Bulldogs blank Bears in championship game
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) The Bulldogs, including Noah Hastings with trophy and Tanner Kohal (No. 5) and Tyler Moore (No. 3) took care of business and earned a spot in the state tournament next week.
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Luke Koch was a force in the midfield, starting the Bulldog offense by winning ball after ball out of the air.
SANDPOINT — There’s no real stat to quantify a good midfielder, as they don’t really get credit for a shutout, and often don’t rack up huge goal or assist numbers.
But there was no denying the impact that senior midfielder Luke Koch had on the 4A Region 1 boys soccer championship on Thursday at Pine St. Field, as the No. 1 seed Bulldogs (12-1-2) handled their business in a decisive 3-0 blanking of the No. 2 seed Bears to punch their ticket to state.
Koch won nearly every ball out of the air in the midfield, using plus leaping ability and size to control the action, and coupled with the great energy and pace of forwards Noah Hastings, Christian Dressel and Mac Stultz, provided a winning recipe for the Bulldogs.
First year coach Evan McNeley said the team treated the district championship like business as usual, and as it has all season, the approach paid off in victory.
“The consistency of how we play, consistency of bringing energy to each game, not looking too far in advance and play game for game,” said McNeley of the key to the 3-0 win. “Luke dominated the central mid, and everybody responded. Noah and Christian had great energy, and the defense gave very little.”
Terron Tvrdy got the Bulldogs on the board first midway through the first half when the Moscow keeper misplayed a ball, and Zander Moore added a second goal shortly after by sliding in and punching a rebound into the net for a 2-0 lead in the 28th minute.
The lead was plenty for the Bulldogs, who posted their ninth clean sheet of the season. Tvrdy, Max Edmundson and Tanner Kohal shut down the Moscow runs, making life easy for goalie Julian Reichold to post his 9th shutout.
Mac Stultz was rewarded with an insurance goal after continuing to play hard late in the game, as the Bulldogs rarely take their foot off the pedal.
“We play as a team. Coach preached it all year, and today it showed,” said Koch, part of a strong and large group of seniors who set the tone. “At the beginning of the game, we said we love one another, and gave it our all.”
The Bulldogs navigated a salty schedule with just one loss, and figure to be one of the favorites when the top eight 4A teams in the state meet in Caldwell starting on Thursday.
Boasting height, speed, depth and a hard working mindset instilled by a strong senior class, the Bulldogs will be a tough out for anyone in their path on the bracket.
“We don’t have one strength,” said Hastings. “We have five forwards, solid mids and backs. Just a solid all-around team.”
The Bulldogs will kick off the 4A state tournament on Thursday in Caldwell.
First half — 1, Spt, Terron Tvrdy (unassisted), 20:00. 2, Spt, Zander Moore (Mac Stultz), 28:00. Second half — 3, Stultz (unassisted), 70:00.
Shots on goal — Spt 12, Mos 5.
Saves — Spt, Julian Reichold, 5; Mos, 8.