5A STATE SOCCER: McCrum’s OT goal lifts Sandpoint girls to opening round victory

5A GIRLS

Sandpoint 1, Hillcrest 0

IDAHO FALLS — The magic continued at Hillcrest High on Thursday.

During the seventh minute of overtime, the 87th minute overall, junior Ava Glahe sent a ball 35 yards into Lady Knight territory — a ball that went by two Hillcrest defenders who were distracted by junior Hope Barnes — and senior Marlee McCrum snuck behind them all and sunk a shot over the opposing goalkeepers' right shoulder to give Sandpoint the 1-0 victory.

No. 5 Hillcrest, although more dominant on the offensive end, wasn't able to really breakthrough Sandpoint's back line until the final one minute and 30 seconds of regulation, and despite that, senior Lilliana Brinkmeier made a handful of saves to help the Lady Bulldogs to their eighth shutout of the year.

"We let them through just one time in 80 minutes," Sandpoint High head coach Alan Brinkmeier said. "To hold that team for 80 minutes without a 'true' attempt says a lot about our back five."

Brinkmeier said he believes his team has the ability to rise to the occasion when No. 4 Sandpoint (10-5-2) faces No. 1 Middleton (16-1-1), which defeated No. 8 Idaho Falls 6-1 in the opening round, in the championship semifinals at 2 p.m. (PST) today at Hillcrest High.

"When we play those high-intensity games — games like Lake City, Moscow, Lewiston, Owhyee, etc. — opposing teams seem to bring out the best in us. I'm hoping when the girls get put under that higher pressure from a high caliber team, it brings out the best in them again."

5A BOYS

Bulldogs downed by Broncos

Blackfoot 5, Sandpoint 1

IDAHO FALLS — Junior Huxley Hall scored on a great through ball from senior Luke Leavitt to get No. 5 Sandpoint on the board first, but No. 4 Blackfoot responded with five unanswered goals, four in the second half, to come away with the 5A state opening round win Thursday at Bonneville High.

Sandpoint High head coach Dan Anderson said he thought the first half was pretty even, and at some points he felt his Bulldogs had the upper hand, but in the second half, Blackfoot capitalized on every mistake that Sandpoint made.

"We were unlucky to not score a handful of goals ourselves due to some great defending on the goal line by Blackfoot ... there were some great saves by their keeper," coach Anderson said. "Overall, I was happy with the boys' preparation for the game and for how they represented the program throughout the game. I'm gutted as I wanted this victory for the boys, but we're going to bounce back strong tomorrow."

No. 5 Sandpoint (10-6-2) will play 5A IEL rival No. 8 Moscow (5-10-1), which lost 2-0 to No. 1 Wood River in the opening round, in the consolation semifinals at 10 a.m. (PST) today at Bonneville High.

1st half — 1, SPT, Huxley Hall (Luke Leavitt), 18'. 2, BF, Gio Labra, 20'. 2nd half — 3, BF, Enrique Nevarez, 46'. 4, BF, Josiah Ballesteros, 49'. 5, BF, Nevarez, 54'. 6, BF, Daniel Olivarez, 62'.

Shots on goal: SPT — 5. BF — 11.

Saves: SPT — Gavan Miles 6. BF — Unknown 4.