OFF TO STATE

The girls soccer team has qualified for state again.

Sandpoint beat Lakeland 2-1 in the district tournament on Oct. 14 and will attempt to claim their third straight 4A state championship next week in Caldwell.

“Of the three times we played Lakeland this year, that was probably the most effective we have been,” said Connor Baranski, head coach of the girls soccer team.

Sandpoint played Lakeland twice leading up to this game, both resulting in a 1-0 win in Sandpoint’s favor.

“I still wasn’t super impressed with the way we played,” Baranski said. “But it was good enough.”

Sandpoint struck first against Lakeland, with senior Madi Schoening heading in a corner from senior Riley Couch.

Freshman Riley Walkington added the winning goal in the second half off an assist from sophomore Hadley Marshall.

“One of my favorite goals of the season,” Baranski said of Sandpoint’s second goal.

Lakeland continued to battle and scored a late goal, but their efforts could not stop the Bulldogs from qualifying for state. Sandpoint heads to Caldwell on Wednesday, with their first match being against the second place team of division 5-6 on Thursday at 11 a.m.

“I think we will win state if we want it more than the teams we play,” freshman Jezza Hutto said.