Boys soccer cruises past Hawks 3-0

RATHDRUM — Sandpoint boys soccer completed a regular season sweep of Lakeland on Tuesday night with a 3-0 shutout victory over the Hawks.

With the win, the Bulldogs stay undefeated in league play and improve to 6-4-1, 3-0 on the season.

“We expected to win,” Sandpoint head coach Tanner French said, “but with this certain group I just expect them to compete and I think they have a little bit of difficulty remembering that each game.”

After being blown out 7-1 at home by Lake City on senior night, Sandpoint has rallied off two straight victories and looks poised to make a run at winning the 4A Inland Empire League as the regular season nears an end.

The Bulldogs got on the board early in the match against the Hawks when junior forward Zander Moore found senior midfielder Braeden Dressel in the seventh minute to make it 1-0.

“We started slow despite the early goal but overall I think I was impressed with how the boys continued the game plan we had setup for them for the game,” French said. “We had a short film session yesterday and I think it kind of opened the boys eyes to different ways and adaptations that they can use to play the game.”

Sandpoint would find the back of the net again in the 31st minute. This time junior midfielder Parker Reed was on the end of an assist from Zander Moore as the Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead.

Just when it looked like Sandpoint would carry a 2-0 advantage into halftime, senior midfielder Ryan Giese left his mark on the match. He got the ball at the 38th minute, cut right, struck the ball with his left foot and bent it in off the far post to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead at the break.

French called Giese’s goal the highlight of the night for the Bulldogs.

Sandpoint continued to dominate possession in the second half and had several scoring chances but they couldn’t convert.

French said he was proud of his team’s performance.

“Trying to get them to identify and solve issues that come up during the match is what my coaching staff and I aim for them to discover on their own and I think once they figured that out the goals started to flow pretty easily,” he said.

Thursday’s home match against Lake City was canceled so the Bulldogs get a week off before they play at Post Falls 7 p.m. next Tuesday.

First half — 1, Sandpoint, Braeden Dressel (Zander Moore), 7:00. 2, Sandpoint, Parker Reed (Zander Moore), 31:00. 3, Sandpoint, Ryan Giese (unassisted), 38:00.

Shots on goal — Sandpoint 20, Lakeland 3.

Saves — Sandpoint, Roman Jiles 3, Lakeland, 13.