WICHITA, Kan. — Sandpoint High rising junior Ava Glahe, and rising senior Lilliana Brinkmeier, were both part of the Timber Thorns North FC 07 Academy girls soccer team that defeated the Chicagoland United Premier SC of Illinois, 2-1, to take home the 2024 U.S. Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup held July 12-16 at the Stryker Complex.

In the title game, the Thorns scored in the first half with a long pass from Marisol Stosich (Boise High) to Avery Lathen (Lewiston). In the second half, Stosich scored on a penalty kick to boost the Thorns lead to 2-0. 

Chicagoland scored late in the second half. 

In group play, the Thorns fell 2-1 to Chicagoland United Premier. The lone Thorns goal was scored by Lathen.  

On day two, the Thorns tied Western Lehigh United SC of Pennsylvania, 1-1, with Lathen scoring the lone goal for the Thorns. 

In their final group play match, the Thorns blanked Calcasieu SC of Louisiana 2-0. Kennedy Hartzell (Lake City) and Lathen scored for the Thorns, and Lilliana Brinkmeier (Sandpoint) notched the shutout in goal. 

In the semifinals, the Thorns went down to the wire with St. Louis Scott Gallagher Elite Green SC of Missouri. On a goal by Stosich, the Thorns led until the Missouri squad scored the equalizer in the final 45 seconds of regulation. 

In the shootout, Grace Hatch (Boise High), Ava Glahe (Sandpoint) and Lily Bole (Post Falls) each scored as the Thorns won 3-2 on penalty kicks to reach the title game. 

Teams from Tennessee, West Virginia and Montana also competed amongst the 8-team championship field.

In order to qualify for the tournament, the Thorns, which are based in Coeur d'Alene, won the U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Presidents Cup held June 14-18 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The girls tied Billings United SC of Montana 3-3 in the opening round before going on to defeat Columbia Premier SC of Washington 6-0, Seattle United of Washington 4-1, Flagstaff United SC of Arizona 7-0, the Strikers FC of Montana 3-2 in the semifinals, and Billings United SC 2-0 in the championship.

    The Thorns North FC 07 Girls Academy soccer team won the U.S. Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup in the 17U division on Tuesday in Wichita, Kan. In the front row from left are Kennedy Hartzell, Lily Bole, Emerson Rakes, Mattie Fish, Marisol Stosich, Bailey Koster, Ava Glahe and Lilliana Brinkmeier; and back row from left, head coach Mark Plakorus, Katie Kovatch, Grace Hatch, Isabella Grimmett, Avery Lathen, Jaina Grothe, Savannah Ross, Sloan Waddell, Olivia Smith and Cameron Fischer.