By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports writer

COEUR d’ALENE — If there was a book about the ever-burgeoning rivalry between the Sandpoint and Bishop Kelly girls soccer teams, one of the best currently going on in the state of Idaho, the title for the latest chapter would be this: The own goal game.

After 67 scoreless minutes of mostly even soccer, Bishop Kelly (22-0-0) scored a pair of goals eight minutes apart on sizzling corner kicks from Evelyn Elwer, each of which is credited to her but officially considered own goals, as both went in off Sandpoint players in a 2-1 BK win.

It was a tough way to lose for the Bulldogs (13-4-1), who went toe to toe with the Knights, winners of their third consecutive 4A state title, all at the hands of runner-up Sandpoint. The official tally now has the Knights with eight 4A state banners, and the Bulldogs seven since the Idaho High School Activities Association began sanctioning the state tournaments in 2000.

Sandpoint head coach Conor Baranski admitted after the game it was a difficult loss to swallow.

“Both own goals off of corners. If I were in their shoes, I’d take it. We knew they were dangerous on corners, and they were fast and aggressive in the attack,” said Baranski, whose team was on the brink of ending the Knights’ current winning streak, which is now at 64 games. “For the first time in their season, they were doubtful. We put some doubt in their mind when they realized they couldn’t beat our defense.”

The Bulldogs just missed taking a first-half lead when Riley Walkington ripped a beautiful free kick from about 40 yards out which banged off the cross bar into the air, where Jezza Hutto, gutting it out on an injured ankle, headed an attempt a few feet wide of the open goal.

Sandpoint defenders Mya Darling, Yeo Yarnell and Emma Thielbahr were stellar in the back third, not just shutting down an attack that had racked up 140 goals on the season, but stealing ball after ball and blocking shot after shot.

Behind them was sophomore goalie Hattie Larson, who was aggressive from the first ball to the last, coming out hard to stuff a handful of saves at point-blank range while taking some physical contact in the process.

Sandpoint forward Jordie Breeden was active in the attack all game, beating her defender a handful of times to create some decent looks at goal. Sandpoint also earned three second-half corner kicks, but couldn’t threaten on any of them, and Yarnell lofted a free kick that bounced in front of the goal before a huge scrum, but Sandpoint couldn’t punch the ball in.

One of the reasons for the Knights’ success on set pieces was senior Evelyn Elwer, whose left-footed blasts were bending in sharp right in front of the goal. The first bounced off a Bulldog, the second landed in the hands of Larson, who collided with a teammate and lost the ball into goal.

Knights second-year head coach Meagan Lyons, who has yet to taste defeat, knew her team would have its hands full with one of the best Sandpoint teams in years.

“A high percentage of our goals are on set pieces. We knew it would be a battle, a one-goal difference. It’s all about their heart and mentality. My girls busted their butt,” said Lyons, tipping her hat to Sandpoint. “They’re aggressive, a very talented team. The two of us match up, everything about us is similar. There’s been hype about this game all year; we knew they wanted us.”

Down 2-0, Riley Walkington was able to finally punch in her 25th goal of the season, but it came with just over a minute left. She eschewed any celebration to hustle and get the ball out of the goal and ready for play again, emblematic of the fighting spirit the Bulldogs showed all season.

“What a testament to their refusal to lose to score in the 78th minute, just really impressive. A number of our players showed the competitors they are,” described Baranski, lauding the play of his defense in defeat. “Mya and Emma were the best players on the field. I was proud of the team before the game, I’m proud after.”

Despite the loss, it was another strong season for the Bulldogs, who nearly ended the Knights’ winning streak in a cleanly-played, highly-skilled affair with action on both ends of the field.

Yarnell, once again playing a key role in her third straight championship game, had tear-streaked faces like most of her teammates after the game.

“I do take pride in the fact we go to the finals every year,” Yarnell said. “The expectation was that we were going to win state. The two corners were just unlucky handling.”

First half — None. Second half — 1, BK, Evelyn Elwer (corner kick), 67:00. 2, BK, Elwer (corner kick), 75:00. 3, Spt, Riley Walkington (Jezza Hutto), 78:00.

Shots on goal — Bishop Kelly 17, Spt, 7.

Saves — BK, Aly Tekippe, 6; Spt, Hattie Larson, 11.