GIRLS  

Sandpoint 2, Moscow 1 

SANDPOINT — After falling to the reigning 5A state champion Moscow Bears 4-1 early in the season, the Sandpoint Bulldogs had one chance to get back in the Inland Empire League race as they played host to the Bears at the Field of Dreams on Thursday.

Yet, for the first half, it looked as if the Bears were on track to repeat a dominant performance over the Bulldogs. Moscow broke the ice in the 23rd minute with a goal that snuck past Sandpoint keeper Izzy Stark and had the Bulldogs on their back foot throughout the first 40 minutes. 

Then, the switch flipped. 

Out of the halftime break, Sandpoint grabbed control of the game by applying immediate pressure. Breakout star Bayah Ratigan took advantage and broke free past the Bears’ backline and found the back of the net for the game-tying goal. 

“With Bayah, I don’t have to really get her going. She picks up the team with her play,” Sandpoint head coach Alan Brinkmeier said. “They played it back and didn’t see Bayah was running towards the keeper, and it’s that pressure we put on them that made them make that simple mistake.”  

The Bulldogs didn’t waste the newly found momentum, striking again just two minutes later. This time it was Aleeya Anaya, who scored from downtown Sandpoint, arching the ball over the outstretched hands of Moscow’s keeper for a game-winning goal. 

“That was a state team effort right there,” Brinkmeier said of his team’s effort. “They fought it out for 80 minutes. Players going out with injuries, players getting in different positions... I have nothing but admiration, and I’m impressed with every single one of them.” 

With 30 minutes left on the clock, the Bears shifted to an all-out pressure offense but were never able to consistently break through Sandpoint’s backline. Even then, the one time the Bears got a good look, Stark made a leaping save to secure Sandpoint’s 2-1 victory. 

With the victory, Sandpoint has control of their destiny in the Inland Empire League. Brinkmeier said if the team wins out the rest of its league games against Lewiston, Post Falls and Lakeland, then Sandpoint will host the district tournament. 

“We win out... then we host districts and we’re the number one seed,” Brinkmeier said. “That’s our goal now.” 

Sandpoint’s next game on Sept. 22 is an away league contest at Post Falls and another critical game for the Bulldogs. That game is set to start at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. 

Sandpoint 0 2 2 

Moscow 1 0 1 

BOYS 

Sandpoint 4, Moscow 0 

MOSCOW — The Sandpoint Bulldogs ended their most recent match with a draw due in large part to not finishing their quality scoring chances. 

That issue was nowhere to be found in Moscow on Thursday night, as the Bulldogs easily cleared the Moscow Bears 4-0 in an Inland Empire League contest. This game was all Sandpoint, as the Bulldogs outshot the Bears 20 to 2 on the night.  

“Landon didn’t have a whole lot to do today in goal,” Sandpoint head coach Dan Anderson said of his keeper Landon Brinkemeier. 

Dixon Reed started the party by finding the back of the net for the third game in a row in the 18th minute on a pass from Gus Penrose. Just five minutes later, Marlon Rohm did the same by scorching a shot from the top of the box past Moscow’s keeper. 

Sandpoint’s Ashton Porter capped off the first half scoring with an effort goal to make the game 3-0 in the 40th minute. 

In the second half, Anderson brought in his depth to give them valuable minutes in a league game. Late in the game, Wesley Drube rounded out the scoring with a goal in the 80th minute to seal the victory. 

“Very happy with the performance at the end of a long week for the boys and a lot of good things to take away from today's game,” Anderson said. “We look forward to continuing our momentum next week.” 

Sandpoint moves to 7-1-1 with the victory and remains undefeated, 4-0, in league play. Next up for the Bulldogs is another league contest as they host Post Falls on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. 

Moscow 0 0 0 

Sandpoint 3 1 4