Sandpoint Monarchs find gold on St. Patty’s Day

The Sandpoint Monarchs coaching staff had some St. Patrick’s Day trickery up their sleeve, announcing the night before a tournament that the boys would be playing double the games and entered them as two separate rosters — one as "90+ Sandpoint (Orange)" and one as the "REAL Monarchs,', the namesake of REAL Salt Lake City’s MLS third division team. Rising to the challenge, and embracing the marathon ahead of at least six games, both Sandpoint teams opened Saturday with dominating wins of 7-1 and 8-0, versus Whitefish.

The Monarchs were led by two intense breakaway goals from Ryder Myers and two one-touch volley goals at the far post by Koen Knowlton. Both Monarchs respectively earned man-of-the-match honors. Fantastic goalkeeping from Sterling Tate and Kit Gaddess stifled nearly every Whitefish chance. Will Hawn and Felix Carlson tallied multiple goals and assists in the contests as well.

In Game 3 on Saturday, March 18, 90+ Sandpoint lost 6-3 to Glacier Surf, one of the tournament’s top teams. On Sunday, fate pitted the two Monarch squads against each other with the winner securing a finals berth. Coach Jennings Waterhouse's REAL Monarchs prevailed 4-3 over 90+ Sandpoint.

The last qualifier game on Sunday was a matchup between the REAL Monarchs and Glacier Surf, even though both teams already had earned a spot in the championship game. Glacier Surf pummeled the REAL Monarchs, 8-1, due in part to Sandpoint's game plan of resting three of its key players while other high energy Monarchs were tasked with exhausting and high-pressing Glacier Surf’s big three.

"During Game 5, Sterling, Ryder, Avery and Koen trusted the process and played a huge role in our team's overall gameplan," Coach Lawson said.

In the championship game, the leprechaun magic seemed to be working. The Monarchs went up early, 1-0, until giving up a penalty shot that tied the game. Rejuvenated and focused from sitting out Game 4 and 5, Greyson Reid, Jacob Moren, and Felix Carlson’s relentless tag-team defense held Glacier Surf to just two goals.

"Greyson poured his heart out with an incredible performance at midfield, earning man of the match honors," Lawson said.

Late in the match, Felix Carlson sealed the deal from the right corner with a pass that allowed Easton Chartrey a skilled one touch shot to the far post; this shot proved the winner in the 4-3 thriller. Monarchs win.

Want to learn more about the Monarchs? The Monarchs are a combination of brand-new soccer players and a handful of experienced players who mentor and empower their friends. The monarchs have three gold medals and a silver medal over their last six tournaments, but that means nothing when compared to their sportsmanship and class. Part of the 90+Project.org, the Monarchs bring the core values of community, integrity, growth, and inclusion through sport to all youth, regardless of means.