The Idaho state soccer tournament is a gauntlet, with teams tasked with surviving up to three games in three days.  

The schedule puts a team's depth to the test, and it's one that Sandpoint teams of the past have had a problem overcoming, Sandpoint head coach Dan Anderson said. However, it's a test that Anderson believes his 2026 team is prepared to best. 

"We have 20 guys on the varsity team that are all ready to play major varsity minutes," Anderson said. "Our strength will be in our depth and our team togetherness and cohesiveness this year." 

To do so, the Bulldogs will need several players to step up to make up for the loss of key seniors like Isaac Schmit and Huxley Hall. Luckily for Sandpoint, they'll be able to lean on reigning first-team 5A selection and senior goalkeeper Landon Brinkmeier for another season. 

Brinkmeier, who will be serving as a team captain this year, was an X-factor for the Bulldogs last year. The senior only allowed 18 goals in 21 matches and totaled 23 saves in the three games of the 5A state tournament. 

"He'll be huge in between the posts for us," Anderson said of Brinkmeier. 

Rising junior midfielder and fellow team captain Pax Longanecker will control the midfield yet again. Anderson said he has high expectations for Dixon Reed, who is set to star in the midfield alongside Longanecker. 

Anderson said junior Gus Penrose is returning for his third year on varsity to lead the Bulldogs' defense. Stepping up on offense will be rising sophomore Wesley Drube, who Anderson said will be their main striker this season. 

"I would just emphasize that when you talk about guys who are ready to be like key members of the team, 10 plus guys pop into my head," Anderson said. "Depending on the game, there's going to be someone else who steps up and takes that for us and wins the game or has a great game. There's many, many guys that are going to fill that role this season." 

The third-year head coach said they've already begun building the foundation of a selfless culture that will allow each and every player on the team to thrive. Anderson said it's his goal to make every athlete feel like a major contributor to the team's success regardless of their minutes. 

The Bulldogs are set to continue their "blue-collar" style of play, which focuses on possession and outworking their opponents. Anderson said he wants his team to be the most in-shape team on the field for every game and to use that to become an exciting team to watch. 

"The thing we're preaching to the boys this year is that we're going to be hard to play against and fun to watch," Anderson said. "We want the ball; we want to use it to hurt the other team. And if we don't have the ball, we want to get it back as soon as possible and go again." 

If Sandpoint can continue building on last year's state title run, they'll get the benefit of doing it from the comfort of their beds as the school is set to host the boys and girls state tournament for the first time ever this year.  

Anderson said his boys were a little disappointed at the thought of missing out on an adventure at state, but that his team is working to replicate that as much as possible. 

"They'll have to be staying at home in their own bed, which is, I think, a positive... but then we're filling their days with team activities and making sure that group stays together," Anderson said. "I'm very excited about it. I'm sure there's a pressure that comes along with that, but we want pressure. We welcome pressure." 

Sandpoint's head coach welcomed the community out to watch and support the Bulldogs.

"We're going to be fun to watch," Anderson said. "These boys put in so much work that I feel they're deserving of the community coming out and supporting them when we have home games."

FUN FACT: Sandpoint is chasing its seventh district title in a row this season. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Landon Brink, sr.; Wesley Drube, so.; Pax Longanecker, jr. 

MOST ANTICIPATED MEET: Coeur d'Alene, 9/10 and 9/26. 

SCHEDULE: 

- 8/22 @ Lake City, 1 p.m. 

- 8/25 vs Moscow, 4 p.m. 

- 8/27 @ Post Falls, 4 p.m. 

- 8/29 @ Jerome, 1 p.m. 

- 9/2 @ Coeur d’Alene Charter, 6 p.m. 

- 9/3 vs Lakeland, 4 p.m. 

- 9/10 vs Coeur d’Alene, 6:30 p.m. 

- 9/12 vs Lewiston, 12 p.m. 

- 9/14 vs Coeur d’Alene Charter, 6 p.m. 

- 9/15 @ Columbia Falls, 4 p.m. 

- 9/17 @ Moscow, 4 p.m. 

- 9/22 vs Post Falls, 6:30 p.m. 

- 9/24 @ Lakeland, 4 p.m. 

- 9/26 @ Coeur d’Alene, 12 p.m. 

- 10/3 vs Lake City, 6:30 p.m. 

- 10/10-13 vs District Tournament 

- 10/22-24 vs State Tournament