Ole! Tigers on top

Lewis and Clark’s 2-0 Greater Spokane League girls soccer victory at Gonzaga Prep on Friday afternoon may have been, in the words of Tigers coach Casey Curtis, “just one of the steps in the journey,” but it was a big step nonetheless.

The victory was the sixth straight for LC and left the Tigers alone in first place heading into the final two weeks of the GSL season.

The Tigers scored on Kenzi Grow’s penalty kick in the final minute of the first half and added insurance by Kit Parker early in the second period to move three points ahead of Mead and five points ahead of G-Prep’s Bullpups in the standings.

“It’s big because it’s the next step in the process, but it’s not the end-all,” Curtis said of the victory. “We’ve talked all year about the journey.”

That journey suffered early trepidation at G-Prep in a match played in front of a raucous crowd. All that was missing from the early chanting was the musical “Ole, ole, ole, ole” anthem common to soccer – although that was to come.

The Bullpups played with the wind at their backs and spent much of the half either in the Tigers’ end of the field or no worse than at midfield.

While the hosts pressed the attack, in what became a physical tussle with numerous fouls, LC seemed content with laying back and playing defense. It wasn’t by design.

“They were pretty aggressive and winning more balls in the air,” Grow said. “And it helped that they had the wind. You could tell in the second half it kind of changed up a little.”

Late in the half, however, the Tigers (11-1, 6-0 GSL, 18 points) made a charge, there was contact in the box and Grow delivered on the penalty kick.

“One-on-one,” she said. “Those are my favorites.”

The fans delivered their “Oles.”

Three minutes into the second half, Parker found herself in a cluster at the right front of the goal, leaped high and kicked Alix Silha’s crossing pass into the net. Only moments before, she had made a run down the right side and delivered a nice strike only to be repelled by diving G-Prep goalkeeper Sarah Manix.

“I was just lucky,” Parker said of her make-good on the second opportunity. “I was in the right place at the right time.”

It was welcomed insurance.

“One goal is not hard to come back from,” Curtis said. “Two is. It’s a big hill to climb.”

It proved insurmountable for the Bullpups (9-2, 5-2, 13 points) who had some opportunities, but none truly serious. Curtis credited the defense, depth and talent of his team with advancing another step on the journey.

“The kids really wanted to win this game, I think,” he said. “Before the season started, everyone thought it would come down to us and Prep. There’s been a bit of a shakeup, but we’ve done what we could to take care of our business.”

•At Mead, the second-place Panthers (8-1, 5-1, 15 points) rebounded from Wednesday’s loss to rival Mt. Spokane and beat University (6-6, 3-4, 10) 3-1. Breanne Taylor scored all three goals, two coming 4 minutes apart in the first half. They play the Tigers at Hart Field in a week. … Host Mt. Spokane (6-2, 4-2, 13) tied the Bullpups for third with a 3-1 win over North Central (3-8, 1-6, three points). Sammie Pedersen had two assists, on goals by Averi Hallman and Morgan Williams. … Ferris (5-4-1, 3-3, nine points) built a 3-0 lead at home and held off Shadle Park (3-6, 3-3, nine points) 3-2. Included was an own goal against the Highlanders 10 minutes into the contest. Erica Smith and Christie Bauer got the others. … Central Valley (5-4, 3-3, nine points) got a hat trick from Taylor Spooner and goal and two assists from Tawny Thompson to beat visiting Rogers (0-7, 0-7, 0 points) 7-0.

Idaho 3A girls

Playing in place of Bonners Ferry’s leading scorer Kendra Johnson – sidelined with a broken collarbone – Briana Watt scored one goal and assisted on the other in a 2-0 victory over St. Maries in the District I-II tournament at Post Falls. The Badgers (9-8-1) meet the winner of the day’s other district semifinal in a winner-to-state game today at 2:30 p.m. St. Maries finishes the season 5-8-3.

Idaho 3A boys

Miguel Mendez and Sergei Dawson each had a pair of goals for Bonners Ferry in a 9-0 romp over Priest River, eliminating the Spartans (0-8) from the District I-II tournament at Post Falls. The Badgers (11-4-3) advance to a winner-to-state game Friday against St. Maries (8-6-3), which ousted Orofino 3-2 on Cody Dickman’s spectacular header off a corner kick by Kendal McMillen in the 75th minute.