May 25, 2003

Avalanche and Xtreme Weather Semi-Final Saturday

There was sun, heat, rain, wind, and cold on State Cup's Semi-Final Soccer Saturday. But the day was dominated by Avalanche. The Sandy-based girls competition club saw all six of its teams sweep through the semi-finals to advance to the State Cup Finals. Avalanche also ensured itself of at least one state title. In the under 15 division, two Avalanche teams will face each other in the championship match.

In Saturday's featured match in the under 16 girls division, Celtic Storm blew Advantage away---even before a microburst in the middle of the second half delayed the game for twenty minutes. Katie Fellows opened the scoring for Celtic Storm, squirting the ball past Advantage's goalkeeper in the tenth minute. A second goal on a swift counterattack followed fifteen minutes later. Robyn Bretzing's squad then sealed its victory with two second-half goals. To complete its defense of last year's title, Celtic Storm will need to prevail on Monday against---who else?---Avalanche. This match is scheduled to begin at 12:30 on Field F.

Two Avalanche teams advanced to championship matches in dramatic fashion. The under 13 team needed penalty kicks to subdue Lightning, whereas Becky Hogan's under 14 team needed a dramatic overtime victory over a courageous D.C. Raiders team. The Raiders staked themselves to an early goal, but a brilliant second half goal from Avalanche sent the game into overtime.

No overtime was required for Utah Xtreme to complete its remarkable run to the girls U17 finals. A day after a tense shootout victory over Impact, Xtreme dispatched Coach Michael Carbaugh's Raiders, 1-0. Meanwhile, Inter F.C. earned the right to seek vengeance for a loss to Xtreme in pool play. Inter F.C. took a wind-aided 2-0 win over Enrique Valasquez's Sparta side. With only ten minutes left in a scoreless game, a ball that was seemingly destined for the hands of Sparta's goalkeeper dropped from the sky due to the strong wind. Inter seized on the opportunity to collect the ball and deposit it into Sparta's twine. Eight minutes later, Inter's Whitney Smith put the game out of reach with a second goal.

In boys action, UV Rangers uber-coach Dave Woolley was relieved when his U12 boys team won in overtime. A day after his high school team fell in a shootout, Woolley probably saw another shootout on the horizon when his U12 Rangers couldn't shake the Soccerheads during their semi-final match. During the overtime, Rangers' Carson Payton found the back of the net to avoid any need for decisive kicks from the spot---much to the relief of the Rangers' coach. The victory also earned the Rangers a trip to Hawaii. Since Utah holds a wildcard entry to the Far West Regional Championships for a U12 boys team, both finalists---Rangers and UFC--know that they will be going to Hawaii.

Utah also has a wildcard entry for the U13 girls. But in the remaining eight divisions, only Monday's victors will need tickets to Hawaii.