Boys state soccer: Boise, Timberline set up championship rematch. BK gets another upset
5A BOYS SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT
BOISE 1, THUNDER RIDGE 0: Boise’s defense limited Thunder Ridge’s offensive attack throughout, sending the No. 2-seeded Brave (17-1-3) to their third straight state title game.
“Defensively, we were very solid and disrupted their rhythm, and for the most part kept them from being dangerous,” Boise coach Mike Darrow said.
The game’s only score came when Daniel Hirai, who had the golden goal in the Brave’s 1-0 quarterfinal win over Eagle, served up a corner kick to Canyon Woodruff, who scored his first goal of the season at the most opportune time.
Boise goalkeeper Eli Brockl recorded three saves to earn his third straight shutout. Goalkeeper Andre Castanenda made two saves for the Titans (16-1-1).
The Brave will take on Timberline at 2 p.m. Saturday in a rematch of last year’s state championship match. Timberline won 2-1 at Eagle High.
TIMBERLINE 1, LAKE CITY 0: An injury sent Wolves goalkeeper Parker Gropp into the game minutes into the second half, and he stopped a penalty kick to preserve the victory for No. 1 Timberline (19-0-2).
A Kyle Atkinson pass into the box found Kai Hatten for a 57th-minute goal past Lake City (11-5-1) keeper Benjamin Valov-Deming. Gropp turned away the PK in the 68th minute.
“We won primarily by controlling possession of the ball and not allowing them to mount much of an attack,” Timberline coach Adrian Kane said.
BORAH 1, EAGLE 0: Thamini Echasa’s goal was all the No. 6 Lions (12-6-2) needed to keep their season alive, eliminating the No. 7 Mustangs (12-8-1).
Borah will face Coeur d’Alene (11-2-2) for the consolation trophy at 10 a.m. Saturday.
4A BOYS SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT
CALDWELL 3, IDAHO FALLS 0: Axel Gonzalez scored his second goal in as many days to help the No. 2-seeded Cougars (19-0-1) take care of No. 3 Idaho Falls (14-3-1) at Real Life Fields in Post Falls.
“Axel is a really good player, maybe the best offensive player in the state,” Caldwell coach Rhys Yeakley said. “But the beauty is we have five guys with more than 10 goals on the year, so any one of them can bury a shot if teams double- or triple-team Axel.”
Jaden Pineda and Yahir Esquivel added goals in the second half.
Caldwell will play Bishop Kelly at 2:30 p.m. Saturday for the championship. The Cougars lead the season series 3-0, including a 2-0 victory in the District Three Tournament championship game last week.
BISHOP KELLY 3, BLACKFOOT 0: Colton Crawford scored two goals in another upset for No. 8 seed Bishop Kelly (12-5-4), the defending state champion in 4A.
Noah Larson had the third goal for the Knights, and keeper Justin McGrew made four saves as BK turned away the fourth-seeded Broncos (12-4-2) a day after upsetting No. 1 seed Sandpoint in overtime.
3A BOYS SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT
MCCALL-DONNELLY 1, BONNERS FERRY 0 (OT): The No. 2-seeded Vandals (13-1-2) scored a golden goal in OT to advance to Saturday’s consolation final. They’ll take on Kimberly (12-8-0) at 10 a.m.
McCall-Donnelly goalkeeper Michael Foster made two saves, but no other stats were provided.