ROCK SPRINGS – Soccer teams around the state will be fighting for state berths as Regional Tournaments get underway on Thursday. The 4A West Regionals will once again be in Rock Springs.
The Rock Springs Tigers will open up the tournament against Evanston at 5 p.m. at Rock Springs Junior High. The Red Devils won both meetings against Rock Springs this season. In the first meeting, Evanston won in overtime, 2-1, and in the second contest, 5-3.
Even though the Tigers are entering the tournament losing two of their last three, they are still on a bit of a high beating second-ranked Riverton in the final regular season game. Against Riverton, the Tigers outshot the Wolverines, 15-11. Nic Kautzman had 10 saves while Courtland Carroll had two saves.
Rock Springs Coach Sean Grube said they played an aggressive game. Defensively, Grube said the Tigers played physical while on the offensive side he said the team played with a goal hungry mentality. Overall, Grube said the Riverton win gives them momentum heading to Regionals.
Evanston enters Thursday’s game on a bit of a low. The Red Devils have lost three of their last four with the only win coming against Rock Springs. Last time out they were blanked by Green River, 2-0.
Green River Wolves
For Green River, they could not have asked for a better ending to the regular season. The Wolves entered the last week of the regular season with two straight losses. Green River had three games in the final week as the makeup game with Kelly Walsh was added.
They opened strong with a 3-2 win over the Trojans and followed it with a shutout win over Evanston. In the final game of the regular season, the Wolves also got the best of second-ranked Riverton winning in a high scoring overtime game, 6-4.
While Green River is coming in with three straight wins, Kelly Walsh enters Thursday’s game with Green River on a nine game losing streak. The Trojans last win came on April 11 as they beat Riverton, 1-0.
Green River won both regular season games against Kelly Walsh by the same score each time, 3-2.
Regional Tournament Schedule
4A West at Rock Springs
#1 Natrona and #2 Riverton receive a first round bye and have qualified for state.
Thursday, May 21
#6 Kelly Walsh vs. #3 Green River – 3pm at Jr High loser out winner to state
#5 Evanston vs. #4 Rock Springs – 5pm at Jr High loser out winner to state
Friday, May 22
Kelly Walsh/GR winner vs. #2 Riverton – 3pm at High School
Evanston/RS winner vs. #1 Natrona – 5pm at High School
Saturday, May 23
Fri 3pm loser vs. Fri 5pm loser – 1pm at High School 3rd Place
Fri 3pm winner vs. Fri5pm winner – 1pm at Junior High 1st Place
