SANDPOINT — The Sandpoint Bulldogs spent the first 40 minutes of their Inland Empire District Tournament game against the Lewiston Golden Bengals, sending shot after shot at the net to no avail. 

Lewiston’s backline and goalkeeper Adrian Lopez were stout, fending off nine corner kicks and countless scoring chances from the Bulldogs. Sandpoint head coach Dan Anderson credited the Golden Bengals’ formation, but said his team stuck with their halftime routine knowing that the first goal would break the dam. 

“For us, it was all about getting that first goal,” Anderson said. “We knew if we got that then we would get the second, and third and maybe even a fourth. Just continuing to stick to our game plan, our principles, pushing the tempo, taking the game to them.” 

Sticking to their principles proved to be the right call as junior Pax Longanecker sent a beautiful ball to Dixon Reed in the 52nd minute for Sandpoint’s first goal of the game. The goal gave Sandpoint a lead they would hold until the end of a 3-0 victory on Saturday, which advanced the Bulldogs to the District 1-2 Tournament Championship game. 

“We wanted to let the ball do the work and pass the ball quickly,” Anderson said. “Then, again, trusting your teammates to be on the end of it and then put it away. It was a great play between Pax and Dixon to get us on the board.” 

Sandpoint dominated possession of the ball for the entire game, but it paid off in the second half. Just 10 minutes after Reed’s goal, Wesley Drube sent a ball to Will Piehl, who finished off the second Bulldog goal of the game. 

Down 2-0, Lewiston gathered themselves and gained their first breath of offensive momentum. However, that was quickly snuffed out by the Bulldogs’ goalkeeper Landon Brinkmeier, who made a leaping save late to keep a clean sheet against the Golden Bengals. 

Regaining their composure, Sandpoint reapplied their pressure with Ashton Porter drawing a penalty kick. Porter gave the kick to senior Harrison Giles, who sent a screamer past a diving keeper in the 76th minute for his first varsity goal, which put the game on ice and secured the 3-0 win over Lewiston. 

With the victory, the top-seeded Bulldogs advance to the District 1-2 Tournament Championship game against Lakeland on Tuesday at War Memorial Field. The time of the matchup will be announced at a later date. 

Sandpoint 0 3 — 3 

Lewiston 0 0 — 0 

First half — None. Second half — SPT, Dixon Reed (Pax Longanecker), 52:00. SPT, Will Piehl (Wesley Drube), 62:00. SPT, Harrison Giles (penalty kick), 76:00.  

Shots on goal — Sandpoint 14, Lewiston 3. 

Saves — Sandpoint, Landon Brinkmeier 3, Lewiston Adrian Lopez 11.

    From left, Blake McGrann, Dixon Reed and Ethan Polhemus celebrate Reed's goal against Lewiston on Saturday at War Memorial Field. Reed scored the first goal of Sandpoint's 3-0 victory.