By Phil Sandoval

Post Independent Staff

The hills of Spring Valley will be alive with the sound of kicks (and saves) this weekend when 40 youth soccer teams converge on Gates Soccer Park for play in the 2004 Glenwood Springs Invitational Tournament.

Hosted by the Glenwood Springs Soccer Club, the tournament continues to grow in popularity as a number of Front Range teams join the Western Slope teams at the event.

Eight squads from Basalt, four teams playing under the banner of the Glenwood Ice and one team from New Castle will provide local representation in the 2004 field.

Tournament divisions include U12 and U14 boys and girls.

Matches begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and continue into the evening. They resume at 8 a.m. Sunday and continue through to the four championship games, scheduled for that afternoon.

Each team is placed into a pool of three or four teams. All tournaments are played in a pool-play format.

Teams winning their individual pool, along with group runners-up and/or wild-card teams at the conclusion of pool play, advance to Sunday’s single-elimination semifinals and championships.

The U12 boys feature seven teams in two pools. Area teams include the Glenwood Ice, Basalt Black Toast and the Basalt Avs.

Three pools are planned for the U12 girls tournament, featuring four local entries – the Glenwood Ice, New Castle Pride, Basalt U11s and the Basalt Rocks.

Both of the U14 tournaments have a three-pool setup. Two Basalt teams and the Glenwood Ice compete in the 11-team boys tournament. The Ice U14 girls squad will participate in a 12-team field which includes the Basalt All-Stars and the Basalt Icy Chicks.Both of the U14 tournaments have a three-pool setup. Two Basalt teams and the Glenwood Ice compete in the 11-team boys tournament. The Ice U14 girls squad will participate in a 12-team field which includes the Basalt All-Stars and the Basalt Icy Chicks.