Sandpoint cruises past Hawks, earns third shutout
DYLAN GREENE | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 3 months AGO
Senior Aidan Smith elevates for a header during Wednesday's match against Lakeland at War Memorial Field.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Senior Keyan Strock chases down a loose ball along the sideline during Wednesday's match against Lakeland.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Keyan Strock tries to settle down a ball played into the box on Wednesday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Henry Barnes dribbles the ball forward while fighting off a Lakeland defender on Wednesday.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Aidan Smith fires a shot toward the net on Wednesday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Evan Darling fights for possession of the ball during Wednesday's match against Lakeland.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Nolan Angell fires a shot toward the Lakeland goal on Wednesday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Shane Griffin prepares to send a cross into the box on Wednesday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Nolan Angell dribbles the ball upfield on Wednesday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Pierce McDermott prepares to pass the ball to a teammate on Wednesday.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
SANDPOINT — Bulldog boys soccer was on the attack early and often Wednesday, securing a 4-0 Inland Empire League victory over Lakeland.
Both coaches agreed to call the match with over 20 minutes left due to a serious lower-body injury to a Lakeland player.
Over the past weeks, head coach Tanner French said the team has been working on possession and stepping on the pitch with a little more energy. He saw both those in action against the Hawks.
"I think that's the most passes we've completed in 60 minutes and it's pleasing to see them enjoy it and realize how simple the game can be," he said.
The Bulldogs were all over the Hawks in the opening half, controlling play throughout and firing off 13 shots. Sandpoint held Lakeland without a shot in the first 40 minutes. The Hawks' best offensive chance came in the 23rd minute on a free kick, but the Bulldogs' wall blocked the shot from ever reaching the front of the net.
Keyan Strock opened the scoring for Sandpoint in the ninth minute. A corner kick played into the box by Nolan Angell was deflected around until Aidan Smith got a head on it. The ball then found the foot of Strock, who buried it to make it 1-0.
Just three minutes later, Angell played a perfect corner into the box and Pierce McDermott headed it in to silence the Hawks.
Strock scored his second goal on the day in the 21st minute. Smith sent a cross in front of the net and Strock blasted home a one-touch goal. French said it was "a fantastic finish."
French said he loves working with Strock because he's extremely coachable and he was glad the senior got rewarded for his hard work with a pair of goals against the Hawks.
"Playing that wingback position, it's a lot of running and that's why we put Keyan there because he came into preseason fit," he said.
Sandpoint took the 3-0 lead into halftime and wasted no time getting back to carving up the Lakeland defense in the second half.
Strock and Evan Darling both had dangerous looks at the net early, but were unable to cash in. Then in the 56th minute, all that pressure paid off when Eoin Eddy dished a pass back to Henry Barnes, who buried his second career varsity goal.
The match was called soon after the score, but French really liked the determination his team played with offensively in the second half.
"Sadly the game ended right as we were kind of finding that urgency groove," he said, "but that's something that can obviously happen in the next six games."
Sandpoint outshot Lakeland 17-2. Smith tallied two assists and Roman Jiles made one save at keeper.
"It was a solid, collective win prepping us for Lake City on Friday," French added.
The Bulldogs (3-2, 2-2 IEL) travel to the Timberwolves at 4:30 p.m. Friday for a nonleague match.
First half — 1, Sandpoint, Keyan Strock (Aidan Smith), 9:00. 2, Sandpoint, Pierce McDermott (Nolan Angell), 12:00. 3, Sandpoint, Strock (Smith), 21:00. Second half — 4, Sandpoint, Henry Barnes (Eoin Eddy), 56:00.
Shots — Lakeland 2, Sandpoint 17.
Saves — Lakeland, Basquiat Nelson 3; Sandpoint, Roman Jiles 1.
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