COEUR d’ALENE — A few Coeur d’Alene Vikings dropped to the muddy ground at the conclusion of Saturday’s state 5A boys high school soccer championship.

A few days from now, the Vikings might reflect on the feel-good accomplishment of a team with only two seniors reaching a state title game.

But Saturday was for disappointment, after Coeur d’Alene fell to Boise 3-1 on the Vikings’ home field at Coeur d’Alene High.

“Realistically, it’s a wonderful reward,” said Coeur d’Alene (10-2-5) coach Jeff Lake, whose Vikings started two seniors, four juniors, four sophomores and a freshman. “But we’re competitors, and right now we’re hurtin’ a little bit. ... We’re disappointed about the result, but we’re looking forward to next year.”

Junior forward Kaden Baratcart scored his third goal of the tournament and senior forward Nicholas O’Connor had three assists on Saturday for Boise (16-3-1), which won its fifth state title, all under Braves coach Mike Darrow, in his 16th season.

Boise lost 1-0 to Centennial in the District 3 title game last week. Coeur d’Alene beat Centennial in a sudden-death shootout on Friday in the semifinals.

“I watched them (the Vikings) yesterday, and I thought they would sit in (on defense) a lot more than they really did,” Barrow said. “They actually came out and attacked a bit more, so that caught us off-guard for a little bit. But the boys handled it well.”

“We thought it would be a more open game,” Lake said. “And it played like that. We had a really good chance right at the start of the game, right in front of the net that their keeper saved. I thought we created a lot more chances today, it was a more open game, and at the end of the day, either team could have won the match, it just came down to a few mistakes here and there that caused goals, and that’s what it is.”

Boise outshot Coeur d’Alene 11-4, and had more of the run of play. There was a fair amount of slipping by players on both sides after heavy rains on Thursday and more rain on Friday, but Saturday’s game was dry, with the sun peaking out for portions of the match.

“We knew about the quality that we were up against today,” Lake said. “They beat us. We had troubles clearing the ball. I think heavy legs, with the muck of the field, and a long game yesterday ... ”

“No. 20 (Baratcard) works so hard,” Lake added. “We just knew that he was just a banger, just solid, just heavy, in terms of knocking kids off the ball, and finishing. He’s spectacular.”

Coeur d’Alene, which last played in the championship game in 2003, was bidding for its first state title.

Baratcart opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a blast inside the near post from 8 yards out, through a slight opening between Viking keeper Shawn McKeeken and the post.

Boise made it 2-0 six minutes in to the second half when Will Slattery volleyed in a cross from O’Connor from 7 yards out.

Coeur d’Alene pulled within 2-1 in the 65th minute when Garitone booted in a rebound from 4 yards out. The ball rolled through the Diamond-Dry (used to cover up the mud) and just across the goal line before Boise could clear it off the line.

That fired up the Vikings and their fans.

But Boise silenced them three minutes later when Nolan Strauss punched in a long throw-in from O’Connor from 6 yards out.

“Things just weren’t going our way,” Garitone said. “We were kicking balls off the outside of our foot, out of bounds. Passes just weren’t connecting. It just wasn’t really going our way today. They (Boise) capitalized on their chances.”

First half — 1, Boise, Kaden Baratcart (Nicholas O’Connor), 15:00. Second half — 2, Boise, Will Slattery (O’Connor), 46:00. 3, Cd’A, Austin Garitone (Gabe Nazemi), 65:00. 4, Boise, Nolan Strauss (O’Connor), 68:00.

Shots on goal — Boise 11, Cd’A 4.

Saves — Boise, Colin Hauser 5; Cd’A, Shawn McKeeken 10.