Boise edges past short-handed LC
BOISE – Attacking Lake City’s shuffled defense early, Boise built an early lead and held off the Timberwolves’ late comeback for a 2-1 victory in the opening round of the State 5A boys soccer tournament at the Boise Capital Soccer Complex Thursday.
The T-Wolves play Idaho Falls in a consolation bracket loser-out match at 2 p.m. PST today. In other 5A games, Borah topped Idaho Falls 2-0, Timberline edged Coeur d’Alene 1-0 and Mountain Home smacked Skyline 6-1.
Lake City stopper Jake Williamson watched the game from the bench with his broken leg, suffered in the regional title match, protected from the light rain by a plastic trash bag. Without him, Lake City’s rebuilt defense had to quickly adjust against a Braves attack that put nine shots on goal to one by the T-Wolves in the first half.
“Our speed up top helped us in the first half. When we knocked to our forwards, they were able to get around them,” said Braves coach Mike Darrow, whose team improved its record to 13-3-1.
Even with all the opportunities – Lake City goalkeeper Scott Klein made six saves in each half – Boise managed only one score in the first half.
That tally was anything but straightforward.
Just past the midway point of the first half, Klein faced down a breakaway from the Braves. The Lake City keeper charged the ball and the attacker. Klein made a diving grab of the ball, but the Boise forward tripped over Klein when leaping over him. Klein was called for a foul and Boone Femrite punched in the ensuing penalty kick.
The Braves added a score early in the second half when Brian Rosco kicked in a rebound off a Klein save.
“Boise kind of had us down on the floor with their foot on us,” said Lake City coach Chad Beadell.
As Lake City (16-2-1) started its comeback, the T-Wolves suffered another setback. Forward Tim Schreiber, who managed Lake City’s only shot on goal the first half, left the game with an injury.
Playing with a deep bruise on his foot, Schreiber got kicked on the injured foot, putting him out of the game. There was no foul on that play, but the physical contest registered more than a dozen yellow cards.
One of those penalties came on a trip of Evan Palo halfway through the second period. Chris Shaw ripped the direct kick through the Boise defense to cut the lead to 2-1.
In the final minutes, Brett Lawson made a throw-in from the corner for the T-Wolves that James Henry headed toward the net. Boise keeper Mike McLeod made a leaping save, his only one of the game, to protect the lead.
Timberline 1, Coeur d’Alene 0: Shane Meyer scored on a penalty kick for Timberline (15-1-2) in the 55th minute to send the Vikings into the consolation bracket.
The penalty kick came after a CdA defender attempted a slide tackle on a Timberline forward in the goalie box.
The Vikings (14-3-3) will play Skyline (11-6-2) of Idaho Falls at 2 p.m. PST today.
State 3A
Sugar-Salem 2, Bonners Ferry 0: The Badgers (9-6-3) dropped their opening game at the Capital Soccer Complex.
Sugar-Salem (12-2-7), which scored both goals in the first half, advanced to play Bliss (15-0-1). BF will meet Aberdeen today at 8:30 a.m. PST.