PREP GIRLS SOCCER: Lake City downs Coeur d'Alene for 14th straight district title

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

COEUR d'ALENE -- It's moments like Tuesday that make all that work on those hot summer days worth it.

Win, and you move on to state.

"It's really bittersweet," Lake City senior goalkeeper Savvy Spencer said. "I'm a senior and we've won all four years. It's a great ending to the season, even though we're going to state. It's really important that we win this, because I love this team."

"We suffered a couple of results lately that were a little uncharacteristic," Lake City coach Matt Ruchti said. "Take nothing away from Coeur d'Alene, they've had an outstanding season and (Coeur d'Alene coach) Andy (Vredenburg) has done a great job. We talked about responding today, and our mentality was great today. Other than the goal, we didn't give up a lot of chances on the frame."

It was the fifth time the teams had faced off this season, with each team winning twice on their home field.

"There's always something different," Spencer said. "We all play on the same club team and know each other really well. We play with the, eight months out of the year, and the rest of the time, it's strict."

It is Lake City's 14th straight district/regional title.

Lake City (13-3), seeded second by MaxPreps, will find out its opponent in the opening round of the state 6A tournament this weekend.

"This group is talented enough to go win some games at state," Ruchti said. "That's going to be the expectation anytime this group goes to state. And we've been fortunate enough to do it due to the commitment. We're going to go to win games and my job is to prepare them for that moment."

Coeur d'Alene (9-5) will compete in a play-in match on Saturday, likely at the District 5 runner-up as the Vikings will be the highest ranked non-automatic qualifier for state and that district will automatically host a play-in game.

"We're one of the best teams in the state," Coeur d'Alene coach Andy Vredenburg said. "The only teams we've lost to our the No. 1 (Timberline) and No. 2 (Lake City), and we've beaten the No. 2 team twice. We know we're one of the best teams in the state. Whether we get there through districts or the play-in game, that's our goal to get to state."

Spencer had seven saves for Lake City.

"I'm really excited," Spencer said. "Hopefully we can clinch a win, but it's going to be great going with my teammates."

Senior Chloe Burkholder scored in the 6th minute, then freshman Presley Moreau scored on an assist from Burkholder to give Lake City a 2-0 halftime lead. Junior Ava Roberts gave the Timberwolves a 3-0 lead in the 69th minute. 

"We scored goals like we did in training sessions," Ruchti said. "It was great to see them put those pieces together in the game today."

Senior Ava Wickens scored in the 70th minute for Coeur d'Alene.

"It was a really tough battle today," Vrendeburg said. "Our girls played amazing and gave 100% all 80 minutes. We kind of got unlucky with the first goal with the deflection and a miscommunication on the second goal. But the girls never gave up. We had a couple of chances that didn't fall our way. And the second half, we put a lot of pressure on them. Unfortunately, it didn't go our way today."

First half -- 1, LC, Chloe Burkholder (Lila Moreau), 5:45. 2, LC, Presley Moreau (Burkholder), 23:00. Second half -- 3, LC, Ava Roberts (unassisted), 69:00. 4, Cd'A, Ava Wickens (unassisted), 70:00.

Shots on goal -- Cd'A 11, LC 13.

Saves -- Cd'A, Maddie Olivier 6; LC, Savvy Spencer 7.

Moscow 1

Sandpoint 0

SANDPOINT — The second-seeded Bears (10-4-1) defeated the top-seeded Bulldogs (9-7-1) in the 5A Region 1 championship match to advance to state starting next Thursday at the Field of Dreams in Ponderay.

Sandpoint, ranked seventh by MaxPreps, which are used to seed the state tournament, will find today if it will qualify for a state play-in match. Moscow is ranked fifth.

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Lake City sophomore Lila Moreau looks to move the ball upfield as Coeur d'Alene senior Audrey Linder defends during Game 3 of the 6A District 1 best-of-3 championship series on Tuesday at Lake City High.