Heartbreak: Undefeated Bulldogs upset by Moscow in regional title game

SANDPOINT — History repeated itself on Thursday, and unfortunately it wasn't in the Bulldogs' favor.

For the second straight year, Sandpoint girls soccer suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Moscow at War Memorial Field.

The top-seeded Bulldogs outplayed Moscow in the 4A Region 1 title game, but a penalty kick goal in the 51st minute was all it took for the Bears to dash Sandpoint’s state hopes for the second consecutive year.

Last fall, the Bears upended No. 1 seed Sandpoint 2-0 on its home turf to end the Bulldogs' state streak at seven years.

The tears were flowing for Sandpoint after the match and head coach Conor Baranski was forced to console his players after the crushing defeat. Baranski was emotional after the match and he said this loss will hurt for some time.

"I told them they will likely remember this for the rest of their lives, especially if they are a senior, but that the pain will go away," he said. "I've lived it. I lost in the state championship my senior year and found myself alone in the middle of the field crying and still remember it very vividly, but I can joke about it now; it goes away. It sucks and they are going to feel it in their heart and their stomach for days."

Sandpoint entered the match with a perfect 12-0 record and as the No. 2 ranked team in the state. The Bulldogs had state title aspirations, but all it took was one goal to end it all.

Baranski said this team deserved a trip to state.

"This team this year was just the epitome of camaraderie and all the cool reasons that people like sports," he said, "and so they deserved to have another week or so together to go compete."

All year, Baranski has praised his seniors for the positivity they carry with them every day. Baranski said this senior class is full of kind, compassionate and competitive individuals, and the team desperately wanted to get them to state. The season didn't end the way they wanted it to, but this team will always hold a special place in Baranski's heart.

"There are certain teams that stand out in my mind throughout my 10-year career here and it usually revolves around the seniors," he said. "This senior class was inspiring. Kimbo Yarnell just gave a little speech barely keeping it together and in tears, saying how sorry she was that they couldn't get it done for these seniors.

This senior class was worth fighting for."

The Bulldogs outshot Moscow 22-6 and had plenty of opportunities to score. Baranski felt like his team was just a bit unlucky.

"There was a lot of chances that were really close," he said. "Their goalkeeper played quite well ... we just didn't get enough on frame. Even though she had a good night, we could have tested her a lot more rather than kicking the ball over or wide."

Moscow's keeper, Makai Rauch, made 10 saves.

The Bulldogs had a pair of A-plus scoring chances in the opening half. In the 13th minute, a cross into the box by Aliya Strock got past the keeper and found Piper Frank, who was staring at a wide open net. Unfortunately, some pressure from a Bears defender forced her to fire the shot over the top of the goal.

Just four minutes later, Kylie Williams settled down a cross from Kate McGregor just outside the penalty box. She blasted a shot on goal, but the Moscow goalkeeper was there to make a nice save to force a corner.

Moscow broke through for the only goal 11 minutes into the second half. Freshman goalkeeper Lilliana Brinkmeier came out to challenge a Moscow forward driving toward the net and the Bears were awarded a penalty.

Moscow's Megan Poler stepped up and buried the shot in the bottom left corner of the net. Brinkmeier got her fingertips on it, but not enough to keep it out of the net.

Baranski shared his thoughts on the penalty call and what he saw from the sidelines.

"What I saw from 70 yards away, was my goalkeeper make a 50-50 challenge on a forward and them both getting their at the same time ... but again I was a long ways away," he said.

Williams, Frank, Hannah Harvey, Sierrah VanGesen and others all had looks to tie the match down the stretch, but it wasn't meant to be.

Baranski said he isn't superstitious, but next year he wants to play the regional title game on Pine Street Field if the Bulldogs earn the No. 1 seed. Sandpoint has lost the last two regional championship matches at War Memorial Field as the No. 1 seed.

First half — none. Second half — 1, Moscow, Megan Poler (penalty kick), 51:00.

Shots — Moscow 6, Sandpoint 22.

Saves — Moscow, Makai Rauch 10; Sandpoint, Lilliana Brinkmeier 4.