Record-setting Idaho soccer group extends run at Far West. Four teams advance to semis
Another year as the host of the U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships saw Idaho soccer clubs set more records.
Eleven teams from Idaho advanced past the group stage and into Friday’s quarterfinal round, breaking the previous record of 10 set last year.
Four teams won their knockout matches Friday, tying the record for the most Idaho teams in the semifinals set in 2021 and 2019. That includes the U-15 Idaho Rush girls and a record three boys teams — the U-15, U-18 and U-19 Boise Timbers.
All four teams advanced to Saturday’s semifinals at the Simplot Sports Complex. But the continued success doesn’t come as a surprise to leaders of Idaho’s youth soccer community.
“I think we keep advancing and putting our players into play formats regionally throughout the year so that, when we get to this level of competition, we’ve been through it numerous times,” said Gavin Kempe, the Boise Timbers U-15 coach and performance director for the club.
“In the past, it was very sporadic. And when we got to this level, it was a bit of a shock. I don’t think any of the teams here now are surprised by what we’re seeing.”
IDAHO RUSH TO SEMIS FOR FIRST TIME
The U-15 Idaho Rush girls team avenged last year’s penalty kick woes with this year’s penalty kick heroics in a 4-3, sudden-death shootout win over the Utah Surf.
As U-14s, they were the first Rush girls team to win their group at Far West. Fast forward a year, and they are the first Rush boys or girls team to reach the semifinals.
“Last year, this team helped paved the pathway for the younger girls that are looking up to them, and they continue to do it,” said Oliver Frick, the U-15 coach and associate technical director for the club. “They already earned a spot to go to (nationals), and so this just continues to help us build momentum for that.”
Utah Surf entered Friday’s matchup as the highest scoring team in the age group, but a strong Rush backline took away several scoring chances.
“Hours and hours of training have prepared us for this, and it’s also being there for each other,” Idaho Rush’s Sophie Patterson said. “Our team is special because we never get down on each other. This team is always just cheering you on, even if you make a mistake. It’s really a team mentality.”
It took a scoreless regulation and two overtime periods to decide the winner, with a 3-3 tie after five rounds of penalty kicks forcing a sudden-death situation. After a missed shot by Surf, Patterson delivered a strike to the bottom left corner to lead Rush to the semifinals.
The incoming Eagle High sophomore played primarily on the Rush B team. But a call-up to the A team in October helped make history for the club.
“I feel really good,” Patterson said. “(The game-winning kick) was nerve wracking, but I’ve been practicing penalty kicks for hours. I was scared, but I was also pretty confident. And, of course, I had my team behind me. They’re what really gave me the confidence to go up there and take it.”
Rush continues its historic run with a semifinal matchup against Oregon’s United PDX tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.
U-15 BOISE TIMBERS BACK FOR MORE
A regional runner-up last year, the Timbers wasted little time returning to the semifinals, breezing by Utah’s La Roca 3-0.
Fabian Arguello, an incoming sophomore at Caldwell High, drew first blood in the third minute with a one-time finish in the box to put the Timbers up right away.
But an early lead didn’t deter them from applying the gas. A high press throughout the first half forced La Roca into mistakes and turnovers in its own half.
“I think we have the athletes and ability to put teams under pressure,” Kempe said. “We have some special kids up top that, the more we can keep (the ball) higher and give them the opportunity to score, the more success we’re going to have.”
The pressure helped Jeremiah Quinones find Alan Cisneros Hernandez inside the penalty box for a second score late in the first half.
“I think we did really good,” Quinones said. “We played really aggressive, we connected our balls and we finished every goal.”
Cisneros Hernandez would return the favor in the second half with a sprint down the sideline and cross to Quinones’ feet. Quinones curled it to the back post to make it 3-0.
“The exciting part for me is pulling us to a standard,” Kempe said. “At this point, to have a 3-0 quarterfinal win and advance, is massive. It also gives us a good mentality moving forward that we can still put together a better game.
“We’re looking forward to tomorrow and continuing our trajectory of meeting some of our goals that we haven’t gotten to yet.”
The Timbers lost in the U-14 regional championship game a year ago, but the group says they’re hungry for a shot at redemption in the championship game.
The Timbers take on Oregon’s United PDX at 8 a.m. Saturday in the semifinals. They’ve yet to concede a goal in four games this week.
“Now we’re just trying to win it and come back stronger this year,” Quinones said. “We’re going to win this.”
IDAHO QUARTERFINAL SCORES
BOYS
- U-13: Oregon Premier FC 2, Boise Timbers 0
- U-15: Boise Timbers 3, La Rocas (Utah) 0
- U-16: New Mexico Rush 1, Boise Timbers 0
- U-18: Boise Timbers 3, Santa Barbara SC (Cal South) 2
- U-19: Boise Timbers 3, Sparta United (Utah) 1
GIRLS
- U-15: Idaho Rush 0, Utah Surf 0 (Rush 4-3 PKs)
- U-16: Utah Celtic FC 2, CGA Academy (Idaho Falls) 1
- U-16: Snohomish Youth SC (Wash.) 3, Boise Thorns 1
- U-19: Excel Soccer Academy (Ariz.) 3, Boise Thorns 2
- U-19: Nevada Select FC 4, Idaho Rush 2
- U-19: United PDX (Ore.) 1, CGA Academy (Idaho Falls) 0
IDAHO SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS
BOYS
- U-15: Boise Timbers vs. United PDX (Ore.), 8 a.m., Field 11
- U-18: Boise Timbers vs. Portland City United (Ore.), 8 a.m., Field 20
- U-19: Boise Timbers vs. Albion SC (Nev.), 10:30 a.m., Field 19
GIRLS
- U-15: Idaho Rush vs. United PDX (Ore.), 10:30 a.m., Field 11
This story was originally published June 24, 2022 at 8:34 PM.