Her team was knocked out in the quarterfinals, but Tina Ellertson said her F.C. Salmon Creek Nemesis team proved it belonged at the U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regionals in Boise.
The two losses for the Nemesis were to the teams that played for the regional championship in the girls under-14 division. California South champion Legends FC Gold, which won the regional, beat the Nemesis 1-0 in group play. Runner-up Hawai’i Rush beat the Nemesis 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
“I’m so proud of my girls,” Ellertson said. “They competed so well throughout the tournament. I couldn’t ask for more heart and passion.”
Even in 100-plus degree weather, the Nemesis went toe-to-toe with the Rush in the quarterfinals. Ellertson said the Rush scored twice in the final five minutes of the first half. FCSC got a goal back when Callie Rheaume converted a penalty kick after MacKenzie Ellertson was fouled.
Also scoring for the Nemesis at the regional tournament were Ava Benedetti (twice), MacKenzie Ellertson, Brin Wolvert and Malaika Quigley. Other players for the Nemesis are goalkeeper Hallie Byzewski, Jenna Efraimson, Avery Fairbrother, Madison Goss, Payton Lindell, Isabella Serrano, Regan Smith, Ally Turkington and Sydney Weber.
The Nemesis will play in two high-profile tournaments during July. From July 8-13 they will be in Westfield, Ind., for the National Premier League Finals, a national tournament sanctioned by U.S. Club Soccer that the Nemesis won for the under-13 age group in 2014. Then, in late July, the team will play in the Surf Cup Invitational in San Diego, Calif.
Special Olympics medals won
Clark County Special Olympics athletes and Unified Partners earned medals at the Special Olympics Washington Spring State Games. The state event took place from May 29-31 at Joint Base Lewis McChord.
A total of 150 athletes and partners from Clark County participated in the Games, which included competition in track and field, swimming, cycling, powerlifting and soccer.
A complete list of medal winners from Clark County is in the Community Sports Scoreboard.
120 finish CCRC run
Kaden Harbertson of Vancouver was the first to finish the Clark County Running Club weekly 5-kilometer run on June 24.
Harbertson, 19, completed the Grass Valley 5-K run in Camas in 15 minutes and 47 seconds, five seconds in front of Jesse McChesney. Madeline Sellers, 56, of Stevenson was the first women to finish. Her time was 23:08.
The Clark County Running Club’s summer 5-kilometer series returns on Wednesday to the Grass Valley Park course in Camas. The race begins at 7 p.m. Participation costs $2, and is free to members of the Clark County Running Club. Participants should arrive by 6:30 p.m. to register.
COMMUNITY SPORTS NEWS is published each Tuesday. Submit items by sending email to paul.danzer@columbian.com, or by calling 360-735-4521.
