5A GIRLS STATE SOCCER: Mitchell’s penalty kick sends Sandpoint back to title match

Sandpoint 1, Middleton 1

IDAHO FALLS — After two overtimes and six penalty kicks each, senior Maddie Mitchell stepped up and delivered a shot that tipped off the opposing goalkeepers' gloves and found itself in back left corner of the net as No. 4 Sandpoint outlasted No. 1 Middleton with a 4-3 penalty shootout win in the championship semifinals Friday at Hillcrest High.

The Lady Vikings kept Sandpoint off balance in the first half, eventually taking a 1-0 lead during the 39th minute when sophomore Quincy Daw scored off a pass from senior Maddy James. It was relatively quiet throughout the second half as the Lady Bulldogs limited Middleton's chances, but during the 74th minute, Sandpoint got their best chance of the night and senior Marlee McCrum converted a penalty kick to tie the game 1-1.

Sandpoint High head coach Alan Brinkmeier said McCrum, who also took to first penalty kick in the eventual shootout, stepped up as a true senior leader.

“She has been the goal scorer we needed this year and it has been special watching her grow,” coach Brinkmeier said.

The end of regulation eventually ended in a 1-1 stalemate, and in the before-overtime huddle, Brinkmeier reminded his Lady Bulldogs that they deserved to be on this stage with the No. 1 ranked team in the state.

"We are good at playing the underdog this year, and we have risen to the occasion every time," Brinkmeier told his team before the start of overtime. "The theme about halfway through the season has been 'play for each other' and that's what this weekend has been all about. Our girls have not had an easy run. Some have been fighting through injuries most of the season and new ones today, but they keep pushing through."

Middleton had three huge chances in overtime: an open net shot that bounced off the right crossbar during the 86th minute, a wide right free kick from 23 yards out during the 89th minute, and a free kick from about 20 yards out around the near corner that ended up being controlled at the bottom right post by senior goalkeeper Lilliana Brinkmeier, who had 12 crucial saves in the contest.

"Lil, again, came up big when we needed her,” Brinkmeier said. “Over the last four years she has been a staple in the goal and some of the saves she makes look so easy for her, but nothing less than amazing.”

In the second overtime, Sandpoint flipped the script and was able to get a solid chance during the 95th minute off an Ava Glahe corner, but no Lady Bulldogs were able to get a body part on it. After 100 minutes of play, nobody had scored, so a penalty shootout ensued.

In the penalty shootout, after Middleton sunk their first kick, McCrum sank a goal and Glahe, whose shot crept past the line after a fumble by the goalkeeper, put Sandpoint ahead 2-1. After four shots each, the tally was 3-3 after the Lady Vikings sank two more and freshman Sam Leaverton was able to punch in another for the Lady Bulldogs. 

Despite the already high intensity of the match, things got even more interesting.

Middleton's fifth shot went off the right post and Sandpoint had a chance to win it. Junior Cecilia Dignan was up next for Sandpoint, and almost exactly like the kick before, her shot went off the right post as well. The Lady Vikings' next kick went wide right, and now it was up to Mitchell. Calm as could be ... she walked up to the line and sank it — the two and a half hour match had finally come to an end. Mitchell and her fellow teammates and coaches met her around the 20-yard line and celebrated, jumping up and down.

"Maddie initially did not want to shoot in the first five, but said she would go six if needed,” Brinkmeier said. “For a senior captain to step up and take the game-winning penalty is just (part of the) storybook, and hopefully we get the storybook ending tomorrow.”

No. 4 Sandpoint (10-5-2) will face off against No. 3 Pocatello (16-3), which defeated No. 2 Lewiston 5-0 in their semifinals match, in the 5A state title match today at 1 p.m. PST at Hillcrest High.

1st half — 1, MID, Quincy Daw (Maddy James), 39’. 2nd half — 2, SPT, Marlee McCrum (penalty kick), 75’. OT — None. 2OT — None.

Shots on goal: SPT — 6. MID — 13.

Saves: SPT — Lilliana Brinkmeier 12. MID — Megan Stewart 5.