Hannah Eddy's hat trick, pair of assists leads SHS in 7-0 win

POST FALLS —

Going into the 2019 season, Sandpoint senior midfielder Hannah Eddy wanted to score more goals.

So in her first game as a striker, Eddy scored three goals and assisted on two more in Sandpoint’s 7-0 win at Post Falls on Sept. 3. Three games into the season, the Bulldogs are undefeated behind Eddy’s team-leading five goals.

“She’s very clever in how she gets herself into these goal-scoring positions,” Sandpoint head coach Conor Baranski said. “She’s very tricky. In a couple of the goals, she literally just diced a couple players up, dribbled around them and scored.”

Yet Eddy was merely one of five Bulldogs to score in the romp.

Jordie Breeden opened up the scoring in the second minute, then passed the baton to Piper Frank, who scored four minutes later off a pass from Emi Lynch. Eddy began her hat trick 13 minutes later and the Bulldogs didn’t look back.

By the time the Trojans could blink, the Bulldogs were up 5-0 at halftime. Unlike past games, however, Sandpoint didn’t ease up in the second half, which pleased Baranski.

“In years past if we played a team like that, we’d get lazy and mentally checked out,” Baranski said. “But I didn’t feel like our defenders did that. I left [the game] feeling like it was a professional display throughout. It was a really mature performance from every single player.”

Baranski credits Sandpoint’s back line of Emma Thielbahr and Kendall Rubright for setting the tone on defense even as the Bulldogs’ lead climbed. A Central Valley (Spokane) transfer, Rubright has not only had to adjust to new teammates, but also assume a key role in Sandpoint’s defense in a short time.

“She’s really composed,” Baranski said. “She rarely looks like she’s stressing out and she’s usually in the right position. Between her positioning and her technical abilities, she looked cool, calm and collected at all times.”

Sitting at 3-0-0 while outscoring 5A opponents 12-1, Baranski said he is happy with how the team has meshed in the season so far.

“I think they have really taken to heart that we need to do our things and play pretty soccer whenever we can,” Baranski said. “I’m really stoked right now.”

Sandpoint will have its senior night against Lake City this Thursday at Memorial Field at 6 p.m.

First half — 1, Spt, Jordie Breeden (Hannah Eddy), 2:00. 2, Spt, Piper Frank (Emi Lynch), 6:00. 3, Spt, Eddy (Kylie Williams), 19:00. 4, Spt, Eddy (Holly Kassa), 30:00. 5, Spt, Kassa (Kate McGregor), 42:00. Second half — 6, Spt, Lynch (Eddy), 65:00. 7, Spt, Eddy (Kylie Webster), 71:00.

Shots on goal — PF 5, Spt 29.

Saves — PF, Ashley Grant, 12; Spt, Hattie Larson, 3.