They had plenty of pizza and gelato in Cesenatico, a seaport town on the Adriatic coast of Italy. But the Sawtooth United Premier girls' soccer team also scored plenty of goals and victories during their 11-day trip to Europe that ends Saturday.
Coached by Greg Gvozdas and Aaron Thompson, Sawtooth United Premier played six games July 1-3 in The Italy Cup, largest youth soccer tournament in Italy. There were 150 teams from 20 different countries in the weeklong tourney.
Sawtooth United, consisting of 19 players from Hailey's Wood River High School and The Community School of Sun Valley, went 3-1-2 in its seven-team division of the 14-team Girls' U-17 tournament.
The local girls very nearly made it into the July 4 "Final Four" games for the girls' U-17 trophies. But they had a great time anyway. Wednesday night they enjoyed a late one at a water park and disco party sponsored by tournament officials.
On the first day of the tournament, Tuesday, Sawtooth United played three tough games—tying Ireland 2-2 and Rytterne of Sweden 1-1, and then falling to eventual divisional winner Djurgardens of Sweden 3-2 on a goal with only two minutes left in the game.
Wednesday, Sawtooth United stormed back with two victories. The local girls beat Tolo of Sweden 2-1 on a game-winning goal by Ellen Davis with five minutes left, and then stormed past SES of Holland 5-0 on two goals apiece by Aimee Evans and Tanner Dredge.
Sawtooth United ended its seven-game European soccer experience Thursday with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Petaluma Chaos from California—leading European scorer Evans (7 goals) accounting for both scores including a first-half penalty kick. It was the hottest day of all in Italy, humid temperatures in the mid-90s.
Only two teams from the division could advance, and two of the three Swedish teams made it through. First place went to Djurgardens (5-0-1, 22 goals scored, 6 against), the team that had squeaked out the 3-2 win over Sawtooth. And Rytterne (4-1-1, 24 goals, 2 against) took second including a 1-1 tie with Sawtooth United.
Including its 4-1 friendly match victory over a team of German women June 27, Sawtooth United Premier went 4-1-2 in its seven European games and outscored opponents 18-9.
Scorers were Evans 7 goals, Dredge 3 goals and 4 assists, Emma Wilander 3 goals and 1 assist, co-captain Hannah Hennessy 3 goals, Ellen Davis 1 goal, Ashley Hesteness 1 goal, Nellie Brown 2 assists and Delaney Fox 1 assist.
Playing sound defense and dominating the all-important midfield were Ricki Eshman, Co-captain Laura Elgee, Jasmine Campbell, Makayla Cappel and Hesteness. Idaho goalkeepers were Madison Gove and Maddie Kate Currie.
Other players on a memorable trip that ends Saturday when the 26-member contingent jets home to the Gem State from Venice were Kelly Chapman, Kerri Lee Nelson, Freya Dickey, Sierra Fox and Kelly Hennessy. Italy Cup results:
Tuesday, July 1: Sawtooth 2-2 tie with St. Josephs Boys of Ireland, goals by Aimee Evans and Emma Wilander (assist Tanner Dredge); 1-1 tie with Rytterne of Sweden, goal by Wilander (Dredge); and 3-2 loss to Djurgardens of Sweden, goasls by Hannah Hennessy and Dredge (Delaney Fox).
Wednesday, July 2: Sawtooth won 2-1 over Tolo of Sweden, goals by Hannah Hennessy and Ellen Davis (Nellie Brown); and won 5-0 over SES of Holland, goals by Dredge (Wilander), Evans (Dredge), Dredge, Hennessy and Evans.
Thursday, July 3: Sawtooth United Premier won 2-1 over Petaluma Chaos, two goals by Evans (PK).
Sawtooth United Premier players wearing Austrian hats during their Innsbruck stopover June 28 en route to this week’s Italy Cup soccer tournament are, from left, Jasmine Campbell and Delaney Fox. Photo by
