No headline

SANDPOINT — Senior Emi Lynch scored twice and assisted on another and Aspen Larson nearly got a hat-trick in Sandpoint’s 5-0 win over Lewiston at Pine Street Field on Saturday, Sept. 14.

But more importantly — according to Sandpoint head coach Conor Baranski — passing and movement in the Bulldogs’ offense improved in Sandpoint’s fifth win of the season.

“For us to come out and win 5-0, that is a very good testament to the improvements they’ve made so far,” Baranski said. “I thought the timing of both the midfielders and forwards were really good today, which was cool. We spent three or four practices on just that.”

Lynch wasted no time getting on the board in the fourth minute, then Sandpoint set up its next goal with a little help from the Bengals.

Off of a corner kick, Kiley Webster volleyed it towards the goal and somewhere in the chaos in the box, a Lewiston player handled the ball. Aspen Larson took the ensuing penalty kick, then wasted no time scoring her second on a shot from 25 yards out on the left side.

“We definitely tried getting her a hat trick — and she won’t like me saying this ­— but she totally blew a golden opportunity to get a hat trick late in the game,” Baranski said with a chuckle. “She spent way too much time and skied her shot on a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper.”

Later in the half, Lynch got her second goal off of an assist from freshman Kelsey Cessna, who was in the teeth of the Bengals’ defense throughout the entire game.

“Kelsey Cessna had a very intense game,” Baranski said. “She was always in the thick of tackles, winning 50-50 balls and headers. Her assist to Emi was exactly that: She won one or two tackles and then slipped the ball through to Emi pretty impressively through a bunch of players, then Emi was able to finish.”

Lewiston nearly avoided a shutout off of a free kick in the waning moments of the game.

On the kick, Sandpoint junior Kendall Rubright leapt at to win the header, but the ball skimmed off her head and fell towards a Lewiston player, who shot the ball. Cue Eastern Washington soccer commit Hattie Larson, who made a difficult dive from the right shoulder to make the save. She crashed into the goalpost, but shook it off and resumed play.

“I am so dang proud of her for putting her body on the line [like that],” Baranski said. “Hattie’s just such a beast.”

Sandpoint (5-1-0) plays at Moscow next Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 4:30 p.m.

First half — 1, Sandpoint, Emi Lynch (unknown), 4:00. 2, Sandpoint, Aspen Larson (penalty kick), 8:00. 3, Sandpoint, Aspen Larson (unknown), 13:00. 4, Sandpoint, Emi Lynch (Kelsey Cessna), 34:00. Second half — 5, Sandpoint, Shelby Mohler (Emi Lynch), 63:00.

Shots on goal — Sandpoint 15, Lewiston 6.

Saves — Sandpoint, Hattie Larson, 6. Lewiston, unknown.