Sandpoint boys win consolation title
The Bulldogs' Roman Jiles makes a save as Sandpoint defeated Canyon Ridge 2-0 to claim fifth-place honors in the 4A State Soccer Tournament.
(Photo courtesy JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Eoin Eddy, Pierce McDermott, Shawn Russell, Henry Barnes and Jett Longanecker celebrate a goal as the Bulldogs defeated Canyon Ridge to claim fifth place in the 4A Idaho State Soccer Tournament.
The Sandpoint Bulldogs boys soccer team poses with their fifth-place trophy.
POST FALLS — It’s not the championship, but at least they ended the season with a win.
That was the mentality of Sandpoint boys soccer coach Tanner French after the Bulldogs defeated Canyon Ridge of Twin Falls 2-0 to win the consolation championship at the state 4A tournament Saturday at The Fields at Real Life.
“Overall, it was better than the previous two games,” French said of his team’s effort. “It was good to go off on a high note, but a consolation trophy is just as good as a participation award for me.”
To make it on time to the 9 a.m. trophy game, the Bulldogs loaded onto their bus in Sandpoint around 7 a.m. It was on this early morning ride that French set the tone for this final game, stressing that the players needed to prove to themselves that they still had pride in what they had accomplished over the course of the season.
“Our only loss this season (to Bishop Kelly, in the first round on Thursday) came probably at the worst time, but I think our record shows what this team put into this program,” he said.
The pep talk must have done something, as the Bulldogs were able to hold Canyon Ridge scoreless while scoring two of their own — one in each half.
The first goal came from junior Pierce McDermott in the 38th minute, assisted by senior Emmett Morgan.
Junior Eoin Eddy added the insurance marker for Sandpoint in the 76th minute of the game to cap off the win.
French was a bit more impressed with his team in this last game, but looking back on the tournament as a whole, he said he wished the Bulldogs came in with more heart and converted on some missed opportunities.
“I don’t think we were mentally prepared for what these big games take,” he said. “Even though we have that experience from last year’s state final, there were quite a few new fresh faces that didn’t rise to the challenge and there were quite a few of familiar faces that also didn’t rise to the challenge.”
On a more positive note, French spoke highly of senior Evan Dickinson and was happy that the seniors were able to end their season on a high note.
“He was the MVP for us,” he said of Dickinson. “He performed very well for us in the back.”
