Bulldog and Viking girls play to 1-1 tie

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint junior Caroline Suppiger celebrated her birthday with what looked to be a potential game-winning goal, but Coeur d’Alene’s Meg Lowery had different ideas, as the Bulldogs and Vikings played to a 1-1 tie on Thursday night in nonleague girls soccer under the lights at War Memorial Field.

Suppiger broke a scoreless tie in the 65th minute, taking the ball at the top of the box, burning a defender with nice move, and slotting the ball past the keeper to give the Bulldogs (0-2-1) a 1-0 lead.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Lowery blasted a high-arcing shot with her left foot from about 40 yards out that sailed over the keeper’s head, giving the Vikings (1-0-1) the equalizer in the 70th minute.

“I was really proud of the way we fought back,” said Vikings coach Andy Vredenburg. “In the first half we weren’t connecting well, but in the second half the girls came out strong.”

Paige DuMars stopped eight shots for the Bulldogs, including a couple strong chances by the Vikings in the first half. Despite the tie, Bulldogs head coach Conor Baranski called the performance the strongest of the season to date. He praised the play of Madi Schoening, Taylor Ward, Olivia Moore and Heidi Skinner on defense.

“We were much more organized defensively, huge kudos to our back four,” said Baranski. “We still have a lot of work to do, but that was promising.”

Sandpoint is at Mead on Tuesday.

First half — None. Second half — 1, Spt, Caroline Suppiger (Nan Kiebert), 65:00. 2, Cd’A, Meg Lowery (Bekah Brendis), 70:00.

Shots on goal — Spt 12, Cd’A 11.

Saves — Spt, Paige DuMars, 8; Cd’A, Julia Roach, 4, Sammi Lane, 4.

n Viking boys blank Bulldogs

COEUR d’ALENE — Devin Kohles scored twice and the host Vikings did all their scoring in the first 37 minutes en route to shutting out the visiting Bulldogs 3-0, for the second win in 10 days.

“We were competing hard, and the hard work paid off,” Coeur d’Alene coach Jeff Lake said. “It was all possession, and playing fast and quick, creating opportunities.”

Kyle Hertel and Mitch Rust split time in goal for Sandpoint (1-4), which managed just two shots on goal. The Bulldogs will get a little break in the schedule before hosting Bonners Ferry on Sept. 13.

First half — 1, Cd’A, Devin Kohles (Gunnar Skindlov), 9:00. 2, Cd’A, Kohles (Konar Skindlov), 31:00. 3, Cd’A, G. Skindlov (Daniel Challinor), 37:00. Second half — none.

Shots on goal — Spt 2, Cd’A 12.

Saves — Spt, Kyle Hertel 5, Mitch Rust 4; Cd’A, Garrett Boyce 2.