43°

The five local teams in action Wednesday finished 4-0-1 in their openers at the tourney. Tournament winners qualify to travel to the 2004 Far West Regional Tournament in Spokane, Wash. next June.

The Juneau Soccer Club has a total of six teams at the State Cup. Three of them - the Juneau Xtratuffs U-14 girls, the Juneau Riptide U-14 boys and the Juneau Jaguars U-15 boys - won titles at last year's tournament and traveled to the regional tourney in Hawaii last June.

The Juneau Titans U-15 girls squad opens tourney play today.

Margaret Sekona scored four goals, and Isabel Waldman and Nellie Metcalfe added a goal apiece to lead the Xtratuffs over the Storm.

Coach Tom Rutecki reported that Metcalfe also had a number of close calls - including two shots that hit the side posts and one that hit the crossbar. Several of the Xtratuffs' goals came on nicely executed passing sequences up the field, aided by Amaza Whittington and Lindsey Daniels.

The Xtratuffs held tough on defense, with sweeper Michaela Goade and goalies Kayla Walton and Allison Bremner holding the Storm to one goal - and that came on a long, lofted shot that was nearly impossible to block.

The Riptide got a hat trick from Dominic Smith, two goals from Jesse West and one goal each from Colin Flynn, Sam Greely and Elias Daugherty as they doused the Flaming Lizards. West also had three assists.

The Riptide scored three goals in the first 10 minutes and never looked back.

Juneau goalkeepers Sam Post and Derek Stewart held the Fairbanks team scoreless, and were assisted by great defensive play from Isaac Stark and Tuavao Maake. Elliot Ford had a good game at midfield.

Riptide coach Rod Flynn said the team built on its experience from the regional tourney in Hawaii earlier this summer, and played a smarter, possession-oriented game.

The Reign won on goals from Andrew Sigler, Joe Crotteau and Daniel Stoops, and were aided by a strong goalkeeping by Conor Lendrum.

Reign manager Sally Saddler said the team showed a lot of improvement after competing in Seattle at the Diadora Cup a few weeks ago.

The Orcas emerged victorious from a very physical game against the AYSC Reds. After the Reds went up 1-0 in the first five minutes, Juneau responded with two goals in two minutes.

Wesley Dinnan scored off a pass from Robert Slagle in the 24th minute, and Dylan Ashe knocked in a corner kick from Tyler Dinnan in the 26th minute.

The Orcas added one more goal in the 17th minute of the second half when Slagle headed in a chip-pass from Ashe. Juneau had several more shots hit the post or crossbar, coach Matt Dusenberry reported.

No further details were available from the Jaguars' game.