Mendez leads Badgers

| September 12, 2008 9:00 PM

The Badgers scored four late goals to win 5-2 at Lakeland on Monday.

Miguel Mendez scored in the 11th minute, with Lakeland countering in the 20th minute off a long sideline throw-in.

The 4A Hawks grabbed the lead in the 57th minute with a goal by Peder Sortehaug, stunning the Badgers who had been controlling the pace of play the entire game. Senior Mike Strappelli scored his first goal as a Badger in the 69th minute to tie the game.Then the Badgers scored three times in the last five minutes, the first two coming from freshman Andre Zarate off assists from Jody Wilkerson and then sophomore midfielder Alex Mendez, and the last from Miguel Mendez, who headed in a cross from sophomore midfielder Aaron Moe.

After dropping their first two games to 4A schools Moscow and Sandpoint, the Badger boys soccer team has won four straight games, highlighted by wins over Coeur d'Alene and Lakeland last week.

Over the Labor Day weekend, the Badgers beat Stillwater Christian of Kalispell 3-1 on goals by Zarate, Daniel Palacios and Mendez.

The following day, the boys opened league play with a 5 - 0 victory over Orofino, with Wilkerson scoring three goals and Mendez adding two more. Bonners outshot the Maniacs 12-3.

The Coeur d'Alene Vikings visited Sept. 4, with Bonners taking a 2-0 lead at halftime on goals by Mendez and assists by Wilkerson and Zarate. Badger Mat Evans scored his first career goal in the second half on an assist from Zarate, which was followed by the Vikings scoring off the ensuing kickoff to pull back within two scores.

Wilkerson added a goal late in the half off an assist from Evans before CDA tallied late to make the final 4-2 in favor of Bonners.

The Badgers outshot the Hawks 15 - 6, and sophomore goalkeeper Mat Evans had a solid game, recording four saves.

The Badger boys travel to St. George (Spokane), St. Maries and Stillwater Christian next week before returning home for a game against Sandpoint on Thursday, Sept. 18.

Bonners Ferry 5, Orofino 0

First Half - 1. BF, Wilkerson (Zarate), 0:20. 2. BF, Wilkerson (M.Mendez), 14:00. 3. BF, M. Mendez (A.Mendez), 20:00. 4. BF, Wilkerson, 27:00.

Second Half - 5. BF, M. Mendez (penalty kick), 48:00.

Shots on Goal - Orofino 3, Bonners Ferry 12. Saves - Orofino, Lansing 6. BF - Strappelli 0, Evans 3.

Bonners Ferry 4, Coeur d'Alene 2

First Half - 1. BF, M. Mendez (Wilkerson), 6:00. 2. BF, M. Mendez (Zarate), 36:00.

Second Half - 3. BF, Evans (Zarate), 43:00. 4. CdA, Astin, 43:00. 5. BF, Wilkerson (Evans), 54:00. 6. CdA, Barrera (Troxel), 76:00.

Shots on Goal - CdA 4, Bonners Ferry 6. Saves - CdA, Keith 3, BF - Strappelli 3.

Bonners Ferry 5, Lakeland 2

First Half - 1. BF, M. Mendez, 11:00. 2. LL, 20:00.

Second Half - 3. LL, Sortehaug, 57:00. 4. BF, Strappelli, 69:00. 5. BF, Zarate (Wilkerson), 75:00. 6. BF, Zarate (A. Mendez), 76:00. 7. BF, M. Mendez, (Moe),

79:00.

Shots on Goal - Bonners Ferry 15, Lakeland 6. Saves - BF, Evans 4, LL, Jones 8.