Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Front Row L-R: John Campbell, Robin Sarchett, John Gerdis, Troy Ruckman, Luke Fostvedt, Steve Fostvedt, Blake Schnebly, Jeff Stringham, Quinn Orb. Back Row L-R: Olin Glenne, Pete Stevenson, Josh Stanek, Jason Southward, Sean Higgins, Raul, Austin McCann, Shaun Kelly, Chatham Baker, Kurt Funkhouser, Taylor Rothgeb

Leftys seeks, conquers, destroys foes in Jackson

Kelly, Fostvedt earn MVP honors, dominate opponents

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By Michael Ames
Idaho Mountain Express

It was all good for the Lefty’s men's soccer team at Jackson Hole last weekend.

Lefty’s F.C. went undefeated in Jackson, winning four games over teams from Utah and Wyoming.

The Ketchum-based club opened the 10-team Jackson Hole Invitational with a 2-0 win over Logan, Utah. Kurt Funkhouser buried a direct kick, and Jason Southward converted a feed from John Campbell.

In Lefty’s second match against Wilson, Wyoming, Funkhouser was on the offensive again, this time scoring one in a 2-1 win. Jason Southward also had a goal off a free kick.

Sunday’s games were more spirited and saw Lefty’s deliver some of the best play this team has played in a few years. In a high-scoring game against Park City, Lefty’s triumphed 6-4. The game opened with Lefty’s dropping two quick goals and looking ripe for a beating. Co-captain Shaun Kelly turned the momentum with his teams’ first goal of the game and the start of a high scoring comeback. In a very physical and hard fought game, Kelly would earn two more assists and a yellow card on a hard, but fair tackle. Campbell, Southward Stevie Fostvedt and Audie McCann (2) also found the back of the net.

In the final match, Jackson Hole had a 2-1 lead late in the second half when the clutch Kelly came through again with the tying goal. Cambell scored earlier. The game proceeded to an overtime shootout. Lefty’s goalie Luke Fostvedt saved the first Jackson shot, giving the Lefty’s offense the chance to put in 5 of 5 kicks for the win. With goals from co-captain John Gerdis, Chatham Baker, Jeff Stringham, Fostvedt, and Kelly that’s exactly what they did.

"This was the best the team has played in two years," said Baker after the triumphant weekend.

Overall, Lefty’s benefited from strong defensive play from Pete Stevenson. But Fostvedt’s shootout save stands as the most pivotal defensive play of the tournament, thereby earning him the defensive MVP.

On offense, Kelly earned the MVP status through "consistent play, always running 100 percent and always getting in on the ball and in on tackles," said Gerdis. Kelly was the player "motivating the team to get going" all weekend, he said.

The team also extended its praise to coach Olin Glenne, who has provided the framework for the team’s recent success.

Ketchum will host a 12-team tournament Aug. 7-8 at Atkinson Park in Ketchum. The field includes teams from Seattle, Missoula, Jackson Hole and Boise.

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.