U13 Striker girls win North Idaho League

Over Memorial Day Weekend, the Sandpoint Strikers U13 Girls took 5th place in the Idaho State Cup Tournament in Boise, improving their position by one place over last year's results.

In the first game, the Strikers lost to a very solid Le Bois United team 1-6. The players were not prepared for the high heat and excellent technical skills of the Boise premier squad. Kendall Stratton scored the lone goal after Jasmine Highly bounced one off the cross-bar.

The next morning, the temperature was cooler, but the Strikers played hotter, defeating the Extreme Sandcreek team from Idaho Falls, 9-0. Excellent saves by Keeper Bryce Clark, and defensive play by Kelsey Deshon, Jessica Hawkins, Ashlie Mcintire, Mikaila Bristow, Katie Brent, Veronica Aispuro, and Destiny Oyharsabal kept the opponents scoreless. Midfielders, Kristi Mire, Allyson Armstrong, Mackenzie Jones, Angela Hansen, and Jenna Faude fed beautiful passes to the forwards. Goals were scored by Kendall, Jasmine, Ashlie, C.J. Semones, and a hat trick was had by Courtney Windju.

On the final day of competition, in the game which decided the 5th and 6th place positions, the Strikers faced the Coeur d'Alene Sting. The Sting scored midway in the first half. Although Sandpoint dominated the game in terms of shots on goal, they were not able to equalize the score until late in the game. Nichole Pagano kicked a beautiful looping shot into the wind over the keepers outstretched hands, taking the game into overtime. In the first half of overtime, Nichole scored the winning goal with a terrific breakaway effort. Moments later Kendall cemented the win with a perfect free shot score.

The Strikers started the season slowly but ended the season with excellent soccer. They won the North Idaho League, were 3rd in the Hot Shot Tournament, and very respectable 5th in the Idaho State Cup. They were 12-5-3 against U13 girls teams for the season.