Boys soccer team set up for title showdown

By ROBERT JAMES

Managing Editor

The Bonners Ferry boys soccer team rebounded from a tough loss to Northwest Christian and beat St. Maries 4-1 to stay in first place in the league standings over the weekend.

The team jumped ahead of St. Maries, leading 2-0 at half after goals by sophomore John Wakkinen and Miguel Mendez.

"We pretty much played them the same way we played them before," coach Wayne Wilkerson said, referring to the 2-0 victory by Bonners Ferry over St. Maries earlier this season. The Lumberjacks play a very defensive type of game and it is important to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

"If they feel they have a chance to win, then they up the play level," he said. "We try to match them physically."

On the Badgers' home field, St. Maries tried to open up their defensive game a bit and it may have backfired, Wilkerson said.

After the half, Bonners Ferry scored again on another goal by Miguel Mendez. St. Maries tallied a goal in the 57th minute, but Bonners Ferry quickly responded with a very pretty corner kick-header goal just two minutes later.

Jody Wilkerson set the play up by launching a perfect corner kick to the front of the goal where Jesus Mendez had set up. Jesus jumped high into the air and headed the ball into the top corner of the net, out of reach of the St. Maries goaltender.

"He was head and shoulders above the others," Wilkerson said of Jesus Mendez.

Bonners Ferry finished the game out much better than the team had finished against Northwest Christian earlier in the week.

In that game, the Badgers jumped out to 2-0 and 3-1 leads in the first half before melting down and allowing six unanswered goals, losing 7-3.

"We felt very confident, we were playing well," Wilkerson said. "Then we made a couple mistakes and there was this huge momentum shift."

Northwest Christian scored three goals in five minutes at the end of the first half to grab a 4-3 lead at halftime.

From there, Bonners Ferry gave up three more goals in the second half.

"We got back on our heels," Wilkerson said.

Goalkeeper Cedar Bolton was bombarded by 20 shots in the game. Despite the loss, Wilkerson saw some positives in the game.

"We never quit playing," he said.

This week, the team plays three straight games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, ending with a game against Orofino that will decide the regular season league title.

The Saturday game is Senior Night and is the last home match of the season. Wilkerson encourages all Badger fans to come watch and cheer the team on for what he hopes will be a Badger league title.