Bulldogs land seven on 4A All-Inland Empire League girls soccer team
SANDPOINT — You don’t get to the state title game without talent, and that talent was recognized recently when the Bulldog girls soccer team had seven members named to the 4A All-Inland Empire League soccer team, as voted on by the league’s coaches.
Head coach Conor Baranski was named Coach of the Year, which he claims is a team honor.
“Our rivalry with Lakeland and Moscow is pretty fierce,” said Baranski. “So being recognized for our team’s achievements always feels good.”
Sophomore Riley Walkington, who scored a team-high 11 goals and sparked the offense in the biggest games, was named MVP of the league. One of the top players in the state, she’ll be a handful for defenses the next two years.
“The Lakeland coach felt Riley was unstoppable in the district championship, and that she put the team on her back and won the game for us. He’s absolutely right, Riley’s performance in that game was monumental. Riley was instrumental for us all season,” praised Baranski of his talented target forward. “She’s oftentimes the creative force of our attack, she comes ready to work hard and learn every single day of the season, and her excitement to win and be competitive is infectious throughout the team. For her to win this MVP award as a sophomore is incredibly impressive, and very well deserved.”
Equally deserving was the Defensive Player of the Year Award for senior Taylor Ward, a three year starter who anchored a young defensive back line with strong play from the first game to the last.
“Taylor was undoubtedly the leader of our young and talented defense. It was incredible to watch as she simply decided that she was going to win every tackle, every 50/50 ball, and organize everyone within her back line,” described Baranski. “Taylor is blessed with incredible athleticism, but last year and this year, she really put together that athleticism with intelligence and leadership. Whoever takes her spot has some incredibly big shoes to fill.”
Junior Casey Shaha earned a spot on the team by netting six goals and dishing out five dimes, using her length to intercept a lot of balls and disrupt things in the midfield.
“Casey was absolutely on fire at the beginning of the year. I think she would agree that she lost some confidence in front of the goal towards the end of the season, which happens to almost every forward in the game, but she stayed hungry, and continued to improve her movement as a forward,” said Baranski. “That specific improvement that she worked so hard on at the end is going to be essential to her personal success as well as our team’s success next year.”
There might not have been a more valuable Bulldog at the end of the season than sophomore Jezza Hutto, who showed the ability to finish with four goals, distribute with five assists and when needed, bring a great skillset to the defense. The versatility made her spot on the team a no-brainer.
“This season, I needed two Jezzas, because Jezza is arguably our best 1v1 defender. She’s mean, aggressive, athletic, and really intelligent with her defending. But I need two because she is, on any given day, our most dangerous attacker as well,” praised Baranski. “She is a crafty dribbler, she’s fast and she’s got a rocket for a right foot. So with that, I oftentimes started Jezza as a defender to feel the game out, then if I felt like I could move her forward, we’d get her into the attack.”
Sophomore Yeo Yarnell had a breakout season to earn her spot on the team, finishing with four goals and two assists while playing all over the field.
“Yeo was confident, calm, intelligent and integral to our team’s success. Yeo played mostly as a center mid, and she was so dynamic on attack and defense. Eventually, I decided I needed her in the back line, and of course she excelled there as well,” claimed Baranski. “Yeo shut down some of the most difficult players we played against towards the end of the season, and she culminated her season by tackling Bishop Kelly’s best player, and then pinging a 25-30 yard shot into the upper corner in the state final.”
Junior Hadley Marshall earned all-league for her ability to impact the game in the midfield, dishing out two assists and helping control possession.
“Her greatest strength is cutting down passing lanes in the center of the field. Like Riley, Hadley simply made up her mind that we were going to win the district championship. She was everywhere on defense and attack, and I think her energy on defense kept us the lead towards the end of the game,” said Baranski. “She’s consistent, she’s creative, and she’s dynamic and active, which are all the things I want in my center mids.”
n 2016 GIRLS 4A ALL-IEL SOCCER TEAM
MVP — Riley Walkington, so., Sandpoint
Newcomer of the Year — Darby McDevitt, fr., Lakeland
Coach of the Year — Conor Baranski, Sandpoint
Offensive Player of the Year — Harley Hendry, sr., Lakeland
Defensive Player of the Year — Taylor Ward, sr., Sandpoint
Goalkeeper of the Year — Morgan Bixenstein, sr., Lakeland
SANDPOINT — Yeo Yarnell, so., Jezza Hutto, so., Hadley Marshall, jr., Casey Shaha, jr. LAKELAND — Sofi Schnepf, jr., Kenna Frantzich, sr., Thea Marshall, sr. MOSCOW — Hannah Broyles, so.