SHS tames Skyline, advances to 4A final

Bulldogs hope to keep Bishop Kelly from a

third straight 4A title

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

COEUR d’ALENE — Once again, the Bulldogs couldn’t have scripted a better start, scoring just 25 seconds into the game and once again building a 3-0 halftime lead, ultimately downing Skyline of Idaho Falls 3-1 in the semis of the 4A Idaho State Girls Soccer Tournament on Friday at Lake City.

Senior captain Jezza Hutto started things off by lofting a seemingly innocent ball at Skyline goalie Anna Cheret, who misplayed the catch and somehow the ball trickled about one foot over the line and just inside the post, setting off a delayed celebration as the Bulldogs weren’t sure if it was a goal for a couple of seconds.

Fellow senior captain Riley Walkington would add two more first half goals, and for the second straight day the Bulldogs (13-3-1) dominated the first half, steamrolling into today’s championship game.

“They were nervous yesterday, and today they were over their nervousness. They had the belief they could win the game, and it showed scoring in 30 seconds,” said Bulldog head coach Conor Baranski. “Our two captains scored the goals, and we just kept battling.”

Walkington was once again at the center of the attack, creating havoc around the goal box and finally breaking through for an insurance goal when Piper Frank hit her in the middle, and Walkington did the rest by slicing and dicing through defenders before scoring in the 11th minute.

She would strike again in the 24th minute when Yeo Yarnell dribbled up from the back third, slid a slick pass through a tight window, before Walkington took the ball, stopped on a dime to juke the defender, and used the space to launch her fourth goal of the tournament, and 24th of the season, for a comfortable 3-0 lead.

Skyline (15-3) showed why it only had two losses on the year, creating only a few but very dangerous scoring opportunities. A diving stop by Hattie Larson in the first half, and two diving stops from Shea Kilpatrick in the second half kept the game from being closer, before the Grizzlies finally scored late.

The win sets up a third consecutive Sandpoint vs. Bishop Kelly girls soccer final, with the Knights having won the last two meetings in the storied series, which more often than not is played in the 4A title game. Baranski feels his team has a shot to finally break through in today’s final, but knows it won’t come easy against what is ostensibly an All-Star team from the Treasure Valley.

“Hopefully we have the mentality that if things aren’t going perfectly, continue to believe and fight through that,” he said. “We can absolutely win this tournament, no matter who we play.”

The Knights (21-0) are riding a 63 game win streak, but they don’t play nearly as tough a schedule as Sandpoint, which has helped them build a whopping 140-13 goal differential this season, almost entirely against 4A foes. The Knights handled Twin Falls 3-0 on Friday, and own a 9-0 differential in two state games so far.

There is precedence for the Bulldogs, who ended the Knights 88 game win streak in the title game in 2013, before winning their last state title in 2014, also against the Knights.

Injuries are part of the luck factor that goes into winning state, and the Bulldogs will hope that Hutto and Jordie Breeden, two important players, can bounce back to play after leaving Friday’s action with injuries. Hutto, playing in her fourth state tourney, feels this year’s team has what it takes to win it all.

“We’ve gone in the last few years not being confident we could beat Bishop Kelly,” admitted Hutto. “I think our senior class has the energy and leadership to bring us a state title.”

Kickoff for today’s championship game is 11 a.m. at Coeur d’Alene High School.

First half — 1, Spt, Jezza Hutto (unassisted), :25. 2, Spt, Riley Walkington (Piper Frank), 11:00. 3, Spt, Walkington (Yeo Yarnell), 24:00. Second half — Skyline, 68:00.

Shots on goal — Spt 19, Sky 7.

Saves — Spt, Hattie Larson, 1, Shea Kilpatrick 5; Skyview, 13.