Last season: 10-10, second in 4A Intermountain League

Coaches: Emily Winebark (Head coach), Kassy Skeen (Assistant Coach) 

Key returners: Nevaeh Therrien, D, sr.; Alexys Mierke, MF, sr.; Maddie Hart, STRK, sr.; Hallie Thomson, GK, sr. 

Key newcomers: Isabell Solum, D, fr.; Olivia Wright, D, fr. 

Outlook: The Bonners Ferry Badgers girls soccer team was so close to ending the school’s state tournament drought last, they could almost taste it. After rebounding in the second half of the season with some close losses, the Badgers lost another close, hard-fought game to American Falls that ended their dreams. 

The heartbreak of being just a goal away from those dreams can turn the next season into nightmare, but that’s not what happened with Bonners Ferry. The team reloaded with 10 freshmen and an ever-improving core, marking the most players that head coach Emily Winebark has had to date. 

The Badgers will be led by their captain, Nevaeh Therrien, a state champion wrestler turned defensemen. This will only be her second year playing soccer, but she’s been able to outwork her competition, using an aggressive playstyle and excellent to elevate the defense. 

Two freshman Isabell Solum and Olivia Wright join Therrien on the backend, providing a boost of energy to the defense. They’ll be helping senior Hallie Thomson, who had an excellent junior season averaging 7.1 saves per game. 

Maddie Hart is another player coming off a stellar 2024 campaign, where she totaled 13 goals and 30 points. Expect the offense to run through Hart with help from fellow senior Alexys Mierke, who found the back of the net 10 times last season. 

With a rejuvenated roster and multiple seniors determined to have their best season yet, Coach Winebark is confident that they’ve got what it takes to quench the thirst that a near 15-year state tournament drought has brought on.  

Coach comments: On coaching a young roster: “A lot of the new players I get are very inexperienced, so I put a lot of weight into effort, like the skill will come if you can give me worth ethic and give me hustle. This new group of new players and freshman is really giving me that.” - Coach Emily Winebark 

On new strategies for the team: “I really want them to get out of their box of ‘I understand this basic 3-4-3 or 4-4-2' into some things that are a little more complicated, but if we can learn them, we’ll be really effective.” - Coach Emily Winebark 

Most anticipated matchups: Timberlake and CDA Charter 

Bonners Ferry Girls Soccer Schedule 

8/26 vs Timberlake  — 2-1 W

9/5 vs Grangeville – 12 p.m. 

9/6 vs St. Maries – 10 a.m. 

9/8 @ Priest River – 4 p.m. 

9/9 vs Coeur d’Alene Charter – 5 p.m. 

9/16 vs Lakeland – 6:30 p.m. 

9/18 @ Sandpoint – TBA 

9/22 vs Priest River – 6 p.m. 

9/23 vs Riverside – 6:30 p.m. 

9/24 vs Timberlake – 6 p.m. 

9/30 @ Moscow – 4 p.m. 

10/1 @ Coeur d’Alene Charter – 5 p.m. 

10/6 @ St. Maries – 6:30 p.m. 

10/10 @ Grangeville – 4 p.m. 

*Schedule as of 8/28, dates and times subject to change 

2024 RESULTS

8/24 vs Stillwater Christian – 7-5 W 

8/27 vs Moscow – 7-1 L 

9/3 @ Timberlake – 10-0 L 

9/6 @ Grangeville – 5-1 W 

9/7 St. Maries – 9-0 W 

9/13 @ Priest River – 10-2 W 

9/14 vs Northwest Christian – 9-1 L 

9/16 vs Priest River - 7-3 W 

9/17 @ Lakeland – 7-1 L 

9/20 @ Stillwater Christian – 3-1 W 

9/23 @ Riverside – 3-1 L 

9/24 vs Timberlake – 4-2 L 

9/25 @ Coeur d’Alene Charter – 2-1 L 

10/1 vs St. Maries – 6-1 W 

10/2 vs Coeur d’Alene Charter – 1-0 L 

10/12 vs Grangeville – 2-1 W 

10/14 vs Priest River – 6-0 W 

10/15 vs Timberlake – 2-1 W 

10/16 @ Coeur d’Alene Charter – 1-0 L 

10/19 vs American Falls – 1-0 L*

*4A state tournament play-in match 

    Bonners Ferry High senior forward/midfielder Alexys Mierke looks on during a match last season.