Stone hat trick leads Bulldogs
LEWISTON — Senior Becca Stone did what she does best, scoring a hat trick as the Bulldogs opened their season with a dominating 5-1 performance on the road against Lewiston.
Sophomore Brittany Clawson scored the other two goals, both on blasts from about 15 yards out, and added an assist as the Bulldogs (1-0) blew the game open in the second half.
"It was a good start to our season," said head coach Adam Tajan. "We came out timid in the first half. Once we got a couple of goals under our belt we got rolling; found our comfort zone."
Lewiston struck first, taking a 1-0 lead at the 10 minute mark. Stone crushed a ball from 18 yards out to tie the game and the half ended 1-1.
Clawson scored back to back goals three minutes apart to start the second half, and then Stone added two more as the Bulldogs exploded for four goals in a twelve minute span to put the game away.
The Bulldogs host the defending league champion Lakeland Hawks on Tuesday.
? Lewiston 5, Sandpoint 1
SANDPOINT — A rough start to the 2006 season continued as Sandpoint was beaten 5-1 by Lewiston Friday afternoon at Travers Park.
An already young team keeps getting younger with injuries to RJ Dixon against Coeur d' Alene, Drake Hanson against Bonners Ferry and finally Forrest Andrews against Lewiston. The injuries and inexperience have yielded results that head coach Randy Thoreson is not accustomed to.
"We've allowed more goals and losses in the first three games than we've had in entire years," he said. "It's a real learning curve, we need to have the patience to fight through."
As always, the hustle that is a Sandpoint trademark is there, but lack of experience and injuries are proving tough to overcome.
Sandpoint (0-2-1) struck first when Alex Crossingham converted an assist from Kyle Meaux five minutes into the game. From there it was all Lewiston (2-0), as they proceeded to score five unanswered goals as injuries and disciplinary problems forced the Bulldogs to go with virtually no experience in their back four.
"We've been trying to catch up to Sandpoint for a long time," said Lewiston coach Jeff Maucione. "It feels pretty good. Sandpoint is always a strong team, the kids have been pointing to this game."
The one silver lining for Sandpoint has been the exciting play of some sophomores and freshman, which should pay dividends down the line when they return to full strength.
Sandpoint hosts Lakeland on Tuesday.
? Bonners Ferry 2, Sandpoint 1
Inexperience, missed opportunities and injuries, combined with a game effort from a smaller school, resulted in a 2-1 victory for Bonners Ferry over Sandpoint Thursday at Travers Field.
The win was the first ever for the Badgers (1-0) over Sandpoint (0-1-1) as far back as either coach could remember. Despite controlling most of the possession and outshooting the Badgers a gaudy 30-3, a couple of late scoring strikes were the difference.
"Sandpoint's ball control and hustle always amazes me," said happy Badgers' coach Wayne Wilkerson. "We had a few opportunities to capitalize, and that was the difference."
Jesus Mendez was the star of the game for Bonners. After a solid first half in goal, where he made 10 saves, he played forward in the second half, scoring the unassisted equalizer and assisting on Andrew Galloway's winning goal.
For Sandpoint, the loss of defensive stalwart Drake Hanson to a sprained ankle — the Bulldogs were also playing without striker RJ Dixon, also out with an injury sustained in their physical opener the night before against Coeur d' Alene — proved to be the deciding factor. The Badgers scored both goals on defensive breakdowns immediately after he left the game.
"We lost the brains in the back; the communicator," said Bulldogs' coach Randy Thoreson of Hanson. "It was not good, he heard a pop and it was fat immediately. We don't have the depth to lose those two guys. Now it's more inexperience on top of inexperience."
The game was looking good for Sandpoint, who got an unassisted goal from sophomore Tanner French late in the first half. It looked like it was over but the injury to Hanson changed everything.
"We need more patience," said Thoreson, "We had no composure while shooting."