Tiger soccer squads come up short during season openers

Mountain Home High School's soccer squads faltered on the field as the varsity teams fell during their season openers last week.

The Mountain Home Tigers boys varsity squad came up on the short end of a 2-3 SIC 4A soccer contest at Nampa on Friday.

The Tigers had the lead until eight minutes were left in the game. Juan Sanchez scored both goals for Mountain Home. Jack Richelieu had 11 saves on goal for the Tigers.

"We played well as a team," said Tiger boys soccer head coach Jay Lockett.

"When we went down in the first half, we came back with a purpose. We are young, with one starting senior, but we have playmakers like Juan Sanchez and Victor Sanchez that have that brother chemistry.

"Also, we have a two-year starter that's like a wall in Jack Richelieu at keeper for us," the coach said. "We had a good showing for our first game. We are expecting a lot this year and next from this group."

Meanwhile, the Lady Tigers spotted Nampa six goals in the first half and it was too much to overcome, as they dropped their season opener to the Lady Bulldogs, 7-1 at Eastside Park on Friday.

"It was a classic game of two halves, as they say," said Mountain Home girls soccer coach Stephen Speak. "The first half we started really softly and were 3-0 down after about 15 minutes. It was 6-0 at halftime. We got the girls in and gave them a bit of a telling off and pep talk, and the second half was amazing -- we dominated the second half -- but looking forward we've really got to start better."

The coach emphasized that his team can't give up so many goals in such a short amount of time and expect to do well.

"So that's our focus this week -- to start the game better and be more competitive," he said

Melissa Bishop scored the Lady Tigers' lone goal.

Looking ahead, Mountain Home has a busy week of conference soccer. The Tiger boys had their home opener Tuesday against Caldwell, host Skyview on Thursday, Aug. 23, before they travel to Bishop Kelly on Friday. Meanwhile, the Lady Tigers played at Caldwell on Monday, and travel to Skyview today, Aug. 22, before they host Bishop Kelly on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.