Juneau Jambaars drop friendly match in regional warm-up

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For more on the Juneau Jambaars, check out www.regioniv.com/regional.htm

In their first competitive game in nearly nine months, the Juneau Jambaars U-13 boys soccer team dropped an exhibition contest Thursday in Boise, Idaho.

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The Jambaars, Alaska state champs, fell 4-2 to the Idaho state champions. It was the Under-13 team's first competitive game since the Diadorra Cup in August.

"It was a good game," team manager Paul Bertholl said. "They held it 2-2 at halftime."

Andy Lawson and Ben Gelotte scored for the Jambaars, while Taylor Lehnhart made 15 saves in goal.

The two teams will play again at 5:30 p.m. today.

"The defense did their job even though we didn't come out on top," Bertholl said. "They had a hard fought battle back there. They had some very fast players and were much taller than us. They probably had a couple players close to 6-foot."

The Jambaars are in Boise to participate in the United States Youth Soccer Region IV Tournament. The tournament features 14 state champions and two wild-cards from all states west of the Rockies.

This elite tournament features some of the best U-13 players in the country. Current United States star Landon Donovan once competed in the tourney.

• Tim Nichols, sports editor can be reached at sports@juneauempire.com