Sandpoint tops Viks 2-0

COEUR d'ALENE — The Coeur d'Alene Vikings outpassed, outshot, outmuscled and outplayed the Sandpoint Bulldogs in Inland Empire League boys soccer on Tuesday afternoon.

There was one thing, however, the Viks didn't do: Outscore them.

Senior Brandon Eddy took a cross and found the net less than a minute after kickoff, then set up a goal with a cross of his own late in the match as the Bulldogs clinched the IEL title with a 2-0 win over the defending league champs before about 100 spectators at Coeur d'Alene High.

The Vikings (6-3-2 IEL, 7-4-4) have just one win in their past five league matches, opening the door for Lake City to claim the top spot for the 5A Region I tournament, which starts Monday. The Timberwolves (7-3-1, 9-4-2) — 4-0 winners over Lakeland on Tuesday — have won five IEL matches in a row and can claim the top seed with a victory at Post Falls on Thursday.

"We've had several opportunities in the last 10 days to clinch the No. 1 seed and haven't," Coeur d'Alene coach Eric Louis said. "That's frustratingat's frustrating, for sure.

"But the boys played real solid today, and that's what I needed to see."

If LC loses at Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene can clinch the top seed with a win at Moscow on Saturday. If LC and Post Falls tie and Coeur d'Alene wins, the Viks and T-Wolves would finish with identical records and the top seed would be determined by the league's tiebreaking system.

Sandpoint coach Randy Thoreson said his team — which will be the top seed in the 4A Region 1 tournament starting Tuesday — will need to play better if it hopes to have success in the coming weeks.

"We didn't play very well today," Thoreson said. "We got outhustled … I feel fortunate that we got a win."

Coeur d'Alene's best chance for a goal came early in the second half — about 12 minutes in. Junior Justin Honsaker ran down a ball in the box, fought off a Sandpoint defender, and ended up staring at Sandpoint keeper Seth Baker inside 10 yards. Baker broke hard to close the gap and got in front of Honsaker just in time to keep the Viking forward from getting off a quality shot.

"I think we outplayed them," Honsaker said. "We just needed to finish."

The game was physical, and few whistles were blown, especially in the first half. The physical style seemed to suit the Viks, who relied on a short, one-touch approach to try and get a rush up the middle.

"It's the best game we've played in a few outings," Louis said. "We did all the things we came out here to do except score goals."

Thoreson said the Bulldogs were motivated by the opportunity to clinch the IEL.

"I don't think it's an expectation (to win league). It's a goal," Thoreson said. "You want to win league, you want to win districts, and then you want to win state. This is the first feather in our cap."

First half — 1, Spt, Brandon Eddy (Luke Schramm) 1:00. Second half — 2, Spt, Spencer Swerin (Eddy) 75:30.

Shots on goal — Spt 7, Cd'A 12.

Saves — Spt, Seth Baker 8. Cd'A, Tyler Olmsted 5.