New faces, same old goals
Bruce Bourquin | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 2 months AGO
Thanks to a 3-2 overtime thriller of a win at Lake City in the 5A Region 1 boys soccer tournament championship match on Saturday, defending 5A state champion Post Falls heads into this year's state tournament as the region's No. 1 seed, but with a little less experience.
But the Trojans bring a whole lot of senior forward Timmy Mueller, the leading goal scorer and Oregon State commit who scored 28 of the Trojans' 40 goals this season. Other weapons include midfielders Roberto Esquievel, Ameen Gondo and Jarry Southerland, while Noah Gondo returns as the goalkeeper.
Trojans coach Gabe Lawson stressed the importance of winning the Region 1 title last week. Post Falls will look to defend its state championship, won 3-0 over Boise last season.
Post Falls wanted to avoid Boise, who the Trojans would have played in the first round at state, had it lost to Lake City in the regional championship.
"That's why this game (Saturday) meant a lot to us," Lawson said. "Boise's looking to get back at us from last year."
Eleven seniors graduated off of last season's state championship squad - including six who landed college scholarships - but Post Falls still has the region's ultimate weapon in Mueller. It is Lawson's 11th season as coach and third trip to state in the last four years.
The Region 1 No. 1 seed Trojans (10-5-1) will open their quarterfinal play against Timberline (10-7), the No. 3 seed from District 3, at Eagle High at 10:30 a.m. PDT today.
If the Trojans win today, they'll play at 1 p.m. on Friday against the winner between District 5-6 runner-up Idaho Falls (11-2-4) and District 3 runner-up Centennial (15-2).
If Post Falls loses, they'd play in a consolation game at 8 a.m. at Rocky Mountain High in Meridian on Friday versus the Idaho Falls-Centennial loser.
The 5A state championship game is set for 6 p.m. at Rocky Mountain High, while the third-place game is at noon at Eagle High.
Two other boys soccer teams begin play at the state soccer tournament today - Lake City in 5A and Lakeland in 4A.
The Region 1 No. 2 seed Timberwolves (9-2-4) open against Boise (15-1-2), the No. 1 seed from District 3, at 8 a.m. today at Rocky Mountain.
Lake City is playing in its first state tournament since 2011.
While facing Boise High, ninth-year Lake City coach Chad Beadell put a positive spin on things, despite the loss on Saturday.
"You've got to beat them three times anyway," Beadell said of trying to win a state championship. "We've got to perform. I have all the faith in these guys."
The Timberwolves are led by goalkeeper Tanner Horton. Their leading goal scorer is forward Jack Barrett, with six goals, followed by Alec Maldonado and Ryan Swallow, who both have four goals.
A Timberwolf win would put the team in the state semifinals at 10:30 a.m. at Eagle High versus Thursday's winner between District 5-6 No. 1 seed Madison (10-3-4) and District 3 No. 4 seed Borah (10-7). A loss would put Lake City against the Madison-Borah loser at 8 a.m. Friday at Eagle.
Meanwhile, 4A Region 1 seed Lakeland (6-11-2) will open its state tournament at 10 a.m. against Century, the No. 2 seed from District 5-6, at Brothers Park in Caldwell.
Lakeland was a surprise 1-0 winner in penalty kicks at defending state champion Sandpoint (11-3-2) last Thursday in the Region 1 championship game. In that game, junior goalkeeper Cade Coffey had one of the best games of his career, making 14 saves and stopping two penalty kicks in the shootout.
Austin Garitone, Fernando Pimentel, Seth Galbreath, Collin Millette and Daniel McDevitt are among the leading weapons for Lakeland. McDevitt can also serve as a backup goalkeeper and in the regional semifinals, he made five saves in a 2-1 win at Moscow.
"We've seen that they have a couple guys that we have to (mark) in the first 10 or 15 minutes," second-year Lakeland coach Andrew Craig said of Century, from Pocatello. "We'll play a straight-up soccer game so we can advance to the semifinals. One thing that's been helping us late in the season is Cade's been helping us and our defense has been playing well. We'll try to get up on top for some goals."
Craig said the big win over the defending state champion Bulldogs gives the Hawks some solid momentum going into this week.
"Right now, that win has definitely shifted the boys' confidence," Craig said. "They feel they can come out here and come out strong. Knocking off Sandpoint, with 12 seniors on it, was huge."
Lakeland qualified for the state tournament for the first time in 2011, finishing as consolation champions. A loss to Sandpoint in last year's regional final denied the Hawks a return trip to state.
A Hawks win today would pit them against the winner of District 4 No. 1 seed Jerome (14-4) and District 3 No. 2 seed Caldwell (13-4-2), at 1 p.m. on Friday at Brothers Park. A loss today would put Lakeland against the Jerome-Caldwell loser at 10 a.m. on Friday at Brothers Park.
The state 4A boys soccer championship will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday at Middleton High in Middleton, located about nine miles northeast of Brothers Park.
MORE IMPORTED STORIES
ARTICLES BY BRUCE BOURQUIN
Locals Garcia, Endsley shine
COEUR d’ALENE — Three local triathletes, all of whom are familiar faces to the local racing scene, took their turns at different moments of glory on Sunday, at the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene.
Putting the capper on a pretty prep career
Lake City’s Johnson looks for a state title in senior season
STATE 5A GIRLS SOCCER TOURNAMENT: Young guns step up for Lake City
Smith, Clark lead Timberwolves into state title rematch with Centennial in semis
COEUR d’ALENE — Two pretty new varsity soccer players were sparkplugs for Lake City on Thursday, in a 4-0 victory over Highland of Pocatello in a state 5A girls soccer tournament first-round game at the Irma Anderl Soccer Complex at Lake City.