Lake City girls soccer blanks CdA for 5A region title

The seniors on the Lake City girls soccer team have some unfinished work.

Two years ago, seven of the team’s eight seniors were instrumental in the Timberwolves’ state championship. Last year, though, Lake City fell in a state opener to eventual winner Boise.

Lake City earned the opportunity to challenge for gold again after the Timberwolves shut out the Coeur d’Alene Vikings 3-0 in the 5A Region I championship match Wednesday at LC.

The T-Wolves (14-2-1) advance to state, Oct. 23-25 at Idaho Falls.

Coeur d’Alene (8-6-1), which upset Lewiston to earn the matchup against LC, can still earn a state berth. The Viks take on the District III fifth-place team Saturday in a play-in match at Lewiston.

From front to back, the T-Wolves had the Viks and the field covered. And one of those seniors, goalie Tiegan Horton, smothered the few opportunities CdA had on a rain-soaked field.

“It feels really similar,” senior forward Maddi Ward said of the 2014 team and the one two years ago.

“We have a lot of motivation to win this year because it’s our senior year. We’ve got to go out with a bang. We know we can do it if we all pull together.”

Courtny Hanson, the one senior who wasn’t on the team two years ago, came off the bench and got the T-Wolves going. She took a high bouncing pass and scooped it left footed just over the extended arms of CdA goalie Julia Roach for the first goal at the 32-minute mark.

Johnson also converted on a penalty kick later in the match.

“Courtny could start on any team in the league but she doesn’t for us,” coach Matt Ruchti said. “She’s OK with that. She knows what her role is and she fills it great.”

Sophomore Havana Johnson, who has a team-leading 23 goals, had two assists including a pass to Ward in the first minute of the second half that led the LC’s second goal.

LC dropped most of its players back the final 10 minutes to prevent a Coeur d’Alene rally.

Fronted by strong defenders, goalie Horton had another flawless game. She had seven saves.

“Tiegan has had a great career,” Ruchti said.

“She is one of our key players,” Ward said.

LC’s first loss came in a 4-2 setback Sept. 11 at Lewiston. The second loss was 2-1 to defending Washington State 4A champion Central Valley. Since then the T-Wolves have run off 11 straight victories.

“We’re built a lot like the (LC boys),” Ruchti said of the unbeaten boys team that captured a regional title on Tuesday. “We’ve got good athletes who can go forward. And we’ve got some very good finishers. We’ve got lots of players who can score goals at any point in time. They proved they can do it again today.”

Boys – 4A Region I

Two goals from Alec Martin propelled Moscow to a 2-0 victory over visiting Lakeland in the title match Wednesday.

Moscow advances to state, Oct. 23-25. The tourney will be held in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls.

Martin got his first goal in the 19th minute and added an insurance goal at the 63-minute mark.