Badger girl's soccer goes 3-1 over the Spartans
Mia Blackmore #8 goes for the ball against Priest River August 23.
(Photo by: EMILY BONSANT)
BONNERS FERRY — Bonners Ferry Badgers beat the Priest River Spartans 3-1 on Tuesday.
The Spartans played with only nine players due to athletes not having enough practices to compete. The Badger’s forwards and midfielders went on the attack, fighting for every 50-50 ball and gaining the return kick from the goalkeeper nearly every time.
Mia Blackmore, playing for the Badgers, scored in the first two minutes of the match. Before halftime the Badgers scored two more times in rapid succession by Brooke Petesch and Brenly Hymas. Teresa Shottana-Ponce, goalkeeper, saved a penalty kick later in the match.
Head coach Emily Winebark said that the team hustled and they had some really strong players in the middle with Blackmore, Majassa Allred and Lindsey Onstott.
The Badgers will play Grangeville at home on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
“Grangeville is very physical, so we need to work on staying on our feet,” Winebark said.
She predicted the game will be more physical than the one against Priest River. She said the Badgers will have to work on staying up, using their core, staying on their feet and being first to the ball.
The Badgers are 2-0 overall.
As the Spartans kept the Badgers at bay, they had good looks on goal and scored at the end of the second half. Two Spartans had their feet on the ball for the scored goal: Lizzie McCracken and Cheyenne Thompson.
The Spartans had to make some quick changes on the field due to Thompson just recently being medically released. Head coach Kris Leonard said they adapted beautifully.
Leonard said the Spartans will have a full team for Saturday’s game. She said the focus for the next game is goal scoring, passing and dribbling.
“[For passing] today wasn’t bad, but when they get tired you can see their passing go down,” Leonard said. “When their legs are fresh, their passes are good and they are trying to make goal kicks consistent.”
This year they are working on developing offense, Leonard said. It is only the second game of the season and Leonard is hopeful that the team will get where they need to be.