Bulldogs hope to return to winning ways at state
Young Bulldog squad gunning for third title in four years
By ERIC PLUMMER
Sports editor
SANDPOINT — Winners of the last three state titles will square off today at the girls 4A state soccer tournament, as Sandpoint and Preston meet in a tough opening round battle at the Idaho Falls Soccer Complex.
The Bulldogs won titles in 2013 and 2014, while Preston (13-3-3) won it’s first crown last season. It’s not the first time two heavyweights have met in a state opener, and it won’t be the last, but the fact remains one team’s title hopes will be dashed when the final whistle blows three times today.
For the Bulldogs to advance, head coach Conor Baranski will lean heavily on a newly-fortified back four of Taylor Ward, Mya Darling, Jezza Hutto and Yeo Yarnell, and one of the best players in the state in sophomore striker Riley Walkington.
Walkington has a team high 10 goals on the year, and will be one of the toughest marks in the tourney. Ward, a senior with plenty of state experience, anchors a unit that saw Yarnell and Hutto recently move into the back four, changing the dynamic of the unit.
“Starting with those two as outside backs has added a new element of speed and intelligence,” said Baranski, who led the Bulldogs to a pair of state titles and would love to make it three in four years. “We will also lean on Riley. She’s scored five goals in the last two games, and absolutely took over the District Championship with determination, grit and that scoring touch.”
The Bulldogs (6-5-5) scored 27 goals this season and allowed 31, playing arguably the toughest schedule in the 4A ranks. Teams won’t be fooled by the record, knowing the Bulldogs usually enter the tourney with both a banged up record and plenty of talent.
Casey Shaha has enjoyed a breakout season, tallying six goals and five assists, and Kayla Inman has added teeth to the attack with six assists. Hutto added three goals and five assists, and if the time is right, can still move up into the attack when needed.
“We need to trust our training, and be one unit of organization in attack and defense,” said Baranski. “We’ve done it a number of times throughout the season, but now we’ll need to put it all together for three games straight.”
Shea Kilpatrick will start in goal for the Bulldogs, a rare freshman starting at one of the most important positions. Helping ease her workload is a midfield whose strength is linking passes and possessing, essential to shutting down some offenses used to putting up crooked numbers.
Baranski thinks his team can win three games in three days, but he knows it’s more important that they believe it.
“Any time we make it to state, we have a chance of winning,” claimed Baranski. “We play an incredibly tough schedule, specifically to prepare us for this competition. We can absolutely win it all, but it will take us playing well each day.”
Sandpoint and Preston play at 10 a.m. PST today.