Bulldog soccer caps off season with win over Lake City

SANDPOINT – It took them over half the game to truly find their stride, but the Sandpoint Bulldogs boys soccer turned it on in the second half of Tuesday night’s home game against Lake City to end their regular season on a strong note.

“In the first half, we were in our attacking third, pretty much for 39 minutes and just couldn’t find connections through,” Sandpoint coach Tanner French said after his team’s 3-0 win. “Their nerves got to them a little bit, but we weren’t playing bad.”

Chalking up the lack of offense in the first half to “frustrating first touches,” French said that the Bulldogs did attempt to prepare for the night game conditions, but it’s not something they normally deal with.

“We tried to train here last night around this time to get used to the dew and the quickness of the turf.”

Following a scoreless first half that they largely controlled, the Bulldogs made a simple adjustment during intermission– be a little less hard on the ball.

“I think Lake City couldn’t handle our high press,” French said. “Once we were able to win the ball like we did in the first half, we were able to combine a little more. Movement off the ball, movement from the pass, trying to be open to receive it again.”

Sandpoint scored their first goal of the night at the 51st minute after senior Randy Lane served off of a free kick and it was knocked in with a header by sophomore Henry Barnes.

After that, the flood gates opened.

Just ten minutes later, junior Eion Eddy stormed into the Lake City box and fired a shot off the far left post to put the Bulldogs up by two.

Eddy would get the insurance point, and his second of the night, at the 70th minute after he tapped in a free kick by senior Evan Dickinson.

“You couldn’t ask more from the boys,” French said. “I think they gave 100% effort and that’s all we can ask from them. War Memorial, Tuesday night, under the lights. It’s magical, so I’m very happy for them”

French later commended Henry Barnes for his work on the first goal, which really set the precedent for the rest of the game.

“He’s a workhorse in the mid-field, him and Logan (McGrann),” he said. “They’re the two shortest guys on the field, but they seem to have the biggest heart. It’s not easy defending some players that are craft from Lake City.”

Speaking of defending, French was also pleased with his team on the back end.

“Our back line got another shutout, I think that’s 10 shutouts this year.”

With this final win of the season, Sandpoint is now looking forward to playing either Moscow or Lakeland next week for districts.