Crossingham, Anderson scrimmage against Spokane Spiders

SANDPOINT — It’s not every day that high school sophomores get to play a semi-pro sport, but Sandpoint soccer standouts Daniel Anderson and Adam Crossingham are getting such an opportunity, cutting their teeth against college soccer players as members of the Spokane Spiders.

The Spiders are part of the Premier Development League, which is the lowest level pro league in the U.S., behind the United Soccer Leagues and Major League Soccer. There are 67 PDL teams in the U.S., and most of the them are comprised of current college players looking to advance up the pro chain.

Anderson and Crossingham, both sophomores at SHS, are the only two high school players on the Spiders, as mandated by league rules. They travel to Spokane twice a week to practice, and all of their home games are at Spokane Falls Community College.

“It’s crazy the speed of play compared to what we’re used to,” says Anderson, who along with Crossingham start for the Bulldogs’ soccer team as well as U17 Strikers. “The level of play is amazing. Even if we’re not playing a ton in games, practice makes us better.”

The two are young for the 20 member team on which the average age is about 22 years-old and includes players in their 30s. They made the cut after 45 people tried out, and each have scored one goal so far this season, which will last until mid-summer. Last season two of the Spiders were drafted onto MLS squads.

Crossingham says it’s just another step to get to the next level. He and Anderson both expressed ambitions to play Division 1 college soccer, and maybe even beyond.

“It prepares them to play at a D-1 school because they’re already playing with these guys,” says Paul Crossingham, himself a former soccer standout and the patriarch of an avid soccer playing family. “It’s a good leap into the college atmosphere.”