SHS boys soccer returns a slew of players for 2022 season
Evan Dickinson attempts a corner kick at War Memorial Field in 2021. Dickinson will be one of the leaders on the Sandpoint boys soccer team in 2022.
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
The Sandpoint boys soccer team made a run to the state championship game in 2021 but fell short to Bishop Kelly.
The Bulldogs have their eyes set on making another run at the end of the year tournament in 2022.
A big confidence boost that will be given to the Sandopoint boys soccer team will be the amount of returnees they will have on the pitch this season.
Typically once a team reaches a state championship the following year they enter a rebuild mode. That’s not the story for the Bulldogs. Sandpoint will be returning 10 players to their varsity lineup from a year ago.
All-state center back Evan Dickinson will be back for his senior season and Jett Longenecker will be back for his junior year.
“From what I’ve seen from (Jett) this summer I think he’ll be an impact player,” Sandpoint boys’ soccer coach Tanner French said. “He’ll have a shot to win MVP of the league.”
Just like the girls team, the boys team has several players who are very committed to the sport of soccer which was evident last year through their state championship run.
“It’s their internal motivation,” French said. “It’s obviously difficult to consistently play the game all throughout the season but these guys have taken that responsibility and put it on their shoulders. I also think making it to the state championship last year made them even hungrier to win it this year.”
French also complimented the Strikers youth soccer club on their work on developing the skills of the youth soccer players around the area.
“I think the Strikers have done an excellent job as the sole club here and developing the kids at such a young age,” French said. “It’s a great opportunity that the Strikers offer to develop these athletes for when they reach the high school level.”
When French came into the fold as the head coach of the Sandpoint soccer team, he had four freshmen and now they’ll be seniors.
“It’ll be a great send off if they capture a state championship that our program hasn’t seen in nine years,” French said. “That’s why I chose to coach and continue to coach to see their progression on and off the field.”