Sandpoint 3, Lake City 2 

COEUR d’ALENE — A header from Sandpoint’s junior midfielder Colton Dickinson that found the back of the net in the 67th minute proved to be the game-winner in the Bulldogs’ season-opening showdown with Lake City on Saturday afternoon. 

Sandpoint dominated possession in the game and battled back from an early deficit to earn the league win. Head coach Dan Anderson said he was happy with his team’s effort and how they set the tone for the rest of the season. 

“Very happy to get our first win on the road against a good Lake City team,” Anderson said. 

The Wolves jumped out to the early lead in the 24th minute with a goal, but the Bulldogs remained undeterred and quickly returned to their offensive pressure. That paid off when junior midfielder Pax Longanecker drew a penalty kick and drilled it home to even the score at 1-1 before the end of the half. 

Sandpoint continued to find good looks on offense, totaling 13 shots, eight of them on goal, throughout the contest. Lake City took eight shots, five on goal, being stymied by Sandpoint senior goalkeeper Landon Brinkmeier.  

Anderson said the goals the Bulldogs did concede were due to mental lapses, which were expected in the opener and could be corrected throughout the season. 

The Bulldogs notched their second goal of the day thanks to a ball from senior defenseman Brennan Shaw finding the foot of sophomore forward Wesley Drube. 

With the game knotted at 2-2 and the clock winding down, the Bulldogs’ pressure remained. With 13 minutes remaining, a fateful cross in front of the goal found the head of Dickinson, who buried the eventual game-winner.  

With the victory, the Bulldogs moved to 1-0 on the season before their home opener against league opponent Moscow. 

Sandpoint 5, Moscow 0 

SANDPOINT — Senior goalkeeper Landon Brinkmeier was lights out on a warm day at War Memorial Field, helping his Bulldogs improve to 2-0 with a 5- 0 walloping of Moscow on Tuesday afternoon. 

Though Sandpoint spent most of the day on Moscow’s side of the field, pushing constant pressure on Moscow’s defense, head coach Dan Anderson gave his MVP of the match to Brinkmeier. The honor was earned in large part to several tough saves Brinkmeier made when Moscow got breakaway 1-on-1 chances early in the game. 

“I thought Landon Brinkmeier had a stellar game for us and was the reason Moscow didn’t score two or three goals in the first half,” Anderson said. 

It only took 20 minutes for Sandpoint to break the ice in the contest, after sophomore Wesley Drube made an impressive run on the left side of the field. Drube made an impressive cross to beat the keeper and find junior forward Blake McGrann for a tap-in goal, the first goal for McGrann this season. 

From there, the Bulldogs poured it on. They scored for a second time just before the end of the first half when junior defender Gus Penrose delivered the ball to sophomore midfielder Marlon Rohm to extend Sandpoint’s lead to 2-0 before the halftime break. 

Though Moscow held the dam back for 10 minutes in the second half, a goal by sophomore Ashton Porter opened the floodgates. Junior defender Blake Bogadi scored his first goal of the season to make it 4-0, and shortly after, Rohm notched a brace with his second goal of the game. 

“Wanted to give a shoutout to Ashton Porter for scoring his first varsity goal, Marlon Rohm for scoring his first varsity goals, Blake Bogadi for scoring his first varsity goal and Adrian Torres for getting his first varsity assist,” Anderson said.  

Though the Bulldogs rolled past the Bears, Anderson said he wasn’t thrilled with how his team played in their second game of the year. 

“It’s funny to say after a 5-0 victory, but we were far below our expected standards when it comes to focus, intensity, effort and the way we want to play the game,” Anderson said. “Luckily, it’s only the second game of the season, and we have a long time to improve.” 

Sandpoint’s early-season gauntlet doesn’t slow down as they head to Post Falls on Thursday for another league showdown. That game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. in Post Falls. 

    Sandpoint sophomore Marlon Rohm goes to kick the ball against Moscow on Tuesday at War Memorial Field. Rohm scored his first two varsity goals on Tuesday in the Bulldogs' 5-0 victory over Moscow.