Sawtooth United Soccer Club teams enjoyed one of their strongest tournament weekends of soccer in two years during the 14th annual Friendship Cup in Pocatello May 6-7.
Eight different SUFC teams had a cumulative 14-10 record over two days in the Gate City.
The U-11 boys and U-13 boys each won their championships in the competitive Silver Division while the U-14 boys' team captured second place. The U-11s won their title in a shootout while the U-13s took a 3-0 title game win over Jackson Hole.
In addition, the U-11 girls paced by four goals from Alison Gasenica captured second place in the strong Gold Division. Also placing second in the Friendship Cup were U-12 boys.
All of Sawtooth United's development players will participate in the annual Soccer in the Sawtooths tournament Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15 at Ketchum's Atkinson Park.
In addition, older, competitive SUFC teams will play games all day in Hailey Saturday. The next big out-of-town tournament is the Presidents' Cup in Boise May 21-22.
Sawtooth F.C. results from the Friendship Cup:
U-11 girls (2-1): Alison Gasenica had a big weekend for SUFC squad with 4 goals, 3 coming in a 4-0 win over Pocatello Black. Gabrielle Perenchio added a goal for the Hailey winners. The U-11s won a 2-2 shootout with Pocatello White, Sloan Storey and Perenchio scoring in regular play. And Gasenica scored in a 3-1 loss to the Idaho Falls Piranhas.
U-12 girls (1-2): SUFC beat the Kuna Flames 3-1 on goals by Kelsey Brennan and Tanner Dredge plus an own goal. Man of the Matches (MOM) for the weekend were Taylor Hayes and Tanner Dredge. The U-12s fell to Utah 1-0 and Pocatello 1-0.
U-13 girls (1-2): After playing to a 0-0 draw with Idaho Falls, the U-13s won the game in a shootout. Other losses were to Pocatello 2-0 and to Utah Blitzz 5-0.
U-14 girls (2-1): It was quite a turnaround for the U-14s, who had an exciting 1-1 shootout victory over Portneuf Valley Soccer Club Intrepid. Aimee Evans scored the goal, and MOM went to the entire team. Evans and Hannah Hennessy scored during the U-14s 2-1 triumph over Jackson Hole. MOM was Aly Ward. Utah West United defeated SUFC 4-1 despite a goal by MOM Samantha Johnson.
U-11 boys (2-1): The U-11 boys won a 2-2 shootout with Jackson Hole. Goals were by Connor Farrow and Alex Sloan, and MOM was Thomas Crosby. Farrow and Sloan also tallied goals in a 2-0 victory over Utah West United. MOM was Zach Freeman. Pumas United handed the boys their only loss of the weekend 4-0. MOM was Christopher Nalen.
U-12 boys (2-1): In preliminary games, the U-12s defeated Blackfoot 2-0 on goals by Chris Delacruz and Charlie Evans (MOM Harlan Collins) and beat Portneuf Valley Soccer Club 2-1 on goals by Evans and Tanner Farrow (MOM Anthony Martin). In the final game, Idaho Falls Blues nipped SUFC 2-0. MOM was Hunter Weaver.
U-13 boys (2-1): The U-13s dropped a 2-1 decision to PVSC Pumas despite a goal by MOM Morgan Pike. The Hailey team rebounded with a 2-0 triumph over the Portneuf Valley SC Cougars on goals by MOM Brendan Freund and Raul Salinas. Then they beat Jackson Hole 3-0 in the championship game. Goals were scored by MOM Raul Salinas and Austin Cruz plus an own goal.
U-14 boys (2-1): After falling 4-0 to Utah, the U-14 boys stormed back with two dramatic shootout victories. They played to a 2-2 tie with the Portneuf Valloey SC Spiders on goals by MOM Rafael Barriga and Austin Moses. And they also defeated Rexburg Rush in a shootout after a 2-2 regulation deadlock. Goals were by Rafael Barriga and Austin Grill. MOM was Mark Beck.
