PREP SOCCER: Badgers steamroll Lumberjacks, boys undefeated

GIRLS 

BONNERS FERRY — Badger girls soccer (3-2, 2-1) was on fire scoring seven goals in the first half, with Maddie Hart and Alexys Mierke scoring two each in a league victory over St. Maries (1-3) on Saturday, Sept. 7.  

Senior forward Maddie Hart scores at 2:45 on her second attack on goal. Nollie Hiatt added another goal at the ninth minute off a cross by Mierke.  

From there the Badgers were on fire with Hart scoring again at the 11th minute off an assist from midfielder Lil Therrien. Mierke had her second goal of the afternoon at the 28-minute mark.  

Ocka Stoemer scored off a 30-foot-plus shot. Packed with English, the ball dropped behind the goalie making it 7-0 at half time.  

Goals were also scored by Brooke Petesch, Lil Therrien and Addison Lucas. The Badgers won 8-0.  

Bonners Ferry head coach Emily Winebark said the team is working on its confidence.  

“Taking risks, such as taking shots on goal and using new footwork techniques, are some way players are working on their confidence,” she said. “They are starting to believe in themselves more.” 

Up next the Badgers will face league opponent Priest River (0-3) on Sept. 13 away and at home on Sept. 16. The Spartans lost to the St. Marie Lumberjacks 3-2 and are ranked last in league. Winebark expects that match will allow the Badgers to get JV players more game experience when it comes to positioning.  

“We’ll put out leaders out on the field with younger players around them,” she said.  

Bonners Ferry has many players new to soccer, so getting minutes on the pitch is needed. Badger JV has five scheduled games this year.  

The badges are currently ranked third in the 4A/3A IML-CIL.  

BOYS 

BONNERS FERRRY — Hat tricks abounded for the Badgers on Saturday, who remain undefeated (5-0) and ranked first in league after defeating league opponent St. Maries (0-3) 13-0.  

The Badgers struck at the whistle with Eli Blackmore attacking the goal and taking on the entire Lumberjack defense until a foul was called. Ninety seconds into the match Blackmore scored a penalty kick and, in the third minute, he scored again, making it 2-0 for Bonners Ferry.  

Thirty seconds later, striker Nikita Rawson outran the defenses and sank his first goal of the game.  

Rawson scored again, Blackmore earned a hat trick and Logan Archibald scored all by the 19-minute mark.  

Freshman Gabriel Litterell scored the Badgers seventh goal from way out of the box and scored his second from a volley off the Lumberjack defense.  

The Badgers led 8-0 at half time.  

JV players got minutes in the second half and scored two goals, Josh Warner added a goal, and Litterell scored the final goal of the night, earning himself a hat trick.  

Bonners Ferry head coach Paul Bonnell said coaching staff took the lead as a teaching opportunity and moved veteran offensive players to defense and even as goalkeeper, while putting JV players and young players on offense.  

“We were trying to give people opportunities to better appreciate the game and other positions while looking to have ways for young players to learn,” he said. “All while trying to make it feel like a game for 80 minutes.”  

Bonnell said players effort and positive attitudes are in the right place, noting that regular starters were content with cheering on younger players on the bench. He hoped that the lesson learned from this past week carry over to this coming week’s games.  

The Badgers have defeated league opponents Orofino, Timberlake, Grangeville and St. Maires (4A-3A Intermountain/Central Idaho Legue from District I and II). The Badgers are scheduled face the remain league opponents Priest River (3-1) on Sept. 13 and Sept. 16 second ranked Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy (4-0) on Sept. 25.  

The Badgers will play at Lakeland (0-2-2) of the 6A/5A Inland Empire League on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.  

 GIRLS 

Bonners 5, Grangeville 1 

GRANGEVILLE — Badgers girls soccer defeated the Grangeville bulldogs 5-1 on Sept. 6.  

Goals were scored by Marley Feck, Ocka Stoemer, Nollie Hiatt and Maddie Hart had two goals. 

 BOYS 

Bonners 4, Grangeville 0 

GRANGEVILLE — Badger boys soccer (4-0) downed the Grangeville Bulldogs (1-0-1) 4-1 in league play on Sept. 6. All goals were scored by Nik Rawson.  

With the five-hour bus ride to Idaho County, it took the Badgers to find their groove on the pitch.  

“We started to wake up as the game progressed,” Bonners Ferry head coach Paul Bonnell said.  

The Badgers scored in the first four minutes as midfielder Eli Blackmore assisted striker Nikita “Nik” Rawson.  

Grangeville countered and it was 2-1 at half time.  

“I told the boys we’re going to learn lessons from this game. Do you want it to be that we fought it out and found your heart again or let the game slip away,” Bonnell said.  

Malachi Hubard, a senior right back defender, encouraged the team to hit deep shots, Bonnell said, adding that Hubard was cool headed on defense. Ben Middleton, the left back defense, was a strong contributor and although new to soccer, was figuring out defense.  

The Badgers found themselves in the second half and Rawson scored off a free kick and added another goal. Blackmore had three assists in the game.  

“Nik’s mindset the whole day was not that we have a five-hour bus ride, rather we’re going to go down there and take care of business, that’s the attitude we want to have.” Bonnell said.  

JV played Immaculate Conception Academy on Sept. 5 and fell 8-0. The game was originally set to be a varsity match, but the Badger varsity team was scheduled for too many games this season. The Badger JV had a few good looks, but were unable to convert to a goal.  

    Midfielder Eli Blackmore scores his second goal against St. Maries in the first few minutes of the match on Sept. 7.
  

    Giuliana Abraham protects the ball from St. Maries on Sept. 7.