Sawtooth United soccer teams (ages 12-14) traveled to Boise this past weekend, competing in the Capitol City Challenge. The U-12 boys swept their age group, going undefeated (3-0-1) and outscoring their opponents nine to one.
In the tournament finals, Alex Sloan broke a scoreless match with 55 seconds remaining in regulation. His lone goal proved to be the tournament winner. Nathan Moses and McKenzie Schlamp each had two goal games while the "No Goal Patrol" defense kept things clear in front of the net.
"It was so great, it was by far their best outing," said coach Lynn Chaldu, who has been the U-12 boys' coach for one year. "They had the most heart of any team," she said.
In goal, Tom Crosby made a couple of "spectacular saves," she added.
Last year, the boys had trouble playing as a team, Chaldu said, but in Boise this weekend, "it all came together."
The U-14 boys also had a strong weekend with a dominating 6-0 win over Jackson before being knocked out in semi-final competition by an older Jackson soccer squad.
Results:
U-12 Boys Gold (tournament Champions): In a 4-0 win over Mountain Home, Nathan Moses had two goals, and Davis Matthews and Liam Jablonski each had one goal. Controlling the midfield proved the key in this one as Michael Weaver, Cassidy Carson, Trevor Brand, Christopher Nalen, Dustin Rutkowski and Parker Weekes all contributed.
In a 1-1 tie with Boise Nationals, Liam Jablonski made a breakaway for what looked like the game-winning goal until Boise equalized with a well-placed corner kick with 10 seconds left to play.
A 3-0 win over Jackson Extreme was all defense as the "No Goal Patrol" featuring Zackary Freeman, Tim Kanellitsas, Raleigh Grossbaum and Zachary Lindahl shut down Jackson—giving SUFC the extra shut-out point needed to advance to the finals. McKenzie Schlamp spearheaded the offense, tallying two goals over Jackson Extreme.
The championship game was a rematch against the Bozeman Blitz, a team that beat Sawtooth 3-0 two weeks ago in a Jackson Hole tournament. With Alex Sloan's last-minute goal, the U-12 Boys Gold took the tournament. In the goal, Crosby secured his third shutout of the weekend with two big saves.
U-12 Girls Gold (1-1-1): Miranda Gasenica had the lone goal in a 1-1 tie with Boise Capitals. MVP was Megan Morrell. Scoring goals in SUFC's 5-0 win over SUFC Navy were MVP Erin Murphy, Josie Bunch, Sheridan Velazquez and Miranda Gasenica. MVP was Miranda Gasenica in the 2-0 loss to Wolfpack 2.
U-12 Girls Navy (0-2-1): In a 1-1 tie with Jackson Hole, Gracie Eagan scored Navy's lone goal for the weekend.
U-12 Boys Navy (0-3): The boys fought hard in every game, holding Bozeman scoreless until the final 15 minutes of the weekend's final game.
U-13 Boys (1-3): The boys balanced three losses with a 4-0 trouncing over the Boise Capitals. Brandon Barry-Wade had two goals in that game, along with Andrew Pfeiffer and Cooper Hanley also hitting the net. Anthony Martin was the "Man of the Match," and William Eagan earned another MOM honor.
U-14 Boys (1-2, semi-finalist): In a 6-0 win over Jackson, Jackson Bates was a star as "Man of the Match" with two goals and two assists.