Red-hot Williams leads Sandpoint over Stillwater Christian

KALISPELL, Mont. — Senior striker Tanner Williams continued his torrid early-season scoring spree, finding the back of the net four times in Sandpoint’s 6-0 blanking of Stillwater Christian in nonleague boys soccer action Friday night in Montana.

Williams has now scored a whopping nine goals in the first three games of the season, averaging a hat trick per game and leading a red-hot Bulldogs offense averaging more than six goals a game to start the season.

“He’s been a handful for just about everybody,” said Sandpoint head coach Adam Tajan of the explosive Williams. “We moved the ball well today, and I like that we’re executing on some of our set pieces.”

Last year on this same road trip the Bulldogs (2-0-1) got trounced 6-1, a defeat still fresh on the minds of some of the players from last season. The game was never in doubt as the Bulldogs once again started fast and never slowed down, much like an 11-1 dispatching of Lewiston on Wednesday.

“It was a bit of a revenge trip,” said Tajan. “The boys got off the bus on a second big road trip and got after it.”

Shane Stanley added his fifth goal of the season and Lane Smith his second, while keepers Kanyen Bauer and Austin Keyes combined to notch the Bulldogs first shutout of the season.

Sandpoint will face Whitefish High School today at 10 a.m.

First half — 1, Spt, Tanner Williams (Matthew Burgstahler), 3:00. 2, Spt, Williams (Lane Smith), 20:00.

Second half — 3, Spt, Shane Stanley (Williams), 44:00. 4, Williams (Stanley), 49:00. 5, Spt, Williams (unassisted), 53:00. 6, Spt, Smith (Gerhart Suppiger), 74:00.

Shots on goal — Spt 12, SC 3.

Saves — Spt, Kanyen Bauer 2, Austin Keyes 1.