Photo Credit: Wes Turner, GameFrame Photography
Welcome to "Quick Kicks", a weekly snapshot at what's happening across the boys and girls soccer landscape. Enjoy!
BOYS SOCCER
- Most fans knew that the 6A High Country Conference was going through a bit of an adjustment period, but still...a combined record of 1-9 out of the gates is a bit jarring. The lone win belongs to the team that arguably lost the most talent to graduation: Thunder Ridge. The Titans appear to be well-adjusted to new coach Dan Dummar, who came over to Thunder Ridge from district rival Madison. Thunder Ridge defeated Timberline 4-2 in their season opener before dropping a tight 1-0 contest to Mountain View.
- Speaking of the Mavs, Mountain View is off to a 3-0 start, and has outscored Highland, Thunder Ridge and Meridian by a combined total of 8-1 thus far. Centennial (3-0), Bishop Kelly (2-0) and Coeur d'Alene (1-0) are the other 6A unbeatens.
- Columbia senior striker Emmanuel Giron and Lakeland junior forward Cole Zlateff have been scorching the nets in the early going for their respective teams. Each has found the back of the net five times so far. Lakeland is 1-1 so far this year, with a 4-2 win over Lewiston and a 6-3 setback to 6A power Lake City. Columbia, meanwhile, is 1-0, with a lone win over Skyview. You might be thinking: wait, Giron scored five goals in one game? That's right. The goals were flowing for Columbia in the Wildcats' 11-0 shutout of the Hawks.
- The top two boys teams in the 4A Intermountain League squared off in the season opener last Saturday. Coeur d'Alene Charter hosted Bonners Ferry, and the Panthers held on for a 1-0 victory. Junior Brooks Judd scored the lone goal for Coeur d'Alene Charter, and the Panthers' back line held Bonners Ferry forward Aaron Tadlock and company in check. In fact, the Badgers only attempted four shots on goal, which speaks to the dominance in field possession for Coeur d'Alene Charter.
GIRLS SOCCER
- The 6A Southern Idaho Conference is going to be must-watch just about every week. By my count, there's 11 of the 12 teams in the SIC that can truly contend for a postseason spot at the 6A state tournament. Mountain View leads the early standings at 3-0, followed by Kuna, Rocky Mountain and Timberline (each 2-0). Borah and Eagle are both 1-0, as well, which gives us six unbeatens in the early going.
- The biggest wild card in this year's 6A SIC, though, is the one that hasn't played yet. Boise High makes their debut on Wednesday against 0-3 Meridian, and their credentials are impressive. The Brave have claimed four of the past six district titles, and have appeared in four of the past six state championship matches. The only time the Brave have actually claimed the state title in that span was in 2022, though, so coach Ali Leonard and her girls are motivated to get back to the top of the mountain.
- At the 5A level, watch out for Vallivue. The Falcons have showcased serious offensive firepower early on in their 1-0-1 start. The Falcons have scored seven times in just two matches, and six of those goals are courtesy of freshman Nayleen Molina. Vallivue battled Wood River to a 3-3 draw in their season opener before turning back Capital (competing in 5A soccer the next two years) 4-1.
- I don't think I could have said this any better myself, so I will allow the talented team at the Coeur d'Alene Press to detail Tuesday night's girls soccer showdown between Timberlake and Coeur d'Alene Charter: "On Aug. 23, 2016, Timberlake defeated Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy in an Intermountain League match at Van Tuinstra Memorial Stadium. Since then, Coeur d'Alene Charter hadn't lost in 96 league matches. Until Tuesday. Sophomore Lillee Ward recorded a hat trick for the Tigers, who beat the Panthers 3-2 at Timberlake High."