Soccer team takes third in state

Bonners Ferry Boys Soccer Team claimed third place Saturday with a 3–1 victory over the Sugar-Salem Diggers at the State 3A Soccer Tournament at Vallivue High School in Caldwell.

The Badgers finished the season with a 14–5–3 record.

Sugar-Salem scored first in the 16th minute, but the Badgers tied the score in the 24th minute when Miguel Mendez scored from 20 yards out with an assist to Andre Zarate.

The Badgers took the lead for good in the 63rd minute when Mendez was brought down in the penalty box, earning a penalty kick, which he converted into the right upper “nine” to make the score 2–1.

Bonners added a late insurance goal when Mendez led Zarate with a nifty through pass and the freshman buried the shot in the lower right corner past the diving Digger goalkeeper to complete the scoring.

In the opening round Thursday, Bonners Ferry advanced to the semifinals with a convincing 5–1 victory over the Aberdeen Tigers. The Badgers dominated play from the start, and finally found the back of the net in the 17th minute when Jody Wilkerson scored off a Miguel Mendez assist.

Chris Gerhardt headed home on a Wilkerson cross in the 23rd minute, and defender John Wakkinen converted a loose ball after a corner kick in the 27th minute to put Bonners up 3–0. Mendez tallied two scores in the 37th and 39th minutes with assists from midfielders Wilkerson and Aaron Moe, respectively, to make the half-time score 5-0.

The Badgers let off the throttle in the second half, playing everyone off the bench and some regulars at different positions, resulting in few scoring opportunities, and the Tigers scored their lone goal with five minutes remaining.

On Friday in the semifinals, the Badgers faced American Falls, whom Bonners had defeated last season in the same round on their way to the championship. The game was hard fought and intense from the opening whistle, and the first half ended in a scoreless tie, with the Beavers having a slight edge in time of possession.

The Badgers re-grouped at the break, and came out and began to slowly take over the pace of the game, winning more loose balls and gaining the edge in possession. Finally, in the 52nd minute, Bonners found the back of the net when Mendez blasted a shot from 18 yards out off a Zarate assist to give the Badgers the lead.

The Badgers kept up the pressure, dominating play and getting several good scoring chances, but were never able to convert that second goal. With five minutes remaining, American Falls scored to tie the game, and then shockingly scored again a minute later to take the lead 2-1.

The Badgers still had some time left, and nearly scored again to tie it, but were denied as time ran out. Goalkeeper Mat Evans recorded six saves for the Badgers, stopping several hard shots, while Bonners out-shot the Beavers 11 – 8.

Playing their final games for the Badgers were seniors Miguel Mendez, Jody Wilkerson, John Wakkinen, Vince Skjeveland, Mike Strappelli, and Chris Gerhardt.