PREP SOCCER: Sandpoint girls, boys first round opponents announced
MAX OSWALD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 3 months AGO
I grew up in the small town of Orwigsburg, Pa., where I resided all of my life before moving to Sandpoint. I attended Blue Mountain High School, where I participated in cross country and track and field, a sport that I ended up falling in love with. I went on to attend and run for DeSales University (with other brief stints at Susquehanna University and Elizabethtown College) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport communication with a minor in sport management. I remember just how great it made me feel when I was mentioned in my hometown newspaper. I want to be able to give that feeling to every athlete in Bonner County, no matter how big or small their accomplishments are. As an athlete myself, I know how many hours of work are put in on a daily basis, and that hard work deserves to be recognized. It is my goal to cover as much of the Bulldogs, Spartans and Wampus Cats as I can. I want to work with every athlete, parent, coach, administrator and the community to ensure the best stories are published. | October 18, 2023 1:00 AM
As the 4A state championship brackets were revealed, Sandpoint got a look into how they currently stack up against the state’s best. In the opening round, Sandpoint’s girls are set to face off against Skyline while Sandpoint’s boys are tasked with defeating the returning state champions, Caldwell.
For the girls, No. 4 Sandpoint and No. 5 Skyline will meet for the first time since 2018. In their last meeting, which was also at the 4A state championship, the Bulldogs defeated the Grizzlies 3-1. Skyline has quality wins over Shelley and Idaho Falls this season, but has been defeated twice by Idaho Falls late in the season, who happens to be this years’ No. 7 seed. The Bulldogs resumé consists of two regular season wins over 5A Lake City and two quality wins over a tough team in Moscow, who they had to defeat in the district championship to get here.
For the boys, No. 6 Sandpoint and No. 3 Caldwell will meet for the first time since 2017. The Bulldogs fell to the Cougars 1-0 in the second round of the 4A state championship that year. Caldwell only has one loss this season, which happens to be against No. 1 seed Wood River — their only loss in the last two seasons. The Cougars boast quality wins over Bishop Kelly, Columbia, and Ridgevue (2), and come into the tournament with seven straight wins. However, Sandpoint has been hot as of recent, winning six of their last seven, which includes a 4-2 win over Coeur d’Alene.
BOYS 4A
Thursday
At Brothers Park, Caldwell
Match 1 — No. 4 seed Bishop Kelly (14-1-4) vs. No. 5 Century (12-2-0), 7:30 a.m.
Match 2 — No. 1 Wood River (15-2-2) vs. No. 8 Idaho Falls (9-6-2), 9:30 a.m.
Match 3 — No. 2 Canyon Ridge (15-2-0) vs. No. 7 Blackfoot (11-3-1), 11:30 a.m.
Match 4 — No. 3 Caldwell (13-1-3) vs. No. 6 Sandpoint (9-4-0), 1:30 p.m.
Friday
At Brothers Park, Caldwell
Match 5 — Loser Match 1 vs. Loser Match 2, 7:30 a.m. (loser out)
Match 6 — Loser Match 3 vs. Loser Match 4, 9:30 a.m. (loser out)
Match 7 — Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2, 11:30 a.m. (semifinal)
Match 8 — Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4, 1:30 p.m. (semifinal)
Saturday
At Brothers Park, Caldwell
Consolation championship
Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6, 8:30 a.m.
Third-place match
Loser Match 7 vs. Loser Match 8, 10:30 a.m.
Championship
At Middleton High
Winner Match 7 vs. Winner Match 8, 2 p.m.
GIRLS 4A
Thursday
At Brothers Park, Caldwell
Match 1 — No. 4 seed Sandpoint (8-5-3) vs. No. 5 Skyline (10-4-5), 8 a.m.
Match 2 — No. 1 Pocatello (16-0-1) vs. No. 8 Canyon Ridge (12-5-2), 10 a.m.
Match 3 — No. 2 Bishop Kelly (16-1-1) vs. No. 7 Idaho Falls (9-8-1), noon
Match 4 — No. 3 Vallivue (14-5-0) vs. No. 6 Twin Falls (12-5-1), 2 p.m.
Friday
At Brothers Park, Caldwell
Match 5 — Loser Match 1 vs. Loser Match 2, 8 a.m. (loser out)
Match 6 — Loser Match 3 vs. Loser Match 4, 10 a.m. (loser out)
Match 7 — Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2, noon (semifinal)
Match 8 — Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4, 2 p.m. (semifinal)
Saturday
At Brothers Park, Caldwell
Consolation championship
Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6, 9 a.m.
Third-place match
Loser Match 7 vs. Loser Match 8, 11 a.m.
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