Bulldogs fight off late challenge to beat St. George's

SANDPOINT — It was a nail bitter at Pine Street Field on Tuesday.

With just under 10 minutes left in the game, visiting St. George’s scored a goal on a free kick to pull within one score of the Bulldogs.

The Dragons were putting the pressure on the Sandpoint defense down the stretch and nearly tied the game in the 76th minute when a shot flew past the outside of the left post and freshman goalkeeper Roman Jiles.

But the Bulldogs finally silenced St. George’s in the 80th minute when a shot by senior midfielder Sims Macdonald was blocked and the ball found its way to the foot of Chris Koch.

The junior defender buried the shot and sealed Sandpoint’s 4-2 victory.

“Despite a few injuries and a minor sickness that’s going around, we stuck it out and received the W,” Sandpoint boys head coach Tanner French said. “Not a whole lot of positives but it went as a win and that’s what they boys need right now.”

French said his team showed a lack of consistency in every aspect of the game.

“I don’t really know how to put it,” he said. “The boys need to understand that they are at a point in the season where they need to know how to solve the issues that come up during a game.”

The win puts the Bulldogs over .500 with a 5-4-1 overall record and helps them shake off last week’s 7-1 senior night lost to Lake City.

In the first half, Sandpoint dominated possession and was able to strike early. In the eighth minute, senior defender Nate Couch took a pass from well outside the penalty box and sent a strike past the Dragons’ goalkeeper.

But St. George’s responded two minutes later when junior forward John DeForest weaved his way through the Sandpoint defense and fired a shot past Roman Jiles to tie the game at 1-1.

Junior forward Zander Moore showed off his speed and strength in the 13th minute when he drove to the front of the net but couldn’t quite get the ball past the Dragons’ goalkeeper.

Another Sandpoint defender stepped up in the 18th minute as a corner kick by Sims Macdonald soared toward senior Tiegen Edmundson.

Edmundson sent a shot into the back of the net to help the Bulldogs retake the lead.

In the 35th minute, junior midfielder Parker Reed dribbled his way through the Dragons defense and found himself at the left post of St. George’s goal. Reed got right in front of the goalie before firing a shot past his outstretched leg to make it 3-1 at the half.

The Bulldogs continued to keep the ball in St. George’s end early in the second half and fired several shots on goal that were inches away from being goals. But the Dragons didn’t surrender and after the 70th minute, they started to dominate possession.

This forced Roman Jiles into action and after giving up a free kick goal in the 71st minute to make it 3-2, he responded by making several key saves to ensure a Sandpoint win.

French said his team learned how to close out a game and hopes that will help them moving forward.

“I had to make a few adjustments as far as personnel goes ... and I think it tested our mentality as a team and I think the boys need to understand that they need to get much stronger to be at the potential they want to see from themselves,” he said.

The Bulldogs get almost a full week to recover from their injuries and sickness before they head to league rival Lakeland 4 p.m. next Tuesday.

“We only have three and half weeks left if we make it to state, so I think for them to understand that and not let up now is the most important thing,” French said.

First half — 1, Sandpoint, Nate Couch (Tiegen Edmundson), 8:00. 1, St. George’s, John DeForest, 11:00. 2, Sandpoint, Tiegen Edmundson (unknown), 18:00. 3, Sandpoint, Parker Reed (Braeden Dressel), 35:00.

Second half — 2, St. George’s, Tanner Watkins, 71:00. 4, Sandpoint, Chris Koch (Sims Macdonald), 80:00.

Shots on goal — Sandpoint 12, St. George’s 8.

Saves — Sandpoint, Roman Jiles 6, St. George’s 8.