ROCK SPRINGS – With schools around the state enjoying Spring Break, not many soccer games are scheduled this week. However, the Rock Springs squads have an important game on Tuesday as they open conference play against Riverton.

Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers are coming off strong performances at the Casper Jamboree over the weekend. In the Jamboree format, games are shortened to 26-minute halves instead of the normal 40-minute halves. It gives teams a good opportunity shake off the off-season rust and get back in the swing of competition.

The Rock Springs Lady Tigers looked good in Casper finishing the Jamboree with a 2-1 record. The ladies of Rock Springs opened with Sheridan in a tough defensive battle. Sheridan was able to score the only goal of the game to take the win.

The Lady Tigers bounced back in a big way in the second game of the Jamboree. Rock Springs faced the Kelly Walsh Junior Varsity team and looked strong on both sides of the field. Defensively, the Lady Tigers pitched a shutout while on the offensive side scored four goals. In the final game on Saturday for Rock Springs, the Lady Tigers got a chance to see what conference opponent Evanston is bringing to the table this season. The game was a non-conference game. Again, the Lady Tiger defense was impressive as they held Evanston scoreless. Offensively, Rock Springs scored three times in the win.

Overall, the Lady Tigers defense was impressive as they only allowed one goal in the three Jamboree games.

For the Tigers, they finished the Jamboree with one win and two ties in Saturday competition. Rock Springs opened with Cheyenne Central and came out strong to take the 3-1 win. Sergio Lemuz had a strong Jamboree for the Tigers and against Central scored two of the three goals. Hector Quezada also scored a goal in the Central win. Assists came from Jeremy Weber, Delaney Seilback and Fernando Hernandez.

In the second game, the Tigers again faced another Cheyenne team. This time East stood across the field from them. In the second game, defense stole the show. Both teams were able to keep the other off the scoreboard as the game ended in a 0-0 tie.

In the final game, the Tigers faced off against Sheridan. The first half resembled the East game earlier and neither team was able to score in the first half. In the 47th minute, Lemuz put the Tigers on the board off of a cross from Fernando Hernandez. It looked like the Tigers would hold on for their second win but Sheridan scored on the final play of the game to even it at one.

Lemuz and Hernandez both looked good for the Tigers in their first competition of the season. Lemuz ended the Jamboree with three goals while Hernandez had two assists over the three games.

Riverton match-up

Tuesday will be the first conference battle for both Rock Springs and Riverton as the Tigers and Lady Tigers will hit the road to face the Wolverine squads.

For the Lady Tigers, they will look to build on the solid start at the Jamboree. The ladies from Riverton were also in Casper on Saturday but did not fare as well as Rock Springs did. The Lady Wolverines went 0-3 in Casper losing to Green River, 2-0, to start and were blanked again in the second game as Cheyenne East rolled to a 4-0 win.

On the other side, the Tigers will need to be on their game on Tuesday. Riverton is currently 4-0 to start the season and it has been all about defense for the Wolverines. In the first four games, Riverton has not allowed a goal.

The Wolverines opened with a 1-0 win over Sheridan and followed it was a 1-0 win against Evanston. They also blanked Cheyenne Central, 3-0, and finished an impressive weekend with a 1-0 win over Green River.

After Tuesday’s battle with Riverton, Rock Springs will get a short break as schools around the state are enjoying Springs Break. The Tigers and Lady Tigers will return to the field on April 9 for their first home games of the season. They will host rival Green River for the first time this season. It will also be the second conference games for both Rock Springs and Green River.