Orofino ends girls soccer season

By ROBERT JAMES

Managing Editor

The season ended Friday for the Bonners Ferry girls soccer team as the team dropped a 3-1 game to Orofino in the Intermountain League tournament.

Jennifer Putnam scored the only goal for Bonners Ferry, but the Badgers had their chances, coach John Lindberg said.

"In the first half, our girls really dominated, but the ball didn't go in," he said. "We had opportunities big time in the first half."

Instead, the Badgers and Maniacs went in to halftime tied 1-1.

After that, Orofino capitalized on two scoring chances in the second half to pull out the 3-1 win.

"Both teams played very, very hard," Lindberg said. "Orofino is the legitimate winner. They had the players and the talent."

Orofino beat Bonners Ferry two other times this season, both times by a single goal, so the teams were evenly matched and it showed Friday, Lindberg said.

Putnam, who recorded her 26th goal of the season in the game, played a superb game, Lindberg said. He also praised Emily Cipolla and Tabby Fields for their defensive game.

The team loses four seniors and all four are very talented, Lindberg said. Putnam has at least two colleges looking at her for her talents and Cipolla, Marisol Ponce and Fields are also moving on after this season.

Lindberg used the final game as an opportunity to meet individually with each senior as a send-off. Those girls have helped him tremendously, he said.

"This year's senior class went all out to help mentor the younger players both on the field and in practice," he said. "They were a big help to me."