Bulldogs off to state after winning thriller

SANDPOINT — For good old-fashioned high drama, it was tough to beat the last few minutes of the 4A Region 1 girls soccer championship Wednesday afternoon at a damp Great Norther Park.

   When Sandpoint goalie Bryce Clark made a diving stop on a Moscow penalty kick in the second shoot-out, she managed to do what 80 minutes of regulation, two 10 minute overtimes and a previous round of shoot-out kicks could not put an end to Sandpoint’s thrilling 2-1 win.

   The entire Sandpoint (11-4-2) team, which had been standing at midfield watching eight different girls fire point-blank penalty kicks at its goalie, sprinted towards Clark in celebration after the decisive save.

   “All I thought about was winning it for the seniors,” said Clark of what she was thinking about in the shoot-out, where she blocked two of Moscow’s eight attempts.

   Freshman Meghan Pagano scored her teamleading seventh goal of the season off a slick assist from Sydney Morris, giving the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead. Seniors Alicia Mertz and Jessica Dexter were both instrumental in shutting down many of Moscow’s attacks, before the Bears finally got the equalizer when Sara Blum punched in a corner kick that rolled free in front of the net in the 63rd minute.

   Tied 1-1 at the end of regulation the teams played two 10 minute overtimes. Sandpoint dominated play, with Meghan Pagano generating numerous quality shots, one of which hit the post and one which sailed just high. Elle Engel also had a point blank look at goal, sliding in ahead of the goalie before punching the ball just over the crossbar.

   “I would have liked to get it (a win) with a few less gray hairs,” joked Bulldogs coach Adam Tajan after the game. “We let them (Moscow) hang around and they hustled hard. We couldn’t find the back of the net in overtime.”

   With daylight quickly fading, an entire season to this point came down to penalty kicks. Mertz and Nichole Pagano made the first two kicks, before Moscow goalie Hayley Couture guessed right and blocked Melinda Van Dyk’s third attempt. Elli Kiselica and Maddie Suppiger made the next two, ending the first shootout with each team making four of five attempts.

   Savannah Engel, Meghan Pagano and Dexter made the first three Bulldog attempts of the sudden-death shootout, before Clark’s save on Moscow’s eighth attempt sealed the victory. Mertz, a senior captain and imposing physical presence around the ball, said she knew her team would pull through.

   “Never in doubt; I knew we’d come out with the ‘w’,” she said after the game, liking her team’s chances at state. “If we put it together, we’ll come home with a banner for the gym.”

   Sandpoint will open the 4A state playoffs on Thursday in Caldwell.

   First half — 1, Spt, Meghan Pagano (Sydney Morris), 8:00. Second half — 2, Mos, Sara Blum (unassisted), 63:00.

   Shots on goal — Mos 4, Spt 7.

   Saves — Mos, Hayley Couture 6; Spt, Bryce Clark 4.