PREP GIRLS SOCCER: Timberlake girls win first district title since 2015

4A

POST FALLS — Timberlake senior and fourth-year goalkeeper Ali Grantham snared the 16th shot of the shootout, and the celebration — more than a decade in the making — was on. 

The Tigers captured their first district title since 2015 on Saturday, beating the 10-time district champion Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy Panthers 8-7 in a penalty kick shootout, after the teams were scoreless through regulation and two overtime periods. 

“It was a lot of adrenaline; it was crazy you know,” Grantham said. “It’s my fourth year of high school and I’d never won a district championship. So it was all on me. It was crazy; there’s no words to explain it.”

Timberlake (15-2-2) advances to the state 4A tournament Oct. 22-24 at Twin Falls High. 

Coeur d’Alene Charter (13-5-1), ranked 12th in 4A by MaxPreps, will meet an opponent to be determined in a state play-in game next Saturday. 

“It’s one of those things, man, where you’re coming up against the standard in our league,” third year Timberlake coach Logan Georgadis said of Coeur d’Alene Charter. "It’s just one of those things where we really had to fight to take that title from them ... and got a path to state that’s a little easier than waiting for a play-in game.” 

In the two Intermountain League meetings, Timberlake won the first game 3-2 and the second one finished 1-1. 

On Saturday, Timberlake went first in the shootout, and Sophie Holecek, Paisley Fenton, Emilia Landon, Sophia Harrington, Naomi Beuving, Grantham, Sierra Nalen and Kaylie Neel scored in the shootout. 

For Cd’A Charter, Riley Greene, Sierra Sheppard, Avery Thompson, Paige Fish, Emily Tanneberger, keeper Ara Glinski and Ingeborg Pedersen scored in the shootout. 

“I never thought any of them would mess up,” Grantham said. “I’m so glad I could save it, and bring my team to state.” 

“Oh man, she’s awesome,” Georgadis said of Grantham. “She rocked it out this year. She had 11 clean sheets through league and districts. She’s just amazing. Her ability to read ... that ball came right at her, and it could have easily went over her hands, but she stood still, and secured it, and sent us to state.” 

6A

Coeur d'Alene 1

Lake City 0

COEUR d’ALENE — One shot.  

One chance. 

One more time for a guaranteed spot in the state 6A tournament Oct. 22-24 at Bonneville High in Idaho Falls. 

Junior Audrey Linder scored on a free kick in the 18th minute for Coeur d’Alene, which defeated Lake City 1-0 in Game 2 of the best-of-3 6A District 1 championship series on Saturday at Viking Field, forcing a deciding third game on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Lake City. 

“These girls, everyone counted us out,” Coeur d’Alene coach Andy Vredenburg said. “These girls have the mentality of never give up. Today, we didn’t give up. They came out and gave their whole heart for 80 minutes, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.” 

Linder scored through a crowd into the center of the net for the lone goal of the match. 

“What an incredible strike by Linder in the perfect moment,” Vredenburg said. “She’s been working on them a lot and she’s come through in a few big ones this year.” 

Lake City (12-3) and Coeur d’Alene (9-4) have split four matches thus far, with each winning twice on their home fields. 

Freshman Maddie Olivier had seven saves for Coeur d’Alene. 

“We couldn’t be prouder of her,” Vredenburg said. “She stepped up and she’s really done and awesome, awesome job.” 

Lake City senior Savvy Spencer had three saves. 

“Lake City’s a great team,” Vredenburg said. “We know it’s always going to be a battle. The girls came out and we got the best of it today.” 

“It was a battle,” Lake City coach Matt Ruchti said. “This team has a lot of fight in them, but today they held back a little. It’s a game of opportunities, and they had three and put one away and we had plenty and didn’t put any of them away. I’ve got to do a better job of getting the coaching points across to the players and helping them to get involved in the best way I can, and I didn’t do a very good job of that today.” 

Lake City entered Saturday ranked second in the 6A MaxPreps rankings, which are used to determine seeding to the state tournament. Coeur d’Alene is sixth. 

“Lake City’s a great team,” Vredenburg said. “We know it’s always going to be a battle. The girls came out and we got the best of it today.” 

Tuesday’s winner advances directly to state. The loser could qualify for a play-in match depending on the outcome of the final rankings released next week. 

“There’s a championship game next week, and we’ve got to show up,” Ruchti said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re prepared, and that’s on me. I didn’t do a good enough job of preparing this team this week, and that’s on me.” 

First half — 1, Cd’A, Audrey Linder (free kick), 18:00. Second half — none. 

Shots on goal — LC 7, Cd’A 4. 

Saves — LC, Savvy Spencer 3; Cd’A, Maddie Olivier 7. 

Sandpoint 3 

Lakeland 1 

SANDPOINT — Harper Overland scored two goals for the top-seeded Bulldogs in a win over the Hawks in the semifinals of the 5A Region 1 tournament at War Memorial Field. 

“They came out on the front foot, trying to go at them and then I think they let them start bringing the game to us,” Sandpoint coach Alan Brinkmeier said. “I’m proud of the way they responded and overall, we got the job done and that was the biggest thing.” 

Senior Aspen Liddiard scored on a free kick in the 74th minute for Lakeland, which finished 4-8-3. 

“These girls have been working non-stop and their hard work is evident in how we showed up this season,” first-year Lakeland coach Allison Guy said. “What was expected to be a rebuilding season after a big group of seniors last year, wasn’t that at all. These girls surpassed all expectations and I could not be more proud. They’re tough, hard working, and left it all out on the field. Our season may have ended today, but we are excited about what the future holds for Lakeland girls soccer.” 

Sandpoint (9-6-1) is ranked seventh by MaxPreps, which is used to determine seeding to state. The Bulldogs will face Moscow (9-4-1), which beat Lewiston 8-0 in the other semifinal, on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in Sandpoint. The Bears are ranked sixth in 5A. 

“There’s a target on our back,” Brinkmeier said. “We need to come in with that swagger of we’re the number one seed, we’re hosting them on our home turf. There’s really no excuse for us not to get the job done, and I think they know that. They just need to step on the field and believe that. 

First half — 1, Spt, Harper Overland (unassisted), 9:00. Second half — 2, Spt, Overland (unassisted), 47:00. 3, Spt, Bayah Ratigan (unassisted), 66:00. 4, LL, Aspen Liddiard (free kick), 74:00. 

Shots on goal — LL 0, Spt 16. 

Saves — LL, Avah Gonzales 14; Spt, Izzy Stark 0. 

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Lake City senior Chloe Burkholder plays the ball off her head during the second half of Game 2 of the best-of-3 6A District 1 championship series at Viking Field.
  

    JACK FREEMAN/Bonner County Daily Bee Sandpoint's Jordyn Tomco plays a through ball past two Lakeland defenders in the 5A Region 1 championship match on Saturday at War Memorial Field.

    MARK NELKE/Press Timberlake senior Emilia Landon (16) and Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy senior Caleigh Stevenson (13) vie for the ball during the 4A District 1 girls soccer championship game Saturday at The Fields at Real Life in Post Falls.