Bulldog girls drop close match to Lake City

SANDPOINT – The Sandpoint Bulldogs girls soccer team put up an outstanding effort Tuesday afternoon against the visiting Lake City Timberwolves, but just weren’t able to hold on to their early lead.

Sandpoint coach Conor Baranski was proud of his team nonetheless, as he believes the girls put up a great fight against a juggernaut of a club.

“I thought the first half was the best half we’ve put together all season,” he said. “To be 1-0 up on Lake City, who are arguably one of the best teams in the state, after 40 minutes was really huge. I thought every single player on our team contributed really well in that first half.”

The Bulldogs had squared off against the undefeated Timberwolves twice already this season, dropping both by a combined score of 14-0.

That is why it was all the more impressive that Sandpoint took a lead into the half, thanks to an unassisted goal by senior Kelsey Cessna - her sixth in the last four games.

“I think we caught Sandpoint on their best night,” Lake City coach Matt Ruchti said. “I know we had the better moments against them early on (in the season), but they came ready to play. They were better than us in the first half and we challenged our players at halftime and they stepped up.”

Once the second half kicked off, Lake City had shook the cobwebs off and returned to form by controlling most of the play.

“When they turned it on, we struggled at times to keep up with their pace,” Baranski said.

Lake City tied things up with a goal from senior Olivia Azzolini, assisted by senior Georgia Whitehead, at the 63rd minute. Senior Elliotte Kortus, with the help of senior Delaney Moczan, would then pull the Timberwolves ahead at the 78th minute.

“Elliot always finds her way on the stat sheet,” Ruchti said. “She just has a knack for the goal and just finds a way to put the ball in there.”

Coming off a back-to-back against Lewiston on the road, Ruchtiu was pleased with the outcome and is looking forward to having districts at home against Post Falls on Saturday at noon.

The Bulldogs will face either Moscow or Lakeland in their to-be-determined district final game.