Midvale State Cup soccer team ‘red-hot’

The Red-hot FC’94 boys soccer team began playing together just two years ago and, on Oct. 22, the team achieved the highest honor for a Utah club program: they won the U-18 State Cup by penalty kicks, 4-2, over Sparta Premier PR. The 16-member squad advanced to the Far West Regional tournament, which will be held in Phoenix, June 2012.

“This was something you always dream of winning,” midfielder Jeffrey Todd said. “But you never really think it’s actually going to happen. It’s just a feeling of incredulousness.”

The Red-hot FC ‘94 team came in as the ninth-ranked team and had a difficult draw to begin the tournament in facing the number one team, La Roca. La Roca has won multiple State Cup titles. But the underdogs prevailed, 3-1, despite losing defender Sam Spracklen to a dislocated knee seven minutes into the game.

In the second round, Red-hot FC ‘94 beat Sparta Premier LS, 1-0, to reach the quarterfinals where they defeated Blue Knights Premier, 2-1. The semifinals were a rematch against the Sparta Premier LS squad and the result was the same: Red-hot FC ‘94 won on penalty kicks, 5-4, after the score was tied, 2-2, following regulation and overtime.

The team found itself down one more player in the final against Sparta Premier PR due to yellow card infractions, but the remaining 14 members of the Red-hot FC ‘94 squad pulled together. At halftime, they were down, 2-0, and gave up another goal just minutes into the second half. With 16:37 left in the game, the Red-hots scored a goal and proceeded to tie the game at three goals each, sending the game into overtime. For the second game in a row, the outcome was decided on penalty kicks with Red-hot FC ‘94 winning, 4-2.

“The philosophy we have built our program on was what the kids used to fuel their play during this tournament,” head coach Brett Davis said. “We have a belief that we will take care of each other and against impossible odds, they came out on top.

Other players on the team include Keaton Critchlow, Devon Means, Chez Green, Edward Lopez, Alex Moss, Jack Vawdrey, Kurtis Willits and Branden Estrada from Hillcrest High along with area players Pedro Lozano, Jesse Molina, Ryan Crowther, Brandon Patterson, Spencer Critchfield and Dylan Shilton.

Davis, who is also the Hillcrest High boys soccer coach, started the Red-hot FC ‘94 program in 2009 with the name standing for Respectful, Excellence, Disciplined, Honorable, Openhanded, Trustworthy, Fun-Loving and Conscientious. He and assistant coach Bill Kunkler wanted to provide an affordable option for serious youth soccer players to develop on and off the field.

The program Davis runs does not include recruiting or paid trainers but simply a philosophy of growing discipline, well-mannered, quality young men who see themselves as a family by taking care of others first and putting that emphasis on a field to play the sport of soccer.

The Red-hot FC ‘94 team has consistently improved each year, placing second in the U-16 Division 1 league its first season while winning three tournaments. In 2010, the team was promoted to the Premier 2 league and won the Steamboat Mountain Soccer Tournament U-18 title as a U-17 team, and placed third in the league. This year, the squad place second in two tournaments before coming out on top in the State Cup.

“The coaches have donated countless hours and have dipped into their own personal finances to help the team compete in many venues and at a consistently high level,” said Cindy Todd, mother of team member Jeffrey Todd.

The team is seeking corporate or private sponsors or donors in fundraising efforts to get the team to the regional tournament in Phoenix next year. Players will be selling Lehi Roller Mills mixes and jewelry at the Rocky Mountain Christmas Show in South Jordan, Dec. 2-3, and at the What a Woman Wants show at the Southtowne Expo Center, Dec. 9-10.

Those interested in helping the team can also contact John Green at 801-230-8618 or Cindy Todd at 801-520-3144.