a ball past Coeur d’Alene Charter goalkeeper Mattis Macmillan in the 55th minute, the lone goal of the match in a 1-0 win over the Panthers in the state 4A boys soccer championship match at The Fields at Real Life. 

Coeur d’Alene Charter, in its sixth season with a boys program, finished 17-1-2.

“We stay together as a team throughout the offseason,” Macmillan said. “This is one of the best teams I’ve played with and we all love each other. We just need to keep working this offseason. One loss, that says a lot. We need to clean up some things and fill those spots of those great seniors.” 

Coeur d’Alene Charter had nine shots on goal, Wendell eight in the match. 

“It was a fantastic year,” Coeur d’Alene Charter defender Liam Hughes said. “We went undefeated through league, districts and almost state. It was a fantastic year and allowed five goals and maybe scored 80. I think it’s a fantastic year but wish we could have gotten first place. But the game is the game.” 

Coeur d’Alene Charter was third at state in 2021, when the then-3A tournament was held at The Fields. 

“Only one team ends the season on a win,” fourth-year Coeur d’Alene Charter coach Craig Daigle said. “It was a great season and a great group of kids. Some of these kids, I started my career here with them, and to see the men they’ve become, that’s what I’m most proud of. They’re going to be fantastic human beings in this world, great fathers and great mentors to people in the future.” 

Wendell (20-2-1), which beat Coeur d’Alene Charter in the 2023 consolation championship, won its first state title since 2014. 

“We can’t quite crack them,” Hughes said. “They’re a good team. We’re losing some good midfielders, but we’ve got a freshman striker that scored 25 goals this season coming back (Brooks Judd). It we can continue to build him up and develop him, I think we can have a fantastic team again next year.” 

“I knew Charter’s attack was a little simple, but their defense was the hardest thing for us,” third-year Wendell coach Felipe Paniagua said. “They were strong defensively, and they won defensively. Luckily, we were able to get one in because if not, we’re going to overtime.” 

Daigle is now 59-17-11 in four years as Charter coach. 

“My goal was to get them to this point by the fourth year,” Daigle said. “I’m proud of them for what they did. I feel like we’ve built a great foundation, and we’ve got a lot of players to come here, where before, not a lot of people knew we had a program. From coach (Justin) Nitti (who started the program in 2019) to us adding onto it. Championships are great, but it’s about what you produce.” 

Coeur d’Alene Charter finished the season allowing just six goals. Wendell averaged six a game this season. 

“We can possess the ball with the best of them,” Daigle said. “And we knew they were a dribbling team and that’s what we focused. We struggled with it in the first half on it tremendously but did a better job of it in the second half. Sometimes, all it takes is that one chance. We had our opportunities, but they got their one.” 

“We’ve got to come back with the same energy,” said Macmillan, a junior. “I love playing with these boys. It won’t be hard to come back with some spirit next year. We’re going to do some things for sure.” 

“I told them before the match that they’ll remember this for the rest of their lives,” Daigle said. “Win, lose, whatever it is, you’re going to remember it. It’s not the result we wanted, but these guys are just fantastic people.” 

First half — none. Second half — 1, Wend, Cesar Muralles (unassisted), 55:00. 

Shots on goal — Wend 8, Charter 9. 

Saves — Wend, Roberto Orozco 9; Charter, Mattis Macmillan 7. 

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Coeur d'Alene Charter sophomore forward Elliot Engles watches as the ball goes through the center circle during the second half of Saturday's state 5A boys soccer championship match at The Fields in Post Falls.