Boys soccer trounce St. Maries
The Bonners Ferry boys soccer team won its second game of the season Thursday, Aug. 30, defeating St. Maries at home 4-0 to move to 2-0 in league play.
Sophomore Steffen Robles headed in the first two goals, off assists from senior Keaton Tremble and freshman Jake Tremble respectively, in the fifth and 20th minutes to give the Badgers a quick 2-0 lead. Jake Tremble scored the final two goals, both unassisted, in the 31st and 62nd minutes.
The Badgers outshot the Lumberjacks 14-5, and dominated time of possession throughout the game.
On Friday, Aug. 31, the Badgers entertained Stillwater Christian of Kalispell in a non-league match.
The Cougars jumped out quickly, scoring in the second and eighth minutes to grab a quick 2-0 lead. Senior goalkeeper Garrett Skeen made some excellent saves in the ensuing first-half play to keep the score close and the Badgers still only trailed by two at the half.
The Badgers improved their play as the game wore on, and in the 56th minute junior midfielder Jesus Mendez scored an unassisted goal off a Badger corner kick to cut the deficit to one. Just when it looked like the momentum had swung to the home side, the Cougars answered with a goal in the 60th minute to go up 3-1 with 20 minutes remaining.
While the Badgers kept up their solid play they could never find the back of the net again.
On Saturday Sept. 1, playing their third game in three days, the Badger squad faced the Coeur d’Alene junior varsity on the road, and came away with a 1-1 tie.
Garrett Skeen made several quality saves in the first half to deny Viking scoring opportunities, and at the half the game was scoreless. The Badgers broke through in the 47th minute when Jake Tremble took a well-placed through-pass from senior defender Evan Moe and found the back of the net.
Just when it looked like victory was in sight, the Vikings scored in the final minutes off a defensive miscue to even the match and force Bonners to settle for the tie.
Junior defender/midfielder Cameron Woods continued his solid play over the weekend.
Last Thursday, the Badgers faced a talented, experienced Sandpoint squad at Centennial Field.
Midway through the first half the Bulldogs scored their first goal, and at the half led only 1-0. Bonners continued their spirited effort into the second half, frustrating their opponents time and again.
Garrett Skeen turned away several excellent scoring chances, and the Badger defense held tight through extreme offensive pressure.
Finally, in the 70th and 75th minutes, Bulldog senior midfielder Jeremiah Gagnon found the back of the net to make the final 3-0.
Sandpoint outshot the Badgers 20-2 with Skeen making 11 saves. In defeat, the Badgers played exceptionally well, demonstrating a tenacity not yet seen from this year’s squad, led by senior co-captains Keaton Tremble and Evan Moe.
The following day the Badgers faced another experienced foe, St. George’s of Spokane.
After the exceptional effort the previous day, the boys came out flat and not ready to play. The Dragons found the back of the net in the first 30 seconds, scored twice more in the first half, and coasted to a 5-0 shutout of Bonners.
Not many highlights in this one, while the effort was there, the boys were lacking the mental fortitude to compete against a quality opponent that they demonstrated the day before.
The Badger boys play against the Sandpoint JV tonight at 4:30 and then Monday against Libby at 4:00 in Troy as part of a double-header with the girls’ team.