F.C. Utah pops the cork on Laurent Perrier championship

F.C. Utah.

Quick what does F.C. stand for?

Fast Chicks, Fantastic Charmers, Feinting Cadgers, Fake Celebrities, whatever you want to imagine, tack on Fat Chance, as in Fat Chance you will beat them.

The club team comprised of members of the University of Utah soccer team, won the annual Laurent Perrier women’s soccer tournament at Atkinson Park on Sunday.

F.C. Utah took home the coveted magnum of champagne from Ketchum for the third consecutive year.

"It’s just a pleasure to play with this team," Utah keeper Karen Chin said. "They are a hard-working group."

Utah breezed through the tournament showing superior speed and accuracy, racking up a 4-0 record by outscoring opponents 29-4.

"They’re very talented," Boise forward Kristi Hanley said. "They must practice a lot more than we do."

In Sunday’s championship game, Boise dueled Utah to 0-0 draw in the first half. Striker Joanna Barney pounded in three goals in quick succession to put Utah on top for good. The final was Utah 3, Boise 1.

In pool play, Utah defeated Sun Valley Green 11-0 and Idaho Falls 9-1 to meet Sun Valley White in the semifinals on Sunday morning.

Like it had in its two previous contests, White came out flat and allowed Utah the first three goals of the contest.

Jen Vogel (White’s leading scorer with six goals) put Sun Valley on the scoreboard early in the second half to make it a 3-1 game. Utah answered back to make it 4-1. Lynette Kerns iced a penalty quick to draw Sun Valley within two goals with 20 minutes remaining, but Utah capitalized on its quick strike ability and stuffed two more shots to win 6-2.

"It was unfortunate we started off so slow in our games. We were always fighting from behind," SV White coach Victor Vandenberg said.

No where was this illustrated better than Sun Valley’s opening game on Saturday morning against Boise.

Boise’s Kristi Hanley (2 goals) and Denae Kudera punched in outside shots for a 3-zip lead in the game’s opening 20 minutes. Vogel dribbled downfield and nailed her shot from the 18-yard line to trail 3-1 at halftime.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Vogel scored again to cut the lead to one. Boise’s speedy Norma Peralta got loose to push the advantage to two goals, but a pressing Sun Valley answered back with Vogel crossing to Vicky Johnston, who one-timed the ball into the net to trail 4-3 with five minutes left.

Boise was able to thwart the Sun Valley attack for the remainder and came away with a one-goal gasper.

"No one ever gave up. We were battling until the end. We always had a chance," Vandenberg said.

It was the same situation Saturday afternoon with Park City finding the back of the net first. Fortunately, Sun Valley White did not hold out for second-half heroics this time.

Stopper Lia Johnson drilled a Park City goal kick into the back of the net to tie the game at ones with 15 minutes remaining in the half.

Hard-working Becky Kerns, who would suffer a season-ending knee injury in the semifinals, stuffed the first of her two goals, by deftly deking the goalie and rolling the ball in far post for a halftime advantage of 2-1.

Sun Valley clamped down in the second half, exhibiting both power and finesse.

Carolina Stevens showed off her awesome foot on a powerful cross to Vogel, who headed the ball up and over the goalie.

Kerns followed it up with a beautiful bender from the far left side which found the upper right-hand corner. Park City scored once more for a final score of Sun Valley 4, Park City 2.

Meanwhile on the upper field, Sun Valley Green (0-2-1) was taking its lumps from a merciless F.C. Utah squad, losing 11-0.

Earlier in the day, Green tied Idaho Falls 1-1 on a late goal by Kirstin Gerety.

"We definitely improved throughout the tournament," coach Ed Hurtubis said. "We just couldn’t get a goal."

Sun Valley Green fell to Park City in the battle for fifth place, 3-0 on Sunday.

Hurtibis commended goalie Paige Reed for a solid tournament and also lauded the play of halfback Laura Cordes.

The consolation championship on Sunday was between Sun Valley White and Idaho Falls. True to its form over the weekend, Sun Valley allowed its guest the game’s opening goal.

While White (2-2) may have been dismayed at this occurrence, they were not discouraged. Vogel quickly tied the score and the teams went into the half tied 1-1.

Sprung from the back row, Jody Zarkos put White back on top with two quick scores. Goals by Vogel and Johnston hammered in the final nails, and Sun Valley prevailed 5-1.

"I think everyone played so well," Vandenberg said. "Everyone stepped up in different parts of the games when we needed them to. It was like that all weekend. It’s just unfortunate that we were always fighting from behind.

"Had we won against Boise, we would have had Idaho Falls in the semifinals, instead of Utah. And who knows what would have happened had we met Utah in the finals instead of the semis."

SV White was anchored by Marie Barton at sweeper. Playing behind her were goalkeepers Dana Good and Tina Kohli.

Rounding out White’s ranks were Lara Stone, Erica Peterson, Lisa Cargirl, Julie Seigel, Tryntje Van Slyke, Kelli Kerns, Jennifer Conrad, Katherine Hughes, Janice Gillette and Jeannie Kiel.

Green players were Tizz Strachan Miller, Margo Ros, Debbie Rubel, Kelly Feldman, Casey Mills, Kipp Mills, Jen Cortese, Monica Ratnik, Lynsey Dyer, Nancy Parsons-Brown, Renee Spaulding, Ashley Howe, Jennifer Copeland, Joanne Lance, Maureen Hopper and Louise Nagashima.

Sincere thank-yous were extended to tournament sponsor Jim Cimino of S & C Wines, and organizers Carolina Stevens, Jenni Conrad, Lara Stone and Marie Barton.