Timberline repeats as boys soccer state champs. The title-winning formula hasn’t changed
The 5A boys soccer state championship rematch between Timberline and Boise ended in deja vu for the No. 1-seeded Wolves (20-0-2) on Saturday.
Midfielder Kyle Atkinson scored the game-winning goal in the 23rd minute, sealing Timberline’s repeat title at a wet and windy Hillcrest High.
“It feels amazing,” Timberline coach Adrian Kane told the Idaho Statesman in a text message. “I couldn’t be happier for this group of boys, who have worked incredibly hard this season and came together as a true unit all season long.”
It was Timberline’s fifth state title in program history. The Wolves defeated the Brave in last year’s state championship game 2-1 at Eagle High.
The victory also marked the second time the Wolves have repeated as state champs — they won titles in 2014 and ‘15.
The No. 2-seeded Brave (17-2-3) got three shots on Timberline in the first 20 minutes, but Atkinson broke a scoreless tie with a back-post curl to the top right corner over Boise goalkeeper Eli Brockl.
“Kyle was as brilliant today as he has been all season,” Kane said. “There’s very few high school defenders that are as intuitive as he is about picking the right moments to step up and win balls in the midfield and join the attack.
“He is capable of playing any position. But he is the consummate team player and is willing to play any role you ask him to if it will benefit the team.”
Jack Buehler nearly doubled the lead for Timberline in the 27th minute, but Brockl, who finished with five saves, provided a pair on two Buehler shots inside the 6-yard box. Brockl finished with five saves.
Boise’s offense struggled to find a rhythm, getting outshot 13-8. Its best chance came in the 45th minute on a low cross to Alex Hoefer at the back post, but the shot went wide.
Timberline held Boise to three shots in the second half, none of them on target. Wolves goalkeeper Parker Gropp made two saves to earn the shutout behind a strong defense.
“Our back line has been stellar all year, and today was no different,” Kane said. “Boise has a very dangerous front line and likes to play directly into them from their center backs, so we knew it would be crucial to win balls out of the air today.
“All of our defenders were very effective in that regard today, and overall did a good job of limiting the number of good chances that Boise was able to create.”
BORAH FALLS IN CONSOLATION FINAL: Nate Wyatt, Cooper Prohaska and Liam Martin all scored as Coeur d’Alene topped Borah 3-0 for a state tournament trophy.
Goalkeeper Christian Griffith led the Lions (12-7-2) with two saves. The teams had a combined seven yellow cards and three ejections.
This story was originally published October 22, 2022 at 9:27 PM.