Sandpoint 5, Lakeland 0

SANDPOINT — Raelyn Olsen couldn't have put together her first career hat trick at a better time.

The Sandpoint High sophomore scored twice in the first half, once in the second, and the Lady Bulldogs avenged an earlier-season loss by shutting out the Lady Hawks for a five-goal 5A Inland Empire League win Thursday night at War Memorial Field.

"Raelyn's just one of those players who has grown into that position (forward) when we changed formations," Sandpoint High head coach Alan Brinkmeier said. "She's come out of her shell and has been a staple — I'm impressed, but it's well deserved."

Impressive it was.

During the fifth minute, sophomore Alyssa Porter sent a through ball into the box that came to the feet of Olsen, who just had the goalkeeper to beat as she buried a shot into the right-hand corner of the net for an early 1-0 advantage. Olsen, after a pass from senior Hope Barnes, found herself open again during the 21st minute and beat the opposing goalkeeper to the ball to score a left-footed goal for a 2-0 lead.

During the final minute of the first half, sophomore Willow Betz sent a pass to senior Elia Howard, who used her speed to get past the defense, only to have her shot saved. However, that shot ended up in the control of junior Jordyn Tomco. Tomco, off a short pass from Barnes, calmly repositioned herself and fired in a shot from 20 yards out that curled its way inside the right post to give the Lady Bulldogs a 3-0 lead heading into intermission.

In the second half, Olsen, after a cross was fumbled by the Lady Hawks, extended the tally to 4-0 as she lasered her third goal of the game into the back of the net during the 61st minute. During the 68th minute, junior Bayah Ratigan, off a nice touch pass from senior Ava Glahe, faked out and dribbled by two Lakeland defenders and scored for the 5-0 advantage — an advantage that would stand until time expired.

Junior goalkeeper Izzy Stark only needed to stop three shots for her third career shutout. Sandpoint's senior-led back line, which consisted of Glahe, senior Mackenzie Mitchell and senior Cecilia Dignan, showed up on senior night.

"For us not to give up a goal is huge," Brinkmeier said, especially considering the ups and downs of the season thus far. "For our back line to hold that whole time ... I can't say anything better about their effort and about what they do for us."

Brinkmeier said his five seniors — Barnes, Howard, Mitchell, Dignan and Glahe — are ones that he will miss deeply once the season is all said and done.

"Most of those girls, I've coached them since they were nine or 10 years old," Brinkmeier said. "It's going to be hard to see them go, even more so that this will likely be their last game under the lights at War Memorial Field ... this group of seniors has left a lasting impact with Sandpoint soccer."

Sandpoint (4-8-1) will await the results of a few other league matches before they learn their first-round 5A Inland Empire League district tournament matchup.

1st half — 1, SPT, Raelyn Olsen (Alyssa Porter), 5'. 2, SPT, Raelyn Olsen (Hope Barnes), 21'. 3, SPT, Jordyn Tomco (Hope Barnes), 40'. 2nd half — 4, SPT, Raelyn Olsen (unassisted), 61'. 5, SPT, Bayah Ratigan (Ava Glahe), 68'.

Shots on goal: Sandpoint — 11. Lakeland — 3.

Saves: Sandpoint — Izzy Stark 3. Lakeland — Reesa Saxe 6.