Richards Sends Viks To State Freshman Scores All Four Goals As Cda Triumphs In Overtime

Freshman Jared Richards single-headedly and single-handedly put the Coeur d’Alene High School boys soccer team in the state tournament Wednesday.

Richards scored all four goals for Coeur d’Alene, including the game-winner off his head as the Vikings prevailed over equally talented Moscow 4-3 in overtime in a North Idaho district match that finished in darkness at Viking Field.

“I think it’s anybody’s dream as a freshman,” Richards said of his four-goal performance. He had two goals in CdA’s 7-1 win over Lakeland on Monday.

Coeur d’Alene will be a playing host at state, which will be held next Thursday through Saturday.

Moscow and CdA each had several scoring opportunities in the first half. But it was the Bears who struck first when Kyle Rose crossed in front of the Vikings goal and directed a free kick from Dana Sorbel into the right corner of the net past freshman goalie Barret Schwerin at the 36-minute, 30-second mark.

So when the second half started, CdA coach John Smith was less concerned about going scoreless as he was about Moscow’s aggressive attacks.

“We haven’t had any trouble scoring in the limited amount of play that we’ve had,” Smith said. “We’ve got some real good finishers on the team. But I wanted to keep them out of our goal. I thought we’d get the opportunities to score. But Moscow is so quick and can finish. The defense held together.”

The Viks didn’t have to wait long to tie the score. Richards dashed past Moscow goalie Sean Finnie, who had slipped, and Richards put in the can’t-miss shot 9 minutes into the second half.

Ten minutes later, Richards stole the ball and beat Finnie one-on-one to put CdA ahead 2-1.

Scott Strobel fired in a tying score from a crowded pack at the 69-minute mark as the ball zipped through a wide hole at the top of the net.

With 5 minutes remaining, CdA scored what it thought would be the winning goal. Kyle Chambers dribbled deep left of the goal and dropped a perfect pass to Richards, who drilled the ball past Finnie.

But the referee didn’t signal a goal immediately. He counseled with the sideline official to make sure CdA wasn’t offsides. A minute later, the referee allowed the goal.

Moscow fought back, tying the match at 3 a minute later on a header by Jason Kuska.

Richards scored the eventual winner with just 5 seconds before the end of the first 5-minute overtime period. He timed his approach to the left side of the net well, then headed a corner kick by Adam Grace off Finnie, who couldn’t knock it away.

Moscow’s relentless pressure was reflected in shots on goal. The Bears had 20 to CdA’s 11, and Schwerin made 14 saves.

Moscow advanced to the showdown for the district’s second berth to state with a 2-1 win over Lake City on Monday. Sandpoint automatically qualified for state last spring when it captured the North Idaho Cup.

Smith told the Viks afterward that the fun was just beginning. He was also impressed with Richards.

“He doesn’t know how young he is,” Smith said. “He just plays the game. He’s got a knack. It’s real hard to train a striker, a finisher. Either they have it or they don’t. He has it.”

, DataTimes