New look Bulldogs forging own identity in 2018

New players, same old goals for Bulldogs

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

SANDPOINT — Every coach loves a strong senior class, as it’s often associated with the overall health and well being of the program, a sign that athletes enjoy the journey enough to see it all the way through.

But strong senior-laden teams often leave a lot of question marks for the next year, and such is the case for the 2018 Sandpoint boys soccer team, which graduated 10 senior starters last year.

Luckily for second year head coach Evan McNeley, the soccer talent pool in Sandpoint is rich and abundant, and the new batch of Bulldogs only needs a chance to prove they also have what it takes to make another run at a state title after a stellar 13-3-2 record and strong state showing last year.

McNeley, fresh off another pro season as a defender for the Major Arena Soccer League’s Tacoma Stars, is excited to see what he has when the Bulldogs take the pitch.

“Whole new team this year, with a lot of youth. The spots are still available. The guys know this could be my shot,” says McNeley, who went 3-0-1 in league play in his first season. “It’s challenging, creating a good atmosphere to start. We’ve got to find our identity. That’s what I’m most excited about. Who we want to be, how we want to play?”

A stingy back line in soccer is always a great equalizer, and a pair of returning seniors will anchor the defense in goalie Julian Reichold and defender Dylan Baillie.

Reichold is quick and athletic, with high level instincts between the pipes that earned him all-league honors. He posted a whopping 11 shutouts last season, which ended with a tough 1-0 shootout loss to Caldwell in the state semis. He’ll get tested against another heavy 5A schedule, and figures to keep his team in games.

“Fantastic shot stopper. He saved five of six PKs last year,” described McNeley of his keeper. “He has a cannon of a foot, which will help us look to counter attack very well. We’ll play more of a counter attacking style than in years past.”

As one of the senior leaders, Reichold will be entrusted with steadying what figures to be a bouncy ride early.

“Merging this young team together, not worry about winning so much. The main focus is everyone coming together,” says the keeper, who likes how his team bats the ball around. “We can really move the ball side to side, we’re good at keeping it.”

Baillie will lead a new defensive backfield that includes juniors Teagun Edmundson and Ryan Giese, as well as sophomore Zander Moore, who tallied three goals last year. Playing a classic 4-4-2 offense, the team will have a steep learning curve as new players feel each other out and learn to play to their strengths.

Having a player like Baillie to anchor things is huge, as his aggressive and high-flying play helps set the tone. He finished with four goals and two assists from his defender position, and at 6-4 is extremely dangerous on set pieces.

“Dylan is a fantastic defender. He understands responsibilities in back. He never met a challenge he didn’t like, he wins 99 percent of the challenges,” claims McNeley. “His size in the air is paramount for our success. He’s coming into his own in a leadership role.”

Senior midfielder Cole Baillie will join senior Curtis Hauck and sophomore Chris Koch in helping win 50/50 balls and controlling possession in the center of the field. Cole finished with two goals last season, and is another 6-foot-4 athlete able to cause havoc on corner kicks and free kicks.

“Cole is slick on the ball, a great central mid,” says McNeley. “Zander and Chris have shown a lot of growth and soccer wisdom between the two of them.”

With new starting spots on varsity available, that also means a lot of goals are out there for the taking. One player who will look to fill the scoring void is senior forward Tyler Moore, a dangerous player in the open field who plays with great pace. He finished last year with three goals and two assists, and will look to up those numbers.

“Tyler is going to be a force,” predicts McNeley. “I like his bite, he plays with a lot of passion and energy, always working off the ball.”

He’ll be flanked in the attack by junior Garrett Chandler, while junior Sims Mcdonald could also be in the attacking mix.

“I’m looking forward to who’s going to put the ball in the back of the net. It will come down to composure in goal, who will take those opportunities,” says McNeley. “I’m looking for a leader to emerge. We may be a little soft spoken, but still have a lot of energy and bite. It should be a fun year.”

The Bulldogs went a rock-solid 7-1-1 against 5A competition last year, but a state-championship caliber team had trouble navigating an ever-tougher bracket.

Regardless, the program is still one of the best in the 4A ranks, which grew by another six teams this year, making a title that much tougher.

“The goals haven’t changed, we still have high hopes. The goal is to host the district championship game here, and it’s very reachable,” says McNeley. “We’ll be a lot more detail oriented. This year we’re trying to find ourselves. Discipline is going to make or break our season. The boys need to find out what their passion is and play with it.”

Dylan Baillie agrees, and is excited for the new-look Bulldogs to forge their own identity, and let the chips fall where they may.

“We’re trying to build up a team, we lost a lot of seniors. Make sure we have the same structure,” claims Baillie, who likes the early chemistry. “There’s not a lot of single players who are trying to do it on their own, we work together. I feel like we’ll get to state, and it will be a tough battle to win.”