SHS soccer teams add 12 to All-IEL teams
The Sandpoint boys soccer team represented with seven members earning All-Inland Empire League as voted on by the coaches. The girls team landed five players on the All-IEL team giving the Bulldogs a strong presence on the teams.
Sophomore Daniel Anderson was named Offensive MVP, after leading the Bulldogs with 12 goals and seven assists on the season. Senior Alex Crossingham (5G, 5A), junior Tanner French (4G, 2A) and senior Gunnar Paulsen were voted to the first team, while junior Spencer Swerin (4G, 1A), sophomore Adam Crossingham (4G, 2A) and junior Ben Murray (6G, 4A) were each voted to the second team.
Sophomore Bailey Hewitt won Newcomer of the Year honors for the girls, after a monster first year with Sandpoint in which led the Bulldogs with 17 goals and also tallied eight assists. Juniors Brittany Oakley (14G, 14A) and Liz Stone were each named to the first team. Sophomore Alicia Mertz and junior Brittany Clawson (6G, 11A) garnered second team honors.
Boys coach Randy Thoreson and girls coach Adam Tajan offered up their opinions on what landed the aforementioned Bulldogs on the All-League team.
Thoreson on Anderson: "Daniel pretty much scored on every team in the league. An offensive threat that every coach needed to worry about. Huge award for a sophomore, he deserves it."
Thoreson on Alex Crossingham: "If there would have been an MVP award, all of the coaches agreed that Alex would have won it. So many huge games; a lot of game winning/game tying goals."
Thoreson on French: "Type of player other coaches notice. Athletic and fantastic in the air, both on offense and defense."
Thoreson on Paulsen: "Great one-v-one player, extremely fast. We would always man-mark any forward that we thought was a threat for us and he would shut them down."
Thoreson on Swerin: "He could just as well have been on the first team, but we already had four players. Smart player in the middle, controls the middle and tremendous in the air."
Thoreson on Adam Crossingham: "Best potential as athlete and all-around player as we've had. He's got that Farber-type of quickness. Could become one of the best players in the state."
Farber on Murray: "Kind of the sleeper. What coaches like about Ben was his work rate. He likes to find his foot on the ball wherever he's at."
Tajan on Hewitt: "She was probably the biggest standout in the league. Technically sound, super strong on ball and hard to push around. Lots of power on her shot, she can lace it from beyond 18."
Tajan on Oakley: "Excellent in the air, she had two or three goals this year that were something else. Very physical, with good vision to see players and hit them where they need to be."
Tajan on Stone: "Real tenacious and a great organizer. Great in the air and wins everything defensively. Real physical; at the end of the game you remember that long hair."
Tajan on Mertz: "Came in from Texas and was probably our most consistent player. Very vocal, technically and tactically the soundest on the roster."
Tajan on Clawson: "Your classic center-mid, lots of assists. Great job of playing quick soccer, finding through balls when people were on. Distribution is her strength."
ALL-INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
BOYS SOCCER
OFFENSIVE MVP — Daniel Anderson, so., F, Sandpoint.
DEFENSIVE MVP — Jalon Eborall, sr., D, Coeur d'Alene.
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR — Cody Arrasmith, sr., Lewiston.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Mac Stannard, so., MF, Moscow; and Forrest Walker, so., F, Coeur d'Alene.
COACH OF THE YEAR — Jared Vreeland, Moscow.
FIRST TEAM — Andy Perez, sr., F, Lewiston; Robby Astin, jr., MF, Coeur d'Alene; Marc Hilbert, sr., GK, Coeur d'Alene; Alex Crossingham, sr., D, Sandpoint; Evan Palo, sr., F, Lake City; Jon Latorre, sr., D, Coeur d'Alene; Tanner French, jr., MF, Sandpoint; Dom Trevisan, sr., MF, Moscow; Gunnar Paulsen, sr., D, Sandpoint; Cameron Vandall, sr., MF, Coeur d'Alene; Griffen Hoerner, jr., MF, Post Falls.
SECOND TEAM — Sam Frank, sr., MF, Lakeland; Spencer Swerin, jr., MF, Sandpoint; Adam Crossingham, so., F, Sandpoint; Nick Lenihan, jr., D, Lake City; Jason Vetsch, sr., D, Coeur d'Alene; Jordan Eborall, so., F, Coeur d'Alene; Matt Martin, sr., MF, Moscow; Alec Stannard, sr., D, Moscow; Tyler Powers, jr., D, Lake City; Rob Blakey, sr., D, Lewiston; Ben Murray, jr., MF, Sandpoint; Jon Schmehl, sr., MF, Coeur d'Alene.
ALL-INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
GIRLS SOCCER
MVP — Ciara Kremer, sr., F, Lake City.
OFFENSIVE MVP — Sadie Simon, jr., F, Coeur d'Alene.
DEFENSIVE MVP — Amanda Wemple, sr., GK, Coeur d'Alene.
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR — Shannon Fraser, jr., Lake City.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Bailey Hewitt, jr., F, Sandpoint.
COACH OF THE YEAR — Matt Ruchti, Lake City.
FIRST TEAM — Brittany Oakley, jr., MF, Sandpoint; Liz Stone, jr., F, Sandpoint; Janie Perez, sr., F/D, Lewiston; Aly Houghton, sr., F/D, Lake City; Kerry Moller, so., F, Moscow; Kaylee Nowoj, sr., F, Coeur d'Alene; Emma Hawn, sr., MF, Lake City; Meghan Roletto, so, MF/D, Coeur d'Alene; Charlie Evans, jr., D/MF, Post Falls; Sarah Redinger, sr., MF, Moscow; Marissa Poorboy, sr., MF, Coeur d'Alene.
SECOND TEAM — Alisha Mertz, so., D, Sandpoint; Nicole Madeiros, so., D, Lake City; Hayley Smith, so., F, Coeur d'Alene; Jaymian Stuermer, sr., MF, Lakeland; Shandra Naegle, sr., D/MF, Coeur d'Alene; Brittney Clawson, jr., MF, Sandpoint; Bailey Thompson, so., D, Lakeland; Marlee Elmer, so., MF, Lake City; Ember Gillespie, sr., D/F, Lewiston; Tareyn White, fr., D/MF, Post Falls; Kenna Gardes, sr., D, Moscow.