Boys soccer avenges district championship defeat to Moscow

MOSCOW — In mid-August when the Moscow School District announced they weren't playing high school sports this fall, the Sandpoint boys soccer team was upset. They had waited all offseason to get revenge for last year's heartbreaking 3-2 district championship game loss at Moscow and that opportunity was taken away in one instant.

But just a few weeks later, Moscow reversed course on its decision and announced a return to fall sports. Immediately, the Bulldogs began thinking about taking down the Bears on their home field and Thursday they did just that with a 3-0 win over Moscow.

Head coach Tanner French said it was great to get the win, but he felt his team's drive for revenge hampered them early in the match.

"It's obviously a good feeling to put a few goals in the back of the net and come away with a shutout," he said, "but I think the boys had that redemption feeling a little too much and it kind of disoriented them for the first 40 minutes."

The game was scoreless at halftime, but in the second half the Bulldogs scored three goals to overwhelm the Bears. Zander Moore scored in the 45th minute on a penalty kick, Randy Lane found the back of the net five minutes later on an assist from Moore and Aidan Smith added a goal in the 71st minute. Moore now has five goals on the season.

French said his team found their groove in the second half and started playing with more passion, and ultimately that was the difference.

"It could have been a lot more, but regardless the win was some good closure for them I believe and we're onto the next," he said.

The match was Sandpoint's first in just over two weeks. French said the break wasn't ideal, but it benefited the team in several ways.

"The smoke was actually somewhat of a blessing in disguise because we were able to play indoors," he said. "It's a different style of play, but the energy is much higher because it's more close contact, so that was actually enjoyable."

The Bulldogs outshot Moscow 18-6 and Roman Jiles made four saves in net.

Sandpoint (3-3, 2-0 IEL) hosts Lewiston 2 p.m. Saturday at Pine Street Field.

Second half — 1, Sandpoint, Zander Moore PK, 45:00. 2, Sandpoint, Randy Lane (Moore), 50:00. 3, Sandpoint, Aidan Smith (unassisted), 71:00.

Shots — Sandpoint 18. Moscow 6.

Saves — Sandpoint, Roman Jiles, 4. Moscow, unknown, 9.