Sawtooth United F.C. youth soccer teams took the field for their final competitive games of the 2006 spring season last weekend in Twin Falls.
The Idaho Youth Soccer Association conducted a big spring tournament for the first time in Twin Falls, since the southern Idaho city has formed a brand-new soccer complex to go along with existing fields.
Sawtooth United carried home more medals than any other club during the two-day tournament. The U18 boys won the championship with a "golden goal" overtime to beat Mountain Home United 4-3.
Placing second were the SUFC U16 girls. They lost only one of four games and narrowly lost the championship contest 3-2 to Division 1 Boise Capitals in spite of a strong rally.
The U16 girls opened with a 5-0 rout of Twin Falls Rapids on goals by Sam Johnson (2), Elsa Sweek (2) and Marin Shepardson. Sweek and Hannah Hennessy teamed up for the lone goal in a 1-1 tie with Boise Capitals.
In a Sunday morning tiebreaker to settle the seedings for Sunday's action, the Capitals edged SUFC 2-1 in a shootout despite Laura Elgee's penalty shot goal.
Getting the fourth seed, SUFC had to play the top-seeded team and won 3-0 over the Eagles. Jazz Campbell sparked SUFC with a first-half goal, then Johnson and Shepardson added second-half goals for the Wood River girls.
In the final, Boise Capitals led 2-0 early in the first half, but Johnson scored on a pass from Campbell at 20 minutes. Boise edged ahead 3-1, then Sweek punched home the second goal on a cross from Aimee Evans. But SUFC couldn't get another. Injured goalkeeper Caiti Leo was inspirational.
There were 32 girls' teams in six age divisions from U11 to U17-19 as well as 24 teams in five boys' age divisions from U11 up to U16-18. Sawtooth United, based in the Wood River Valley, sent 11 teams out of the 56-team field.
SUFC results from Twin:
U12 Girls Navy (0-3): SUFC lost 5-0, 5-0 and 2-0 to Boise Storm, Boise Capitals and Twin Falls Rapids. Players of the Match were Liz Abide, Ellie Swanson, Maddie Bates and Emma Johnson.
U12 Girls Gold (1-1-1): Fourth-place SUFC tied Les Bois United 1-1, won 4-1 over Twin Falls Rapids and lost 4-0 to Boise Capitals. MVPs were Kaitana Martinez, Sheridan Velazquez and Alison Gasenica.
U14 Girls Navy (0-3): Fifth-place SUFC lost 1-0 to Odyssey, lost 3-0 to PAL and lost 2-0 to Twin Falls Rapids.
U14 Girls Gold (1-1-1): Third-place SUFC tied Capitals 0-0, won 4-2 over Twin Falls (goals Madison Gove, Kelsey Brennan, Erin Burbank and Grace Lagodich) and lost 1-0 to PAL United. Named top players were Ricki Eshman, Lydia Gorham, Lina Klumpp, Meagan Carey, Freya Dickey, Madison Gove, Tanner Dredge, Aly Ward and Nicole Gillette.
U16 Girls (2-1-1): SUFC won 5-0 over Twin Falls Rapids, tied Division 1 Boise Capitals 1-1, won 3-0 over Eagles, lost 3-2 in the championship game to Capitals. Man of the Match winners were Sam Johnson, Marin Shepardson, Kathryn Farmer, Jazz Campbell and Caiti Leo.
U18 Girls (1-2): Third-place SUFC lost 3-2 to Idaho Pride, won 4-0 over Boise Blast and lost 3-0 to Rapids. Scoring 6 goals was Margii Driscoll. MVPs for the entire tournament was the defense.
U12 Boys Navy (0-3): Despite a tough draw, talented SUFC played with heart and conviction. Lost 5-0 to Boise Osprey, lost 4-1 to SUFC Gold (goal Braxton Parrish), lost 5-0 to Blackfoot's Blacksnakes (great effort by goalkeeper Adam Brown).
U12 Boys Gold (1-2): SUFC lost Blacksnakes 1-0, won SUFC Navy 4-0, lost Osprey U13 12-0.
U13 Boys (2-1): Third-place SUFC lost Boise Nationals 2-0, won 3-2 over Twin Falls (goals Juan Castro 2 and Alejandro Garcia) and won 6-0 over Mountain Home (goals Garcia 3, Chris Delacruz 2 and Jordan Levin 1). Man of the Match winners were Hunter Weaver, William Eagan and Alexander MacMillan.
U14 Boys (1-2): Fifth-place SUFC lost 3-2 to Mountain Home United (goals Morgan Pike and Crockett Stearns), lost 2-1 to Division 1 Boise Capitals U15 (goal Hector Lopez) and won 2-1 over Twin Falls Rapids (goals Austin Cruz and Pike). Man of the Tournament was Morgan Pike (2 goals, 1 assist).
U18 Boys (2-1): Champion SUFC won 4-0 over Twin Falls, lost 1-0 to Mountain Home United and won 4-3 over Mountain Home United in the championship game.
