SANDPOINT — Hosting a 6A opponent on senior night? Not an issue for the Sandpoint Bulldogs, who cruised by the visiting Lake City Timberwolves 3-0 on Tuesday. 

To the shock of nobody at War Memorial Field, junior midfielder Pax Longanecker opened the scoring for Sandpoint in the 34th minute off a deep ball from Wesley Drube. Longanecker sent the ball on one touch to the bottom right corner to extend his goal-scoring streak to six games, averaging two goals a game in that span. 

Drube notched the Bulldogs’ second goal in the first half, playing a free kick from Dixon Reed past the Lake City goalkeeper to make it 2-0 Sandpoint at the half. 

“Very much felt that we were dominating the game, and the scoreline reflected that,” Sandpoint head coach Dan Anderson said. “More of the same in the second half; we wanted to continue to push the tempo and go for a third goal, which we eventually got.” 

Another free kick from Reed sailed into the box and found the head of Blake Bogadi, who sent it into the back of the net to seal a 3-0 victory for the Bulldogs. Anderson said the team worked on free kicks this week, and the two goals from free kicks were an encouraging sign for the Bulldogs. 

“Very happy with the performance and proud of the way the boys handled senior night against a tough opponent,” Anderson said. “We pride ourselves in being the hardest working and fittest team in the state, and it’s great to see that hard work pay off for the boys.”  

Before the game, Sandpoint honored their seniors: goalkeeper Landon Brinkmeier, midfielder Harrison Giles and defender Brennan Shaw. Anderson shouted out his backline and Brinkmeier for posting another clean sheet in the team’s regular season finale. 

With the victory, Sandpoint’s final regular season record sits at 12-1-2. The Bulldogs went undefeated in league play, giving them home-field advantage and a bye in the Inland Empire District Tournament. 

The Bulldogs will open their postseason against Lewiston on Oct. 10 at 12 p.m. at War Memorial Field with a chance at a spot in the district title game on the line. 

“Our goal is always to be peaking at the business end of the season, and we feel that we are well on our way to accomplishing that,” Anderson said.  

Sandpoint 2 1 — 3

Lake City 0 0 — 0

First half — SPT, Pax Longanecker (Wesley Drube), 37:00. SPT, Drube (unassisted), 40:00. Second half — SPT, Blake Bogadi (Dixon Reed), 71:00.

Shots on goal: Sandpoint 7, Lake City 1

Saves: Sandpoint, Landon Brinkmeier 1, Lake City, Sebastian Guitron 4.

    Sandpoint junior Blake Bogadi heads a ball past the Lake City goalkeeper for the Bulldogs' third goal on Tuesday at War Memorial Field.