Soccer regional reaches semifinals

The U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional has pared its field from 240 teams down to 64 in 16 age-group brackets, eight each in boys and girls, after Thursday’s play in the Spokane area.

All of today’s semifinal matches will be played at Plantes Ferry Field in Spokane Valley.

Saturday’s championship matches will also be played at Plantes Ferry.

The defending national champion U-18 girls team, Sereno ‘86 Golden Eagles of Arizona, reached the semifinal by defeating the De Anza Force of Northern California 2-1. De Anza’s score was the first goal the Golden Eagles have given up in the regional.

There are five Washington State teams still alive, including defending regional champion Crossfire Premier ‘88 James of Redmond in the U-15 boys division.

Neither area team, from Coeur d’Alene, reached the quarterfinals.

Regional champions in the U-14 through U-19 age brackets advance to the national championships in Florida on July 20-25.

Thursday’s scores and today’s schedule are on the Stat Sheet, page C6.

Wrestling

North Idaho College wrestling has reloaded its roster with 10 commitments, coach Pat Whitcomb announced.

The new Cardinals include 184-pound Kyle Sand, a four-time Colorado state champion from Denver, and a pair of three-time state champs: Garret Johnson of Medical Lake and Jake Kallestad of Belgrade, Mont. Both are 197-pounders.

Other commitments: Jeff Hodges (125), two-time state champion from Havre, Mont.; Marcus Bradley (141), two-time state champion from Oregon City, Ore.; Matt Nisen (157), two-time state champion from Denver; Josh Erickson (165), two-time state champion from Libby, Mont.; Evan Mattingly (184), two-time state champion from Vashon, Wash.; Yuri Malamura (197), state champion from Vancouver, Wash.; and Robert Shaw (heavyweight), state champion from Nine Mile Falls, Wash.

Football

The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals released punter Ryan Downes. The rookie free agent from Idaho signed on May 25.