Badger boys soccer (9-3-1, 7-1-1) defeated Immaculate Conception Academy and Coeur d’Alene Charter this past week and are ranked first in the 3A Intermountain League.

BONNERS FERRY — Badger senior forward Eli Newell had more than a hat trick against ICA (2-1), sinking four goals against the Cristeros giving the Badgers a 5-2 victory on Monday, Oct. 2.

Junior forward Nikita “Nik” also scored for the Badgers in the 17th minute of the game.

The Badgers led 4-0 at the half, with the Cristeros scoring in the 55th minute and the 85th minute off a second chance shot on goal.

BF 4, Cd'A Charter 2

BONNERS FERRY — The Badgers knocked Cd'A Charter down to second place in league, winning 4-2 on Sept. 29.

Scoring for the Badgers: Eli Newell 2, Nikita “Nik” Rawson 1, Jesse Dye 1.

Newell and Dye had three shots on goal, Rawson had four.

Freshman Cardon Pluid had 12 saves in goal with two goals against.

Looking at the past two games, Paul Bonnell, Bonners Ferry boys head coach said the team is hitting its stride and players are looking at their options and adapting mid-game.

“[Against ICA] When we scored, they locked down defense in the middle and then we went wide and spread the field,” he said.

The Badgers have a packed schedule this week with districts starting next week.

The Badgers played Priest River on Wednesday and the game will be covered in the next edition of the Herald. The Badgers host Orofino on Thursday and St. Maries on Saturday.

Badger girls soccer closest game against CDA Charter in decade

Cd'A Charter 2 (10-1), BF 0 (6-6, 4-4)

BONNERS FERRY — Badger girls soccer played its strongest game against Coeur d’Alene Charter in a decade, holding the Panthers to only two goals.

Bonners Ferry held CDA Charter to won goal, but around the 84th minute mark, the Panthers contested the goal keeper and scored off a 50-50 ball.

Last season, the Badgers scored against the Panthers for the first time in both matches, falling 8-1, 9-1. Historically, CDA Charter has dominated the 3A IML, defeating opponents by upward of seven goals or even in the double digits.

The last time Bonners Ferry held CDA Charter to only two goals was in 2013, the first year they entered the league. In 2012, the Badgers (11-5-1) took first in the 3A IML and fell 1-0 to the Panthers (9-5-1), who took first in the 2A Central Idaho League that year.

Bonners Ferry head coach Emily Winebark said last week’s matchup was the team’s strongest game yet.

“Defense stood out to me as playing smarter and with better footwork which we've been working on, keeping them to two goals,” she said. “Asha Abubakari and Brenly Hymas stood out to me as just being all over the field with endless energy in their tank.”

Some players were out due to injury and newer players were put into rotation.

“Nolie Hiatt, Addison Lucas and McKenna Baisden really stepped up to help in midfield and forwards,” Winebar said.

“Alexys Mierke has really started shining the last few games as being able to control the field and get passing plays started as well as make individual runs. I have started putting her in center mid because of this,” she said.

The Badgers played Priest River on Wednesday. The game will be covered in the next edition of the Herald. The Badgers host St. Maries on Saturday.