Stellar class of players honored on Senior Night

SANDPOINT — A huge Sandpoint senior class celebrated Senior Night in style with a 3-0 blanking of Lakeland on Thursday night in 4A Inland Empire League soccer under the lights of War Memorial Field.

Jeremiah Gagnon broke a scoreless tie by bending a free kick into the upper right hand corner past a diving Cade Coffey in the 35th minute, notching his team-high 10th goal of the season.

Freshman Amos Crossingham scored his fourth goal of the season a few minutes later and Nick Rappaport added an insurance goal late in the game for the Bulldogs (9-2-1, 3-0 4A IEL), who clinched home field advantage in the district tournament.

Jake Rookey, Ash Dills, Treavor Franck, Gagnon, Aaron Crossingham, Nathan Schwartz, Christian Cook, Brycen Okon, Matthew Burgstahler, Joab Logan, Zach Couch and Zach Carothers were honored before the game, and received high praise as a group from their coach.

“It’s a tremendous group, I’m lucky to get to work with them. You only have a group like that come along so often,” said Bulldogs head coach Adam Tajan of his dozen seniors. “We could easily start 11 seniors on a night like this and not miss a beat. It was a game for the seniors and nice to see the guys play well for family and fans.”

Defenders Aaron Crossingham, Schwartz, Couch and Cook teamed with goalie Jake Rookey to shut down the Hawks (3-10-1, 0-3 4A IEL), posting the seventh shutout of the season. The Bulldogs are unbeaten in their past nine games, allowing just two goals during the streak.

Sandpoint hosts Lewiston on Saturday.

First half — 1, Spt, Jeremiah Gagnon, free kick, 35:00. 2, Spt, Amos Crossingham (Joab Logan), 39:00. Second half — 3, Spt, Nick Rappaport (Amos Crossingham), 71:00.

Shots on goal — LL 4, Spt 14.

Saves — LL, Cade Coffey, 8; Spt, Jake Rookey, 1.