Two Idaho soccer teams make it to Far West finals. One is a power. One was a surprise.
Only one Idaho soccer team has ever won a U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional title, awarded to the champion of 14 western states. But two more will get a shot at the prestigious title Sunday.
The U-14 Boise Timbers boys and the U-16 Boise Thorns girls both won their semifinal matchups Saturday morning, clinching a spot in Sunday’s championship round at Boise’s Simplot Sports Complex.
The U-14 Boise Timbers will face Los Angeles’ Total Futbol Academy at 8:45 a.m. Sunday at Field 6. The U-16 Boise Thorns battle Utah’s La Roca at 11:30 a.m. at Field 19.
A win for either club clinches it a rare berth at the U.S Youth Soccer National Championship July 20-25 in Bradenton, Florida. Only three Idaho teams have ever qualified for the national tournament. All three were girls teams.
U-14 TIMBERS PROVE THEY BELONG
The coronavirus pandemic canceled last year’s Far West tournament, preventing the U-14 Boise Timbers boys from making their debut at the regional championship. But they’ve wasted little time proving they belong.
The Timbers dominated Northern California’s Santa Clara Sporting on Saturday morning in a 2-0 victory, choking out any attack from their opponent and out shooting them 21-2.
No Idaho boys team has ever won a Far West title. And the Timbers are the first boys team from Idaho to make the championship round since 2013. But Timbers coach Eric Simmonsen said his team has always known they belong with anybody in the nation. They’re just finally getting an opportunity to show it.
“They have no fear of failure,” Simmonsen said. “They just go and do their stuff, so it’s kind of cool to see, because that’s not usually our case. We get to these stages and they haven’t experienced it, and now they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re not supposed to win. We’re Idaho.’
“The ‘07 boys, they think they should beat everybody. When they’re out there playing, they think they’re playing for Barcelona and Man United. They think they’re somebody special, which they are.”
Grayson Carter put Boise on the board in the 12th minute when Santa Clara failed to clear a deep throw-in from Hasan Alaali. Carter pounced on the bouncing ball in the box and banged it into the top of the net for the early lead.
The Timbers added an insurance goal in the second half when Tucker Smith got just enough of his head on a cross from Gabriel Hernandez to redirect it into the back of the Santa Clara net in the 42nd minute. But Boise never let up.
Carter and Smith each had another goal wiped off the scoreboard due to offside calls as the Timbers dominated the possession, chances and shots. Boise goalkeeper Kai Herrera made the only save he needed to in the first half, and Santa Clara never tested second-half goalkeeper Gannon Miller.
“Our defensive effort and willingness to win the ball was really the biggest thing,” Carter said. “Our constant pressure really helped them not get any goals or anything like that.”
Few outside of Idaho expected a championship run from the U-14 Timbers. But now that they’re in the finals, they’re not done.
“Our whole goal is to reach the finals and win the finals,” Carter said. “I’m hoping that instead of just getting here, we can win it, which is the final goal.”
U-16 THORNS ADVANCE TO FAR WEST FINALS
Sammy Smith scored her seventh goal of the tournament to lift the U-16 Boise Thorns to a 1-0 victory over Utah Celtic.
Sophia Avalos swiped the ball from a Utah center back in the 14th minute, sparking a 2-vs.-1 opportunity alongside Smith. Avalos first ripped a shot but had it blocked. She then laid it off to Smith to her left, who converted for the game’s only goal.
The game-winner showcased the Thorns’ deadly offensive press and added to a dazzling tournament for Smith.
“She’s one of the most special players not in just the region, but in the country,” said Thorns coach Max Weber, the associate head coach with Boise State women’s soccer. “(She) has been for a long time, and I believe will continue to be so.
“She’s a special talent, both offensively and in just sheer work rate within the game. And I believe that someday she’ll represent our country.”
Sunday marks the first time this Thorns group will play for a Far West title. But they already won a national President’s Cup championship as U-13s in 2018. The club opted to compete in the President’s Cup that year due to the high cost of competing at Far West in Hawaii.
Weber noted the team always had talent. But he said their intellectual side sets them apart.
“They crave information,” Weber said. “They crave to learn. They’re tremendous learners. And that’s why I enjoy, as a collegiate coach, coaching this youth team.
“Obviously they have ability. But a lot of players have ability and don’t get to actually put that out there.”
TWO IDAHO TEAMS FALL IN SEMIFINALS
A pair of Idaho teams saw their run end in Saturday’s semifinals.
The U-19/20 Boise Thorns girls lost to Southern California’s Beach FC 2-0. And the U-18 Boise Timbers boys lost to Las Vegas Sports Academy 4-0.
They were part of four teams Idaho sent to the Far West Regional semifinals, tied for the most in the state’s history. Idaho also sent 10 teams into the quarterfinals, breaking the previous record of seven.
This story was originally published June 26, 2021 at 1:16 PM.
