SHS shuts out Lakeland on Senior Night, clinches 5A/4A IEL title
Senior Kalila Tuinstra scores a goal in the 56th minute of Thursday's match against Lakeland.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Senior Kate McGregor rises up for a header on Thursday.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Senior Ashlee Webster settles down the ball and scores a goal in the 79th minute of Thursday's match.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Senior Averie Brewer fires a shot on goal in the first half of Thursday's match.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Ashlee Webster poses for a photo with her family on Senior Night.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Ava Mazzilli poses for a photo with her family on Senior Night.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Averie Brewer poses for a photo with her family on Senior Night.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Erin Eddy poses for a photo with her family on Senior Night.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Kalila Tuinstra poses for a photo with her family on Senior Night.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Kate McGregor poses for a photo with her family on Senior Night.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Kylie Williams poses for a photo with her family on Senior Night.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Piper Frank poses for a photo with her family on Senior Night.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Teyler Hehn poses for a photo with her family on Senior Night.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
SANDPOINT — Last night was all about the seniors.
At the half of Thursday's match against Lakeland, the Sandpoint girls soccer team honored its 10 seniors — Averie Brewer, Erin Eddy, Piper Frank, Teyler Hehn, Ava Mazzilli, Kate McGregor, Kalila Tuinstra, Sierrah VanGesen, Ashlee Webster and Kylie Williams.
The Bulldogs spent the entire match trying to get all eight seniors that took the pitch a goal — and they nearly did it. Eddy, Frank, Williams, McGregor, Tuinstra and Webster all found the back of the net as Sandpoint cruised to an 8-0 Inland Empire League victory over the Hawks.
Brewer and Mazzilli were unable to score, but the Bulldogs did everything they could to get them on the scoresheet. Brewer had a handful of shots on net, as did Mazzilli, who rang a pair of opportunities off the crossbar.
Brewer, Mazzilli and VanGesen all transferred to Sandpoint this year. The rest of the senior crew has played together since they were little and after the match they expressed what this team means to them.
Assistant coach Alan Brinkmeier took a step back as McGregor, Tuinstra and Webster all shared their thoughts on the special night.
"This year I think is the best year I think I've ever had in this program," McGregor said.
"I can definitely say you are all 100 percent my life right now," Tuinstra said as she looked around at her teammates.
Mazzilli even chimed in. She said she was nervous when she first joined the program, but she quickly fit right in due to the positive culture established by the other seniors.
"I had no idea how it was going to turn out ... but they were so welcoming," Mazzilli said.
After Eddy, Frank and Williams scored in the first half, Brinkmeier moved them to the backline to give his other seniors a chance to score.
That allowed Tuinstra, Mazzilli and McGregor — who are all defenders — to move in to forward positions and get plenty of looks at net. McGregor broke through for her goal in the 46th minute on an assist from Peyton Cessna.
Tuinstra had several dangerous scoring opportunities before she finally found the back of net in the 56th minute on an assist from Hannah Harvey.
"It was frustrating, but rewarding," Tuinstra said about her goal pursuit.
It took nearly the entire match, but in the 79th minute Webster scored. She said it was "pretty awesome" to earn a goal on Senior Night.
Junior goalkeeper Kameryn Nadeja scored the first goal of the match on a penalty kick in the third minute. Junior Kailee McNamee also found the back of the net for the Bulldogs, who outshot Lakeland 44-0.
Williams finished with a goal and two assists, and McGregor assisted on Eddy's goal.
Brinkmeier has been coaching these seniors for years, and he said its been amazing to see how much they care about one another.
"They've just been the most cohesive group," he said. "It's hard to get that many seniors on the same page."
With the victory, the Bulldogs clinched the 5A/4A Inland Empire League title with a perfect 8-0 IEL record.
"The whole coaching staff is proud of what they've done this season," Brinkmeier said.
Sandpoint (10-0) heads to Coeur d'Alene at 6 p.m. Tuesday for a nonleague match.
First half — 1, SHS, Kameryn Nadeja (penalty kick), 3:00. 2, SHS, Erin Eddy (Kate McGregor), 15:00. 3, SHS, Piper Frank (Kimbo Yarnell), 16:00. 4, SHS, Kylie Williams (unassisted), 24:00. Second half — 5, SHS, McGregor (Peyton Cessna), 46:00. 6, SHS, Kalila Tuinstra (Hannah Harvey), 56:00. 7, SHS, Kailee McNamee (Williams), 70:00. 8, SHS, Ashlee Webster (Williams), 79:00.
Shots — Lakeland 0, Sandpoint 44.
Saves — Lakeland, Peighton Jensen 18; Sandpoint, Kameryn Nadeja 0.
