Bulldogs beat back Bears

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint soccer saw another victory last evening at War Memorial Field, this time vanquishing the Moscow Bears in a 1-0 win.

The game was very well-matched, but that did not stop senior captain Kelsey Cessna from peeling the ball off of a minor pile up on Moscow’s right defensive end. Junior Aliyah Strock managed to get an assist off and Cessna was able to break through the confusion and score in minute 29.

That was the only goal scored all game. Both the Bulldogs and the Bears had solid composure, slugging it out until one team could manage a breakaway.

By the second half, the Bulldogs seemed fatigued but, it may have just been finesse as they still managed to frustrate any advance by the Bears.

“Our composure was great, especially in the second half,” coach Connor Baranski said. “Especially right here,” he added while pointing at the midfield.

While the match slowed down for the second half, that did not bother Baranski. “They played controlled, composed, patient,” the coach said. “We were able to find space and keep the ball.”

After last week’s loss to Ridgeline, which ended 1-0 after a goal in minute 79, Baranski said they focused on higher intensity play and on switching the point of attack, instead of getting run down the sides of the other team’s defensive end.

It showed. The girls regularly beat out the Bears, catching them from behind and claiming the ball, often before they could even get possession.

Baranski was looking forward to next week. “This is a district game, which means that if we beat Lakeland next week — which we should because last time we beat them five nil — we will host the district championships in Sandpoint.”

The Bulldogs play on the road at Lakeland at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday.