Boys soccer with three-game winning streak
(Photo by Victor Corral Martinez) Pictured: Jaden Villelli at the home game against the Orofino Maniacs.
(Photo by Victor Corral Martinez) Pictured: JEli Blackmore at the home game against the Orofino Maniacs.
(Photo by Rose Owens) Pictured: Wyatt Heart at the away game against Stillwater Christian.
BONNERS FERRY — Badger boys soccer won its third straight game on Tuesday night, earning a 1-0 win at Priest River.
Bonners Ferry played a home Intermountain League match against the Orofino Maniacs last Friday and pulled out a 3-0 victory.
Ke’Ahi Robles scored the first goal of the game in the first half, setting the tone for the rest of the game against the Maniacs.
Both teams played strong defense, but the Badgers were able to shut out the Maniacs. Braedan Blackmore did well controlling the wing and preventing Orofino from making it past him.
According to head coach Paul Bonnell, a big focus for the Badgers after the Coeur d’Alene Charter loss on Sept. 20 was to control the tempo and ball more than in previous matches.
Going into the Orofino match, Bonnell said he emphasized controlling the midfield and better passing.
“We’re working on passing and working on throw-ins and shorter, crisper passes,” Bonnell said.
After halftime, Orofino got more aggressive. The Badgers were reactive to the Maniacs in the opening minutes of the second half, and the ball bounced in the air like a volleyball match.
Eventually, the Badgers found their groove, focused on the task at hand, and controlled the ball.
According to Bonnell, the team began second-guessing themselves but focused on the simple fundamentals to accomplish what they needed to win the game.
Bonnell said he was impressed with an assist from Nikita Rawson to Wyatt Hart for a goal against Coeur d’Alene Charter, and he saw that combination replicated against Orofino.
Hart received the ball from Rawson. His shot curved right and down and hit the back of the net for a goal.
The shot was one for the books. Bonnell said it was a beautiful shot to witness.
Hart thanked his team for their effort to create an opportunity for him to score.
“I was hyped and wanted to keep pushing the momentum,” he said.
Jaden Villelli scored the final goal, helping to cement the Badgers win over Orofino.
The following day, Badgers went to Kalispell, Mont., to play against Stillwater Christian.
Bonners Ferry played the Cougars earlier in the season, winning the match 2-1, but it was the Badgers’ third game in six days.
In the first minute, the Badgers found the back of the net and just a minute later, they scored again to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Cougars rallied, but the Badgers stepped up their play in the midfield and on defense to hold Stillwater Christian scoreless and secure a 4-0 win.
“Play was intense throughout both halves, necessitating communication, teamwork and positional play, which we have been working on specifically,” Bonnell said about the match.
Nick Eastman and Peter Regan scored two goals each.
In the junior varsity game against Stillwater Christian, Jesse Dye scored four goals. Kayden Chouinard and Loren Huggins scored one each. In addition, Asher Williams scored on a penalty kick.
The Badgers are currently in third place in the league, behind Coeur d’Alene Charter and Timberlake, but all three teams are fighting for the top spot.
Bonners Ferry hosts Grangeville at 3 p.m. Saturday and heads to Immaculate Conception Academy in Post Falls on Monday.
