PONDERAY — Before Sandpoint's 5A State Tournament opener, Bulldogs head coach Dan Anderson told his team that its No. 1 seed honors meant nothing. 

Yet, facing the Century Diamondbacks in the tournament opener, Sandpoint certainly looked like the best team in 5A. The Bulldogs overwhelmed the Diamondbacks with a 4-0 win on Thursday at the Field of Dreams, advancing to the state tournament semi-final game on Friday. 

"We wanted to come out and play our game today, the way we've been doing all season, and let the home crowd help us as far as energy," Anderson said after the win. "I thought the boys came out ready to do that and were rewarded for their efforts."  

Despite taking early control of the game, Sandpoint didn't find the back of the net for the first 20 minutes. Century's goalkeeper Liam McGee made two massive saves on Sandpoint set pieces that kept the game scoreless and provided his Diamondbacks with a few runs down the field. 

Sandpoint responded to that push with a run of its own by junior defender Gus Penrose, who worked the ball all the way from the midfield into the box. Penrose sent a cross, which found the foot of sophomore forward Ashton Porter, who finished off the goal with a nice touch to give Sandpoint a lead it'd never relinquish in the 29th minute. 

With the tie snapped, the Bulldogs didn't take long to find the back of the net again. Three minutes later, sophomore Wesley Drube worked the ball down before making an unselfish pass to find a sliding senior Pax Longanecker for the Bulldogs' second goal of the first half. 

"Century was very organized ... We eventually got down the outside and had our players start cutting in towards the goal, and then find their teammates for tap-in goals," Anderson said. "It all starts for us from the standpoint of hard work. We want to get forward together and then back together and not take any plays off." 

Out of the halftime break, Sandpoint continued to push the pace with runs down the outside. In the 58th minute, Longanecker repaid Drube's favor from the first half by making the extra pass to allow the sophomore to score the Bulldogs' third goal and make it 3-0. 

Following the third goal, many of the Bulldogs' starters came out to allow for the team's depth to get state tournament experience. Ahead of the season, Anderson said this team was one of the deepest he's ever coached in Sandpoint, and that would help it in the grueling three games in three days state tournament format. 

That appeared to be the case as Sandpoint's depth came through with another goal in the 67th minute. This time it was senior midfielder Harrison Giles who got in on the action, scoring his second varsity goal just one game after earning his first. 

"We've rotated all season, so anyone who comes onto the field has already been in big games and seen a lot of minutes, and he's ready for his moment," Anderson said. "I thought that the guys that came on and relieved some of our starters are more than ready for the moment and the task that they had." 

The 4-0 victory moves Sandpoint onto the state tournament semi-final, where they'll face No. 5-seeded Idaho Falls. That game will be played at War Memorial Field on Friday at 1 p.m. 

"Thanks to the home crowd for coming and supporting us," Anderson said. "And come out for the rest of our games as well because we need you." 

Sandpoint 2 2 — 4 

Century 0 0 — 0 

First half — SPT, Ashton Porter (Gus Penrose), 29:00. SPT, Pax Longanecker (Wesley Drube), 32:00. Second half — SPT, Drube (Longanecker), 58:00. SPT, Harrison Giles (Will Piehl): 67:00. 

Shots on goal — Sandpoint 10, Century 1. 

Saves — Sandpoint, Landon Brinkmeier 0; Century, Liam McGee 6.