The Idaho 2009 State Soccer Tournament is next week, October 22-24. The 5A games will be held at Eagle, Meridian and Rocky Mountain High School. Here we give you a preview of the four top 5A teams.
Boise (Boys)
No team has dominated the 2009 season quite like the Boise boys. The two-time defending state champions are 15-1-1. After a 13-game winning streak, the Braves lost to Centennial, 0-1, on October 5, then tied Eagle two days later, 2-2. They got their momentum back Saturday with a 6-0 win against Caldwell, and redeemed themselves against Centennial on Monday with a 5-0 victory to advance to the district championship game tonight.
Senior Justin Hill was the Braves' top scorer at the beginning of the season with a total of 15 goals. Hill scored three goals in Boise's 4-1 win against Centennial the first time they played on August 31. He recently scored the Braves' two goals in their 2-0 victory over Caldwell on September 28 and another when they beat Capital 4-0 on September 30.
Another top player for Boise is senior midfielder Johnny Soumie. Soumie has scored 12 goals this season, including three this week. He scored two against Caldwell in Boise's 6-0 win on Saturday. Then he scored one more on Monday against Centennial for their 5-0 win.
Senior Connor Meppen has recently stepped up for the Braves as well. After his switch from midfielder to forward, Meppen has scored four goals and had three assists in Boise's last three games, which brings his 2009 total to seven goals and 11 assists. He scored a goal in the 2-2 tie with Eagle on October 7, two against Caldwell on Saturday and another in Monday's Centennial game.
Eagle (Boys)
Tonight Boise plays Eagle at 5:00 p.m. in the 5A District Three championship game at Mountain View. If anyone has a shot at defeating the Braves for a state title, it is the Eagle Mustangs.
The Eagle boys are 13-2-3 this season. With a relentless offense, their opponents rarely have a chance to score. Following their 2-2 tie with Boise, the Mustangs beat Timberline (Boise) on Saturday, 9-0, and Borah 1-0 on Monday.
Senior Corey Cramer leads the Mustangs with 19 goals this season. Senior forward Dallan Turnball has had some recent success as well with help from junior Yared Solsceid's assists. Turnball has scored 15 goals so far. Other top scorers for Eagle include senior David Ryan and freshman Layne Leisten.
Boise (Girls)
As dominant as the Boise boys are this season, the girls are just as good. The Braves are 15-1-0. Their only loss was 2-4 to undefeated Mountain View (13-0-2) on September 8. Last week, the Boise girls beat Centennial 5-1 on October 5 and Eagle 2-0 on October 7.
Leading the Braves is senior Sarah Hicks with 16 goals and three assists this season. Jessica Oakes has had eight goals and 15 assists. The top defensive players for Boise are seniors Megan Marks and Carley Duvall.
Boise plays Timberline (Boise) tonight at 5:00 p.m. at Timberline in the 5A District Three Championships. The Braves are the defending district champions, but the Wolves were 5A the state champions last year.
Timberline (Girls)
The Timberline girls are currently 10-2-4. Last week, they beat Meridian on Monday, 2-1, and tied 1-1 with Mountain View on Wednesday, October 7. The last time that the Wolves played the Braves was September 15 when Boise won 3-0.
Senior forward Amanda Soderlund leads Timberline with 13 goals and seven assists. She scored three goals last week. The first was against Meridian last Monday in the Wolves' 2-1 victory. Soderlund then scored Timberline's only goal in their 1-1 tie with Mountain View last Wednesday. She scored another goal on Saturday when the Wolves defeated Borah, 3-1.
After a long season, the top soccer teams in Idaho will prevail next weekend. The state tournament consists of 11 games played over three days:
5A Girls
Thursday, Oct. 22
Game 1 9:30 a.m. @ Meridian HS
Game 2 11:45 a.m. @ Meridian HS
Game 3 11:45 a.m. @ Rocky Mountain HS
Game 4 2:00 p.m. @ Meridian HS
Friday, Oct. 23
Game 5 9:30 a.m. @ Meridian HS
Game 6 11:45 a.m. @ Rocky Mountain HS
Game 7 11:45 a.m. @ Meridian HS
Game 8 2:00 p.m. @ Meridian HS
Saturday, Oct. 24
Game 9 9:30 a.m. @ Meridian HS
Game 10 11:45 a.m. @ Meridian HS
Game 11 11:00 a.m. @ Rocky Mountain HS
5A Boys
Thursday, Oct. 22
Game 1 9:30 a.m. @ Eagle HS
Game 2 9:30 a.m. @ Rocky Mountain HS
Game 3 11:45 a.m. @ Eagle HS
Game 4 2:00 p.m. @ Eagle HS
Friday, Oct. 23
Game 5 9:30 a.m. @ Eagle HS
Game 6 9:30 a.m. @ Rocky Mountain HS
Game 7 11:45 a.m. @ Eagle HS
Game 8 2:00 p.m. @ Eagle HS
Saturday, Oct. 24
Game 9 9:30 a.m. @ Eagle HS
Game 10 11:45 a.m. @ Eagle HS
Game 11 2:00 p.m. @ Rocky Mountain HS
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