PREP BOYS SOCCER: Vikings earn another match ... Coeur d'Alene blanks Lake City to capture 6A District 1 title, advance to state play-in

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

COEUR d’ALENE — After falling at home last week to open the boys 6A District 1 best-of-3 championship series, nothing was promised for Coeur d’Alene High. 

Not another shot under the lights at Viking Field. 

Nor that first state berth since 2022. 

This next one, it was earned. 

Coeur d’Alene junior midfielder Ethan Luna scored twice on assists from sophomore midfielder Blake Wise as the Vikings beat the visiting Lake City Timberwolves 3-0 in the deciding game 3 on Tuesday night to advance to a state play-in game. 

Lake City beat Coeur d’Alene in Game 1 last Wednesday at Viking Field. Coeur d’Alene evened the series with a 5-0 win at Lake City last Saturday. 

“I think we came out a little complacent last Wednesday,” second-year Coeur d'Alene coach Robbie Harmelink said. “We made some decisions, whether that was myself and the coaching staff or the players, and didn’t put us in the right positions. Since then, we’ve adopted this idea that we’ve only got one game guaranteed. Saturday, we won, and gave ourselves one more game. We’ve adopted that mindset that we’ve got to go out and earn it instead of how we look on paper.” 

“It was just a wakeup call,” Luna said. “We had to pick it up, and we did. I was really proud of this team. It’s special and huge to win a district title.”

It is Coeur d’Alene’s first district title since 2022. 

Coeur d’Alene (10-4-1) advances to play the sixth-place team from District 3 (Boise) area on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the P1FCU Sports Complex at Lewiston High. Lake City, which had won the past two district titles, finished 8-7-1.

“What a game,” second-year Lake City coach Chaz Donovan said. “Hats off to Coeur d’Alene. They played with heart and grit. I couldn’t be prouder of our boys. This season was a true roller coaster — filled with challenges, growth and grit. Despite mounting injuries, our young squad rose to the occasion. By season’s end, five freshmen were making meaningful contributions, and many sophomores and juniors were stepping into varsity roles for the first time. We were young, but fearless, and we grew stronger together.” 

The Vikings, bidding for their first state appearance since 2022, will learn their opponent after games in the District 3 tournament today. 

“We’ve got to play with lots of heart and energy,” Luna said. “We’ve got to continue to work hard as a team.” 

“Going forward, we’ve said that the next game is the only one we’ve got for sure,” Harmelink said. “This coming Saturday, given how the IHSAA divvies out bids, we have one game guaranteed. It’s going to be a team most likely that we haven’t seen, and we’ll see how things shake out down south. But we’re excited.” 

Luna scored his second goal nine minutes into the second half for Coeur d’Alene, which outshot Lake City 12-5. 

“Ethan had to earn everything tonight,” Harmelink said. “He just found himself in some great channels and to have those shots go in. Blake (Wise) was able to find him and Ethan capitalized with both his left and right foot tonight.” 

Lake City senior Lukas Ruchti had 10 saves. Coeur d’Alene junior Grant Johnson had five saves. 

First half — 1, Cd’A, Ethan Luna (Grant Wise), 29:00. Second half — 2, Cd’A, Luna (Wise), 49:00. 3, Cd’A, Jacob Shaporda (unassisted), 79:00. 

Shots on goal — LC 5, Cd’A 12. 

Saves — LC, Lukas Ruchti 9; Cd’A, Grant Johnson 5. 

Sandpoint 3

Lewiston 2

SANDPOINT — The Bulldogs (13-3-2) won the 5A Region 1 title with a win over the Bengals (5-8) at War Memorial Field.

Sandpoint, ranked fourth in the latest MaxPreps rankings, advances to state at Columbia High in Nampa starting next Thursday.

Lewiston will face the District 3 runner-up in a play-in match on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the P1FCU Sports Complex in Lewiston.

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Coeur d'Alene junior midfielder Ethan Luna (8) and Lake City junior defender Reese Crawford battle for position during the first half of Tuesday's Game 3 of the 6A District 1 best-of-3 boys soccer series. Coeur d'Alene beat Lake City 3-0 to advance to a state play-in match on Saturday in Lewiston.