Pair sign to play soccer at Northwest College
<p>Zach Couch, left, and Jeremiah Gagnon sign their letters of intent to play soccer next year at Northwest College. Pictured back row, from left to right, are Mike Couch, Melissa Couch, Adam Tajan, Kris Knowles and Mike Gagnon. (Photo by ERIC PLUMMER)</p>
SANDPOINT — They’ve been sharing the soccer pitch for years, and on Friday Sandpoint standouts Zach Couch and Jeremiah Gagnon ensured they’ll be playing together for a couple more, signing letters of intent to play soccer at Northwest College in Powell, Wyo.
The two highly-athletic players were key components on one of the most dominating soccer teams at Sandpoint in years, and Bulldog head coach Adam Tajan sees no reason why they won’t have continued success in the college game.
“They’ll be impact guys as freshmen. It will be real exciting to see these guys at the next level, see where they can progress to,” said Tajan. “They get to continue their careers playing together, which is a unique opportunity.”
Gagnon, a smooth player with a penchant for finding the back of the net, tallied 30 goals in the past two seasons. The Trappers head coach told him he’ll be playing up top in the attack next year as a freshman, a place he is very comfortable.
Also a standout basketball player, Gagnon is hoping to play both sports at Northwest College, while studying business administration.
“It’s a good feeling to know all the hard work you put in meant something,” said Gagnon, who was also considering playing at Colorado State and is eager to cut his teeth at the next level. “Just to see where my talent can take me, see if I can reach my potential.”
Couch, whose leaping ability and timing are two of his biggest weapons, helped anchor a back four that allowed just seven goals all season least year, an almost unheard of total. Like Gagnon, Couch expects to see playing time right away.
“The coach has us both as projected starters,” said Couch, a defender who is happy to continue playing the game he loves. “It means a lot. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I love to play soccer, I’ve been playing since I was four years-old.”
The Trappers went 8-8-3 last year in the National Junior College Athletic Association, falling to North Idaho College in the regional tournament. It was a tough ending for a program accustomed to making it to the national tournament.
Gagnon and Couch will be reunited at Northwest College with former teammate Erik Wehse, who started at goalie as a freshman at Sandpoint before moving to Colorado.