Idaho soccer teams already set records at Far West. They made more history Friday.
Idaho’s youth soccer teams continued their banner year Friday, sending four teams into the semifinals of the U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships at Boise’s Simplot Sports Complex.
That’s tied for the most teams Idaho has ever advanced this far into the regional tournament among 14 Western states. Idaho also sent four teams to the semifinals in 2019, the last tournament before the coronavirus pandemic.
All four teams hail from the combined Boise Timbers Thorns club. They include two boys teams (U-14, U-18 Timbers) and two girls teams (U-16, U-19/20 Thorns).
All are now two victories away from a regional championship and an automatic berth in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship July 20-25 in Bradenton, Florida. Only one Idaho team has ever won a Far West title. And only three have qualified for the national tournament.
Friday’s strong performance follows a record-setting week during the group stage. Ten Idaho teams advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals, breaking the record of seven set in 2010 and 2005.
Those records come with a grain of salt as a limited number of teams from Southern California, Northern California and Washington competed at Far West due to the coronavirus pandemic. But Idaho’s accomplishments showcase a burgeoning soccer scene in the Treasure Valley.
“We continue to put ourselves on the map, and we continue to prove people wrong,” said Oliver Frick, the associate technical director for Idaho Rush. “Soccer in our community is only getting better by Idaho teams getting further and further into the regional event.”
U-16 BOISE THORNS ROLLING
One of Idaho’s most decorated teams continued to dominate the U-16 girls tournament, steamrolling Los Angeles Tudela 3-0 in a game that nearly got out of hand on the scoreboard.
Sammy Smith, an incoming sophomore at Boise High, opened the scoring in the fifth minute when she pounced on a cross from Alondra Osuna ricocheting around the box. She banged in her sixth goal in four games, and it fed the Thorns’ frenzy as they pressed their line high and flustered Los Angeles.
“We had more goals in us today. We hit the posts four times, a little unlucky,” said Thorns coach Max Weber, the associate head coach with Boise State women’s soccer. “But we always speak about the press drives us. And today, those kids did a phenomenal job in the attacking half dictating our style in the game.”
Allie Bruce followed with a goal in the 30th minute when Los Angeles’ goalkeeper misplayed a cross in the box. And Asia Lawyer added a highlight-worthy goal in the 34th minute, curving a right-footed shot from 25 yards out into the top left corner of the net.
The Thorns controlled the pace of the play throughout, out shooting Los Angeles 9-1 in the first half and 18-7 overall before easing up late in the second half with the victory and a spot in the semifinals in hand.
This Thorns team won a U-13 national President’s Cup championship in 2018 when the cost of flying to Hawaii for Far West proved too much, making them a favorite among Idaho teams for a run at Far West.
“President’s Cup was a great experience, but it’s nothing compared to here,” Smith said. “There, you’re playing with teams who took second in their state cup. And if we win this, we have a chance to go to nationals.
“I think everyone’s just thinking about the possibilities and just trying to play our best so we can get through.”
The Thorns, who have outscored their opponents 17-2 so far, face Utah’s Celtic FC at 8 a.m. Saturday in the semifinals. Celtic FC has outscored its opponents 21-4.
IDAHO RUSH SETS RECORD BEFORE EXITING
The U-14 Idaho Rush girls only allowed a single goal on a penalty kick at Far West. But it went home Friday after falling to Southern California’s Legends FC 3-0 in a shootout following a scoreless regulation and two overtime periods.
The U-14s were the first Rush girls team to win their group at Far West, and the first to make it out of their group. Only a shootout stopped them from becoming the first Rush boys or girls team to reach a Far West semifinal.
“I think it paves the pathway forward for our future, younger players to look at the development that these guys have gone through and continue to strive to work towards something on the regional level, not only on the state level,” Frick said. “... It’s a stepping stone in the right direction. It’s positive, and hopefully we can continue to build off of it.”
IDAHO QUARTERFINAL SCORES
BOYS
- U-14: Boise Timbers 4, Rio Rapids (New Mexico) 0
- U-18: Boise Timbers 2, Downtown LA (Cal South) 1
GIRLS
- U-13: Elevation FC (Colorado) 1, Boise Thorns 0
- U-14: Legends FC (Cal South) 0, Idaho Rush 0 (Legends 3-0 PKs)
- U-15: Washington Timbers (Oregon) 1, Indie Chicas 0
- U-16: Boise Thorns 3, Los Angeles Tudela (Cal South) 0
- U-17: Utah Celtic FC 5, Boise Thorns 1
- U-18: Players SC (Nevada) 7, CGA Academy (Idaho Falls) 2
- U-19/20: Boise Thorns Elite 2, Eastside Timbers (Oregon) 0
- U-19/20: Utah Soccer Alliance 14, Boise Thorns Red 0
IDAHO SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS
BOYS
- U-14: Boise Timbers vs. Santa Clara Sporting (Cal North), 8 a.m., Field 6
- U-18: Boise Timbers vs. Las Vegas Sports Academy (Nevada), 8 a.m., Field 11
GIRLS
- U-16: Boise Thorns vs. Utah Celtic, 8 a.m., Field 4
- U-19/20: Boise Thorns vs. Beach FC (Cal South), 8 a.m., Field 20
