SPOKANE – Sandpoint girls lacrosse was defeated by the Spokane Stealth, 18-12, in a high-scoring game at the Dwight Merkel Complex on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs gave the Stealth their toughest conference match to date. The last time a conference opponent was this close to the Stealth was Sandpoint’s 15-8 loss in last year’s meeting. The Spokane Stealth have gone undefeated in the Washington Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association’s Eastern Division for the last four years.

After the first 10 minutes of play, The Bulldogs led 4-3 until the Stealth scored two in a row with a man advantage to end the first half. Both teams had yellow cards by the time the halftime whistle sounded.

In the second half, both teams started pouring on the goals. With 10 minutes remaining in the second half, the Stealth had taken the lead with the score 12-11.

As the clock ticked down to within five minutes, another yellow card just about sealed the Bulldogs’ fate. The Stealth were able to score four unanswered goals over the next three minutes of play. All four of those goals were scored by Spokane’s Alyssa French, who had nine goals in the contest.

“The referees were calling a tight game,” head coach Nancy Dooley said. “The penalties definitely had an impact on the outcome; this was the first time this season we saw multiple yellow cards in a game.”

Despite the loss, Alexis Downs scored a season-high seven goals for the Bulldogs. She also led the Bulldogs with four ground balls. Rowan Davis chipped in three goals of her own for Sandpoint. Davis also had a remarkable assist in the contest.

“Rowan made one of the smartest decisions I have seen all season. She got fouled, and instead of driving to the goal, she faked a shot and sent a pass to Terra Bode for an easy goal,” Dooley said.

Terra Bode and Kayla Beers got on the board with one goal each for the Bulldogs. Cassidy Aitken tallied two assists on the night.

Dooley said the biggest difference maker in the contest was Sandpoint’s inability to win the majority of ground balls and prevent turnovers. She believes once Sandpoint can remedy those two hindrances, the team will be unstoppable.

“I was very pleased with how hard our team fought the entire game.” Dooley said. “We double-teamed on the eight meter line and stopped many offensive charges. Bella Baker, Laura Boge, Maddie Mitchell and Cecilia Dignan all played outstanding defense.”

Sandpoint (5-4) will next face Montana’s Glacier Lacrosse Club on Saturday, May 6 at War Memorial Field and on Sunday, May 7 at Great Northern Field as part of Sandpoint’s Lax on the Lake Lacrosse Tournament.

SANDPOINT 12, SPOKANE 18

GOALS: Sandpoint – Downs 7, Davis 3, Beers, Bode. Spokane – French 9, Schmalz 3, Roggenbauer 2, Wheatfall 2, Merwin, Abernathy.

ASSISTS: Sandpoint – Aitken 2, Davis, Dignan. Spokane – Schmalz, Swain, Wheatfall, French.

DRAWS: Sandpoint – Davis 4, Bode 3, Gavin 2, Downs, Browne, Beers. Spokane – Roggenbauer 6, Conley 4, Merwin 3, Swain 3, Walker 2, Schmalz, Irvine.

SV: Sandpoint – Sloan 8. Spokane – Fournier 3.