A new Idaho soccer team advances to the Far West finals. More history could follow

Four Idaho soccer teams were in semifinal action Saturday, but only one remains in the pursuit of a U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championship title at Boise’s Simplot Sports Complex.

The U-15 Rush girls are Idaho’s lone soccer team heading to Sunday’s championship round. They’ll take on Wasatch SC (Utah) at 8 a.m. at Field 2.

The Rush’s U.S. Youth Soccer National P.R.O. League division title in March already secured the team’s berth to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships on July 19-24 in Orlando, Florida — making the U-15s just the fourth Idaho team to qualify for the national tournament.

U-15 RUSH GIRLS ON HISTORIC RUN

The U-15 Idaho Rush girls team continued its historic week with an impressive 2-0 win over United PDX (Oregon) Saturday morning.

The lone remaining girls team from Idaho made history Friday by becoming the first Rush team, boys or girls, to win a regional quarterfinal match. They followed it up the next day with the club’s first win in the semifinals.

“I’m lost for words,” said Oliver Frick, the U-15 coach and associate technical director of the club. “The group continues to break records and standards for us, and I think it’s a true testament of the character, quality and team cohesiveness amongst the group. It’s an amazing feeling.

“You never know if you come back to these situations ever again. So it’s best to give it a shot, and that’s what we’ve done.”

Rush’s Sophie Patterson picked up where she left off in the quarterfinals with a goal in the 11th minute after a drive and pass inside United PDX’s penalty box from Kunie Hirai.

She’s now scored a game-winning penalty kick and game-winning goal in back-to-back games.

“Sophie continues to do what we ask her to do and amaze people,” Frick said. “From where she’s come from to now, she’s really developed so well and has really been a good fit into the team for us.”

United PDX were left stranded on offense throughout, as Rush goalkeeper Marin MacKenzie’s five saves headlined a second straight shutout by the Rush defense.

“It’s not just on the field, but off the field we’re always working together,” Rush captain Maizy Kluksdal said. “We just keep pushing each other as a team and as an individual.”

That team chemistry helped Rush hold a 16-7 shot advantage, with Hirai adding a second assist to Taylor Deitzel for an insurance goal in the 72nd minute.

“(Hirai) is a special kid,” Frick said. “She’s an amazing talent and she has a mentality to win. She’s a competitive player, has good character and knows she’s a good player but continues to find a way even when the legs are tired.”

The Rush are one win away from becoming the second Idaho team to win a Far West championship, but Frick says he’s more worried about the team leaving it all on the pitch.

“I think the only thing we can ask (the players) to do is give everything that they have left in them,” he said. “If we walk off the field and have done that, then we’ve done ourselves proud and done the state proud.”

LATE GOAL SINKS U-18 TIMBERS

A goal by Portland City United (Oregon) in the 74th minute would be the nail in the coffin in a 2-1 win over the U-18 Boise Timbers on Saturday morning.

The U-18 Timbers were part of a record three Idaho boys teams (U-15 and U-19 Boise Timbers) to compete in the regional semifinals.

“(The record) speaks to the entire club,” U-18 Timbers coach Ivan Basquill said. “(Assistant coach Scott Moorcroft) and I coach them at this age, but there are a lot of coaches that come before us. They’re a product of the club, not a project of Scott and I.”

The Timbers struck first after Timbers’ Sawyer Luthy was tripped in the opposing penalty box, setting up a Kye McAllister penalty kick goal in the 21st minute.

Nine minutes later, a tackle on Portland City United in the Timbers’ penalty box secured the Oregon side a penalty kick goal of its own to tie the score.

Portland City United would keep its foot on the gas in the second half, holding advantages in shots (13-6) and corner kicks (8-3).

Timbers goalkeeper Kevin Pullara would keep the Portland offense in check, including a one-handed parry over the crossbar in the 70th minute for his sixth of a game-high seven saves.

“This game we promised each other we wouldn’t (make as many mistakes),” Pullara said. “Throughout the game we saw that through, but we were just a little late on the follow up.”

A shot by Portland forced Pullara to make a diving save to his right, but the ricochet found the feet of Portland in front of the Timbers’ goal to seal the 2-1 victory late.

“They’ve never gotten out of group play, so for me it’s a huge steppingstone,” Basquill said. “This experience is just a steppingstone for the seniors for college and for the juniors coming back next year.”

“Now they know what it’s like, and they know what it takes to get further. I couldn’t be more proud of the boys.”

U-15s AND U-19s FALL SHORT IN SEMIFINALS

Two other Idaho boys teams finished regional action in Saturday’s semifinals.

The U-15 Boise Timbers lost to Oregon’s United PDX 3-2, while the U-19 Boise Timbers lost to Nevada’s Albion SC Las Vegas 4-2.

They were part of four Idaho teams to go to the Far West semifinals, tied for the most in Idaho history. They were also part of a record 11 Idaho teams to reach the quarterfinals, breaking last year’s record of 10.

This story was originally published June 25, 2022 at 6:09 PM.