Boys' soccer advances to state!
<p>The 2013 Boys’ Soccer team won district title and is playing in the State Tournament today. Pictured left to right: (front) Tucker Dirks, Preston Johnson, Caleb Blackmore, Jake Tremble, J.P. Swingle, (back) Trevor Pew, Caelan Rapp, Griffin Doubrava, Colton Moore, Oscar Lopez, Chase Dinning, Jesus Mendez, Cameron Woods, Collin Stone, Elijah Price, Steffen Robles, Matthew Gray and Victor Mendez.</p>
The Bonners Ferry boys’ soccer team claimed the Idaho District I-II Championship Saturday by beating St. Maries 3–0 at Rotary Field in Rathdrum.
The IML champion Badgers, who finished league play 6–0, had several scoring opportunities in the first half but were unable to convert any and half-time found the teams in a scoreless tie.
Three minutes into the second half, senior midfielder Victor Mendez fired a low shot from 18 yards out that Lumberjack goalkeeper Cody Posselt saved but was unable to control. Senior midfielder Cameron Woods gathered the rebound and his uncontested shot into an open goal gave the Badgers the breakthrough goal they were looking for.
Eleven minutes later, at the 54 minute mark, sophomore striker Jake Tremble scored the first of his two goals off a crossing pass from junior midfielder J.P. Swingle to put Bonners up 2-0.
Tremble put the game out of reach in the 65th minute, working a nice one-two combination with sophomore midfielder Tucker Dirks and firing a 15-yard shot from the left side into the far side-panel to put the game out of reach.
Badger goalkeeper sophomore Caleb Blackmore was rarely tested, turning away the only two shots he faced, as the defending quartet of senior Oscar Lopez and juniors Matthew Gray, Trevor Pew and Collin Stone continuously denied the Lumberjacks any scoring opportunities.
The Badgers advanced to the championship game by eliminating fourth-seeded Orofino 10–0 on Friday afternoon.
Woods, Tremble, and IML co-player of the year, senior Jesus Mendez, each scored two goals in the rout. Junior outside midfielders Swingle and Steffen Robles each contributed three assists in the convincing victory.
The Badgers, who completed their regular season with a 9–7–2 record, open the Idaho 3A State Tournament Thursday Oct. 24, facing District VI champion Sugar-Salem (15 - 1), at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time at Vallivue High School in Caldwell.