ROCK SPRINGS – It was another dominant performance by the East teams on the first day of Wyoming’s 4A State Soccer Championships. However, one West team stopped the sweep and became the top story of the day.
Last year, the East teams beat the West teams in every game on the first day. The Rock Springs Tigers made sure this did not happen again.
The Tigers entered as the fourth seed in the West and took on top seed Gillette in the first game. The game went back and forth with both teams having opportunities. Defense dominated the first 80 minutes of the game as both teams failed to score a goal at the end of regulation.
The teams continued to go after each other but it remained scoreless at the end of the first half of overtime. Finally, with about five minutes left, a Rock Springs pass found Fernando Hernandez who was one-on-one with the Gillette goalie. Hernandez fired the ball past to give the Tigers the 1-0 lead.
Right after the Hernandez goal, the Tigers went right back to work and almost scored again but the Camels were able to keep it out of the net. The Rock Springs defense locked it down as the Tigers pulled the big upset, 1-0.
“Today the boys played with heart and together as one,” Tiger Coach Sean Grube said. “They didn’t give up even as Gillette really pushed the attack. They were able to compose themselves and eventually find the back of the net in the 95th minute of the match.”
Riverton took Cheyenne Central to the limit as the Indians were able to get a win in overtime setting up a semifinal battle with the Tigers on Friday. Central is the third seed from the East.
“Tomorrow we will have to play with the same passion as today. We were able to watch the Central match and can hopefully take some of our strategy into the match,” Grube said.
Rock Springs Lady Tigers
The Lady Tigers also had a challenge to open the tournament as they faced off against the top seed from the East, Cheyenne East.
The ladies came out fired up and ready to play. At the 21 minute mark, Alyssa Graham gave Rock Springs the lead on an unassisted goal. That’s the way it would stay at the half. The Lady Tiger defense was strong stopping eight shot in the first half. Rock Springs had four but had the one that counted.
In the second half, the Lady Tigers defense was able to keep the Lady T-Birds out of the goal. In the first 10 minutes of the second half, East had four shots stopped. With only eight minutes to go, Cheyenne East was able to break through and even the game forcing overtime.
In overtime, it was all East as they scored twice in overtime to take the win.
Green River
The Lady Wolves entered the tournament as the second seed from the West and faced off against third seed Laramie.
The ladies of Laramie came out attacking and in the first 15 minutes of the game had six shots on goal. Green River keeper Dakota Neumann was able to stop all six shots. In the 24th minute, Taylor Stoeger scored the first goal of the game to take a 1-0 lead. McKenzie Lucas almost made it two at the end of the first but her shot deflected off the cross bar.
Right before the half, Laramie was able to break through and even the game at the break.
Five minutes into the second half, Laramie struck again to take a 2-1 lead. With 20 minutes left, Lauren Hoyt had an opportunity to tie on a breakaway but the Laramie defense stopped the shot. That is the way it would end with the Lady Plainsmen moving on.
The loss set up another matchup between Green River and Rock Springs on Friday at 9 a.m.
Wolves
The Wolves also took on Cheyenne East and it was the weather which stole the show as the game was delayed due to lightning. After the delay it was all Thunderbirds as they scored two goals to take the lead at the break.
East continued to pressure Green River in the second as they have several shots on goal. The Wolves defense was able to keep them off the scoreboard until the 64th minute as East added an insurance goal. That would be the way it would end as East moved to the semifinal match.
3A and 4A Results and upcoming games
4A Girls
Thursday, May 28
(#1E) Cheyenne East 3 (#4W) Rock Springs 1 OT
(#3E) Laramie 2 (#2W) Green River 1
(#2E) Sheridan 3 (#3W) Natrona 2
(#4E) Gillette 3 (#1W) Kelly Walsh 1 OT
Friday, May 29
All games played at High School
Consolation Round
Rock Springs vs. Green River – 9am Loser out
Natrona vs. Kelly Walsh – 11am Loser out
Semi-Finals
East vs. Laramie – 1:30pm
Sheridan vs. Gillette – 3:30pm
Saturday, May 30
RS/GR winner vs. Natrona/KW winner – 9am at High School Consolation Champ
East/Laramie loser vs. Sheridan/Gillette loser – 9am at Jr High School 3rd Place
East/Lar winner vs. Sher/Gillette winner – 1:30pm at Jr High School Championship
3A Girls
Thursday, May 28
Star Valley 3 (#1 NW) Cody 2 Shootout: 3-0
(#1 SE) Lander 5 Powell 0
(#1 NE) Buffalo 4 Torrington 0
(#1 SW) Jackson 3 Worland 0
Friday, May 29
Consolation Round
Cody vs. Powell – 9am Loser out
Torrington vs. Worland – 9am Loser out
Semi-Finals
Star Valley vs. Lander – 2pm
Buffalo vs. Worland – 2pm
Saturday, May 30
Cody/Powell winner vs. Torr/Wor winner – 9am Consolation Champ
SV/Lander loser vs. Buffalo/Worland loser – 9am 3rd Place
SV/Lander winner vs. Buffalo/Worland winner – 1pm Championship
4A Boys
Class 4A at Rock Springs
Thursday, May 28
(#4W) Rock Springs 1 (#1E) Gillette 0 OT
(#3E) Cheyenne Central 3 (#2W) Riverton 1 OT
(#2E) Cheyenne East 3 (#3W) Green River 0
(#4E) Sheridan 3 (#1W) Natrona 1
Friday, May 29
All games played at Junior High School
Consolation Round
Gillette vs. Riverton – 9am LOSER OUT!
Green River vs. Natrona – 11am LOSER OUT!
Semi-Finals
Rock Springs vs. Central – 1:30pm
East vs. Sheridan – 3:30pm
Saturday, May 30
Gil/Riv winner vs. GR/Nat winner – 11am at High School Consolation Champ
RS/Central loser vs. East/Sheridan loser – 11am at Jr High School 3rd Place
RS/Central winner vs. East/Sheridan winner – 3:30pm at Jr High – Championship
3A Boys
Thursday, May 28
(#1 NW) Worland 1 Star Valley 0
(#1 SE) Torrington 1 Cody 0
(#1 NE) Buffalo 3 Lander 1
(#1 SW) Jackson 7 Powell 1
Friday, May 29
Consolation Round
Star Valley vs. Cody – 11am Loser out
Lander vs. Powell – 11am Loser out
Semi-Final
Worland vs. Torrington – 4pm
Buffalo vs. Jackson – 4pm
Saturday, May 30
SV/Cody winner vs. Lander/Powell winner – 11am Consolation Champ
Worland/Torrington loser vs. Buffalo/Jackson loser – 11am 3rd Place
Wor/Torrington winner vs. Buffalo/Jackson winner – 3pm Championship
