Bulldogs claim 3-1 win in playoff game
SANDPOINT - Normally the pressure of a loser-out game can cause teams to play a little tight, but that wasn't the case Tuesday afternoon in Sandpoint's 3-1 win over Post Falls in the opening round of the 5A Region 1 girls soccer playoffs at War Memorial Field.
The game featured an action-packed opening 10 minutes, with both teams attacking the goal. No. 4 Post Falls (5-12-1) drew first blood when junior Kara Siers collected a through ball from Tareyn White and beat the Sandpoint defenders, sliding in a shot past Sandpoint goalie Kelsey Windju to give her team a 1-0 lead just over three minutes into the game.
No. 1 Sandpoint (12-3-4) had a quick answer four minutes later when Brittany Oakley blasted a laser from about 25 yards out, which Trojan goalie Hannah Slinkard knocked down in front of Bailey Hewitt, who was in the perfect spot for the point blank equalizer.
"We had a couple really good chances in the first few minutes but their keeper made a couple good saves," said Sandpoint coach Adam Tajan, admitting the loser-out nature of the game can be stressful. "You're pulling your hair out when you can't make your chances then they make theirs. You have to be patient and know that as the game wears on you'll get your chances."
The game remained tied 1-1 until the 50th minute, when defender Alicia Mertz got her head on a soft, looping corner kick from Annie Vogel to put the Bulldogs ahead. Hewitt would add a left footed blast from 10 feet out, her 17th goal of the season, to finish off the scoring in the 64th minute.
Tajan had high praise for the back four play of Mertz, Vogel, Sandy Wahlen and Liz Stone, who were largely responsible for holding the Trojans to only three shots on goal.
Slinkard had a stellar game in goal for the Trojans, stopping 17 shots, many in diving fashion, to keep the game close. Post Falls coach Rob Rowe felt his team let Sandpoint dictate too much of the game, but was happy with the season and how his team continued to grow.
"I told the girls to hold their heads high, there's a lot of positives to be taken from this year. The program can't be taken lightly anymore," he explained, adding that his team had a little trouble marking against the Bulldogs at times. "When you have a team that can finish like they do, you have no margin for error."
Sandpoint will host Coeur d'Alene for the automatic state berth on Thursday, at 3:30 p.m. at Centennial Field. Both regular season meetings ended in a 1-1 tie, and Tajan expects another close game.
"They play very direct; send a lot of long balls at you," he said of the Vikings. "It's going to be a battle."
First half - 1, PF, Kara Siers (Tareyn White), 3:15. 2, Spt, Bailey Hewitt (Brittany Oakley), 7:30. Second half - 3, Spt, Alicia Mertz (Annie Vogel), 50:00. 4, Spt, Hewitt (Brittany Clawson), 64:00.
Shots on goal - PF 3, Spt 21.
Saves - PF, Hannah Slinkard 17; Spt, Kelsey Windju 2.