For the week of July 2 - 8, 2003

The Laurent Perrier women’s team went 2-1 at Park City, Utah last weekend. Front row, from left, Lia Johnson, Kelli Kerns, Kelly Haisley, Casey Mills, Jenni Conrad, Katherine Rixon, Margo Ros and Becky Cron. Back row, from left, coach Rob Butterfield, Farrell Swain, Jody Zarkos, Siobhan Sutton, Kelly Feldman, Molly Peppo, Carolina Stevens, Vicki Johnston, Julie Siegel and Annie Stout. Courtesy photo

Laurent Perrier goes
2-1 at Park City

Women hit the ground running

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Just like a Tootsie Roll sucker the Laurent Perrier women’s soccer team’s best part was the middle in the Harry-O’s Soccer Tournament in Park City over the weekend.

In its first tournament of the season, Sun Valley compiled a 2-1 record thanks in a large part to the strong play of goalie Kelly Haisley, sweeper Siobhan Sutton, stopper Jenni Conrad and center-midfielder Farrell Swain.

"Siobhan, Jenni and Farrell played very consistent and strong games and that motivated the rest of the team to play hard," coach Rob Butterfield remarked.

Sun Valley opened play in the eight-team tournament against Aspen. Despite out-shooting their rival ski town, LP came out on the losing end of a 1-0 score.

"We had numerous chances in that game. We just didn’t put the ball in the net," Butterfield remarked.

Later that day, Sun Valley and Steamboat went head to head in a wickedly chippy contest, complete with jabs, both physical and verbal.

Down 1-0, Sun Valley tied the score when forward Kelli Kerns chased down the ball on the end line and punched it in from an impossible angle on the far right side to tie the score 1-1. Forward Vicki Johnston was there to ensure it went over the goal line.

Sister Act II came with two minutes remaining, when Becky Kerns Cron corralled a long ball and out-dueled the keeper 1-v-1 to score the game-winner in a very satisfying 2-1 victory.

"That wasn’t our best game in terms of play, but I was happy with the outcome," Butterfield said.

Eventual tournament runner-up Park City was Sun Valley’s Sunday morning opponent. Boasting a swift forward line and physical midfielders, the Jack Johnson-sponsored squad found the back of the net midway through the second half for a 1-0 lead at halftime.

During the intermission, Butterfield stressed the importance of slowing the ball down and playing "small ball" meaning connecting passes to players close to you.

The team responded and put the pressure on Park City, cracking several close shots.

The crafty Kelli Kerns, who has moves to spare on the field and the dance floor, shimmied her way through the defense and netted the equalizer with nine minutes to spare.

Park City pressed hard and had more chances then the LP defense would care to admit. The saving grace was a stellar performance by Haisley who made several highlight-worthy saves to preserve the tie.

The teams went to penalty kicks, which Sun Valley had worked on—luckily enough—in its previous practice.

Park City shot first and missed—hitting the side post. It proved to be crucial as every remaining shooter converted.

LP’s Sutton, Swain, Casey Mills, Kelly Feldman and Lia Johnson all made their shots, with Johnson connecting on a heart-stopping game-winner, up and over the keeper’s head.

Even though Park City went on to face Logan, Utah in the final, which they lost in sudden-death 2-1, Butterfield was happy with his team’s effort.

"I think it was a great success (the tournament) and shows the potential of the team. We clicked really well in the first and third games," he said.

Also suiting up for Sun Valley were Molly Peppo, Margo Ros, Katherine Rixon, Julie Siegel, Carolina Stevens, Annie Stout and Jody Zarkos.

Laurent Perrier will take the field again for the Sun Valley Classic July 19-20 in Ketchum.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.