Bulldogs fall to T-Wolves on Senior Night

SANDPOINT — Riley Walkington bent in a beautiful free kick for an early 1-0 lead for Sandpoint, but it was all Lake City after that, as the Timberwolves scored the next five goals and held off the Bulldogs 5-3 in nonleague soccer action Thursday under the lights of War Memorial Field.

The Bulldogs (6-3-1) took a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute after Walkington bent a 35 yard free kick just inside the top corner of the goal.

Madyson Smith answered two minutes later for Lake City (8-2), and Maddy Lasher added another pair of goals for a 3-1 halftime lead. Kali McKellips and Bridget Rieken added insurance goals for a 5-1 lead, as Lake City had success with a slightly different approach.

“We tried a different shape, with different players in different spots, and got to see some young players against a really good team,” said Timberwolves coach Matt Ruchti. “We came out, worked hard and had a good showing.”

Walkington would score again in the 65th minute, her whopping 16th goal of the season, and Piper Frank added a goal in the final minute to cap the scoring.

The two teams are among the best in the state, and Bulldog head coach Conor Baranski felt his team didn’t match the T-Wolves intensity.

“We lost the mental battle tonight. Lake City is good, well coached, and they were clearly more confident,” said Baranski. “On a positive note, we scored the first goal and the last two, we just missed that middle 60 minutes.”

Yeo Yarnell, Mya Darling, Jezza Hutto, Kayla Inman, Addi House and the late Madison Wyman were honored before the game on Senior Night.

Baranski praised the group, many of whom have played in the last two 4A state finals.

“They never quit,” claimed Baranski of his seniors. “They are incredibly talented, which shows their work ethic.”

Sandpoint gets a break in a tough schedule and will host Lakeland next Thursday.

First half — 1, Spt, Riley Walkington (free kick), 5:00. 2, LC, Madyson Smith (Maddy Lasher), 7:00. 3, LC, Lasher (Chloe Teets), 24:00. 4, LC, Lasher (unassisted), 36:00. Second half — 5, LC, Kali McKellips (unassisted), 42:00. 6, LC, Bridget Rieken (Lily Tweedy), 60:00. 7, Spt, Walkington (unassisted), 65:00. 8, Spt, Piper Frank (unassisted), 79:00.

Shots on goal — Spt 11, Lake City 12.

Saves — Spt, Hattie Larson 4, Shea Kilpatrick 5; LC, Hailey Parks, 9.

n Bulldog boys fall short on the road

COEUR d’ALENE — Zander Moore scored a beautiful goal to state Sandpoint to a 1-0 lead, but Lake City scored two unanswered goals in the second half to earn a 2-1 win in nonleague boys soccer Thursday under the lights at Lake City High School.

A tough call went against the Bulldogs (4-4), resulting in one of the second half goals, but head coach Evan McNeley loved the fight his team showed in a respectable loss.

“We came back and fought super hard. We hold our heads high knowing we played a fantastic game,” said McNeley. “I’m proud of how they played. They played with great pride, had a great fight about them. It’s fun to see them competing against a senior-laden team.”

The T-Wolves (8-0), who remain unbeaten on the year.

“Chris Koch played a beautiful ball over the top to Zander, who had a perfect first touch, and tucked it in the corner with his third touch. Just an absolutely beautiful goal.”

Sandpoint travels to Lakeland on Thursday.

First half — 1, Spt, Zander Moore (Chris Koch), 36:00. Second half — 2, LC, Ty Shaw (Spencer Messina), 64:00. 3, LC, Jacob Janzen (Greyden Lee), 70:00.

Shots on goal — Spt 5, LC 12.

Saves — Spt, Julian Reichold 7; LC, Chase Norris 4.

n Hicks, Stockton, Breuner power Bulldogs past Bears

SANDPOINT — Grace Hicks and Jazmin Stockton keep scoring kills, and Marina Breuner was solid guiding the attack, as the Bulldogs won three sets and dropped one in a solid win over the Bears in Inland Empire League volleyball action Thursday night at Les Rogers Court.

The Bulldogs (10-5, 2-0 4A IEL) won the first set, changed the lineup a little and lost the second set, before bouncing back to close things out in a match where they were in control for most of the night.

“We haven’t played Moscow before. They’re similar to Post Falls, scrappy defense,” said Bulldog head coach Jeff Hurst. “There was really no threat, no big hitters, it was more about us being able to handle the ball and terminate the point.”

Hurst felt his team never hit a clean rhythm, but that it showed great resilience and ability to keep the hammer down.

“Grace Hicks is a big hitter, and she did some good things. Marina was very big at the net tonight, she hammered a couple balls and had a couple of blocks,” described Hurst, noting Jazmin Stockton once again blasted a kill that drilled the opponent. “Nobody sees her coming. I feel blessed as a coach to have an athlete like that.”

Sandpoint is at Lewiston on Saturday.

n Wampus Cats fall to Trojans in five sets

POST FALLS — For the ninth time this season, Clark Fork played up in classification, this time riding another big night from setter Brooke Stevens and outside hitter Ellie Kiebert to a 25-18, 24-26, 23-25, 25-19 15-10 loss to the Post Falls JV team on Wednesday night in nonleague road volleyball action.

Kiebert tallied 14 kills, 10 digs and three aces, and Stevens 34 set assists, 16 digs, three kills and two aces to lead the Wampus Cats (8-5) in defeat, as they were right there with athletes from a 5A program in every set.

Hailey Bristol was another solid option for Stevens to feed, finishing with 10 kills and three aces, while Ellie Lambert finished with 19 digs and Tessa and Ali Sutton six kills apiece. The Cats finished with 13 aces and seven blocks as a team, and got another stern nonleague test.

“We did well against Post Falls. The girls fought hard and won the second set 25-21, and we took that momentum into the third set and won 25-23. Their coach told me that was their first five set match this season, so with our team playing up to the 5A level I was pleased that the girls worked hard and put in a good performance,” said Cats head coach Cindy Kiebert. “Brooke and Ellie Kiebert were able to make some plays. Ellie (Lambert) was solid in the back row for us and had a great defensive match tonight.”

The Cats are at Genesis Prep on Saturday.