Not so long ago, as Kootenai County was going to host the state 5A high school soccer tournaments, a few teams were locked in a battle near the top of the Inland Empire League chase on the girls side.

As it so happened, both teams wound up facing off in the title game — still one of the best matches I’ve seen in person — with Lake City beating Post Falls in 2012 in a penalty kick shootout at Coeur d’Alene High.

The tournament returns in a few weeks, with history seeming as if it could wind up repeating itself should a few area schools find a way to stay home for the postseason.

IN CASE you’ve forgotten, Lake City had to win a play-in game just to advance that year, beating two of its three opponents at home before finding a way to the title after the Timberwolves and Post Falls fought to a scoreless tie through 80 minutes and two 10-minute overtime periods.

The fantasy of state titles, or talking about them isn’t something that 14th-year Timberwolves coach Matt Ruchti does, instead focusing on getting better each and every step along the way.

“We don’t goal set that way here,” Ruchti said. “We just try and go out and play good, solid soccer. And we hope to continue that on Saturday. Tonight was just a normal night for Lake City High against Coeur d’Alene High. They’re a good program and (Coeur d’Alene coach) Andy (Vredenburg) is going a great job with them.”

Then again, with that history of 2012 ...

“We’re not naive and we don’t pretend around here,” Ruchti said. “We know the last time it was up here we won a state championship, but we’ve contended for another one since then and we’ve done a good job on a state level. But you’ve got to get there first.”

COEUR d’ALENE had its shot at clinching its first league title since 2009 on Thursday, but came up short to Lake City.

Though she didn’t play in the regular season finale, Vredenburg said he expects Kylie Hanson — who was cleared to play following an ACL injury during club season — to help the program get back to state.

“It’s always good and good things can happen when she’s on the field,” Vredenburg said of Hanson. “We’re hoping to be able to use her a little bit.”

Then again, both teams will have to get through tough opponents with Lewiston (at Coeur d’Alene) and Post Falls (at Lake City) also eager to prove themselves as well.

“Our confidence is really high right now,” Vredenburg said. “We’ve been playing a higher level than we have been since I’ve been here. We’re going to go into regionals really with some good confidence against Lewiston. Lewiston’s a good team and we’re not going to be taking them lightly.”

If Thursday’s regular season finale under the lights on the Lake City football team, both teams appear ready for whatever comes up next.

“It’s great,” Ruchti said. “The one thing that I’m really proud of is that Lake City soccer has a really good following and is supported by the administration. (Athletic director) Jim Winger loves it and does a great job supporting it all the way through what we do. There’s no days when he says no to anything we want to do. This is just another night to celebrate the players and the seniors. It’s a players’ program. I’m just here to maneuver some things around when I need to, but this is for the players. It’s their program and they take care of it. Tonight was a night where we can celebrate them and what they’ve given to the program.”

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JEPressSports.