The Sawtooth United F.C. U-11 boys' squad has become the first team in the local club soccer program to win a tournament title this spring.
Coached by Mark Gasenica, Hannah Hennessy and Steve Scott, SUFC went 4-0 to claim the U-11 division at the Tournament of the Tetons in Jackson Hole, May 10-11.
"The boys played hard and left everything on the field," Gasenica said. "I am very proud of each of them."
Gasenica noted that the Sawtooth lads bumped off some opponents that have given them some trouble in the past.
In the championship final, Sawtooth romped over Park City, 5-1. Eli Conrad and Desmond Porth scored two goals each. Taylor Cooper added one. Austin Savaria, Jay Fitzgerald, Conrad and Cooper recorded assists. Player of the Game honors went to the entire team.
Tanner Josey's goal in the final three minutes put SUFC in the championship match by virtue of a 1-0 victory over Salt Lake City. Kyle Weller was named Player of the Game.
Sporting the club's blue and yellow, Sawtooth also thwarted Jackson Hole Black 2-nil on a pair of goals by Porth (Trenor Gould/Savaria), and Park City 3-2, with scoring by Jay Fitzgerald, Jon Scott and Porth (Conrad/Josey). POG went to Jack Swanson and Trenor Gould.
George Everitt and Roger Figge are also on the championship team.
Three other SUFC teams competed—the U-14 girls, U-13 girls and U-12 boys.
The U-14 girls, coached by Erika Connelly, placed second in a five-team pool.
SUFC opened with a 2-1 loss to the Scorpions with a goal by Kaitana Martinez (Alison Gasenica), but turned around and shutout Jackson Hole 1-0. Erin Murphy's lone goal held up for the win. Martinez scored twice in a semifinal victory over Green River with an assist by Ali Appleton.
Despite a valiant effort, Green River topped Sun Valley 4-0 in the championship.
Trey Knox's third-place U-12 boys experienced every possible result in a 1-1-1 weekend. SUFC blanked Green River 6-0. Stephen Pfeiffer had a banner game with four goals. Eron Bates and Tyler Spence also found the back of the net. Assisting on goals were Spence (2) and Drew Morse.
The defense of Zack Miczulski, Chandler Gifford and Dylan Black helped pitch a shutout against Utah Firebirds. The game ended scoreless. Bozeman Blitz fought by SUFC 2-1 in the semis. Miczulski scored.
Ken Morrell's U-13 girls went 0-3 in games against Pocatello and Magic City. Man of the Match honors went to Frannie Sensenbrenner, Ellie Swanson and Haley Cooper.
Next up: SUFC will participate in the President's Cup Tournament, hosted by the Twin Falls Rapids, May 17-18.
