Girls rally to upend Coeur d'Alene

COEUR d'ALENE — The Bulldogs stifled Coeur d'Alene's momentum and shook off some first-half doldrums to beat the Vikings 4-2 in girls soccer on Tuesday.

The Vikings scored first at the 9-minute mark, but Sandpoint answered on its next possession with a goal by senior forward Angie Menghini, cooling Coeur d'Alene's drive.

"You're always vulnerable after that first goal," said Sandpoint Coach Adam Tajan.

Tajan said Sandpoint seemed sluggish out of the chute, but found its energy in the second half.

"It took us a while to get our legs under us and focussed," Tajan said, adding that Sandpoint did a better job at converted on scoring opportunities, dialed in its passing and connected with the ball more cleanly.

Senior midfielder Kylie France transformed a penalty kick into Sandpoint's second goal after Katie Adams, a sophomore forward, was taken down inside the crease. France then found the near post off a crossing pass from Adams, giving the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead.

France finished the game with two goals and an assist.

"She played a heck of a game," said Tajan.

Allison Gillis, a senior forward, added another goal after punching the ball through the grasp of the Vikings' goalie on a breakaway.

Sandpoint tallied 13 shots on goal to Coeur d'Alene's six. Sandpoint goalies Sara Krabacher and Tori Allmaras collected four and three saves, respectively.

The Bulldogs (9-0-2 league, 12-2-3 overall) travel to Lewiston on Thursday, which marks the end of their regular season. Sandpoint shut out the Bengals 8-0 in their last contest.

The boys soccer team, which hosted the Vikings, lost to Coeur d'Alene 1-0 on Tuesday, despite peppering the Vikings' net with eight shots. Coeur d'Alene had one shot on goal, which proved to be the game-winner.

"It was one of those games where you do everything right but you can't get anything in," said Sandpoint Coach Randy Thoreson. "We out-played 'em most of the game."

The boys team hosts Lewiston at Memorial Field on Thursday at 4 p.m.