Sandpoint players huge in State Cup championship

BOISE — Led by the standout play of six Sandpoint soccer players, the Coeur d’Alene Sting U18 boys team finished off a great State Cup with a 4-3 win in the championship, qualifying for the Regional Tournament in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is scheduled for later this month.

The Sting opened the tournament with a 2-2 tie against Pocatello Valley Soccer Club. Sandpoint’s Tanner Williams scored the first goal on an assist from David Sanchez. Sandpoint’s Daniel Anderson scored next to take a 2-0 lead into the half. Pocatello recovered in the second half scoring twice to bring the match even.

The Sting then played the Boise Capitals tough, but lost 1-0 on an early goal.  There was a great defensive effort by Grant Stimmel, Jordan Eborall, Chris Wheelock, Drew Morgan and Sandpoint’s Jansen Rinck, which kept the Capitals from scoring again.

The third game was against FC Athletico from Idaho Falls in a game that was to decide who would go to the finals. Sanchez scored early on an assist from Williams, but Idaho Falls equaled the score just before half. In the second half, Anderson scored on an assist from Williams, and then Williams added an unassisted goal to finish the match at 3-1.

In the final match Sandpoint’s Zac Linscott scored two early goals, both on assists from Williams to take a 2-0 lead into the half. The Boise Capitals scored to make it 2-1, but that was countered by an Anderson goal off an assist from Sanchez to make it 3-1. The Capitals did not give up, however, coming back to score two goals to tie the match. With about two minutes left in the match, Wheelock kicked a clearing ball out of the back long and deep. The Capitals goalkeeper misjudged the bounce and it carried over his head and into the net for a State Cup winning goal from about 70 yards out.