ROCK SPRING – Throughout a sports season, there are several factors which separate squads in the end. Some of these include how well a team buys into a coaching system, listens and learns from mistakes. For the Rock Springs Tiger soccer team, fans can start to see these qualities paying off.
While the weather was making state headlines, the Tigers hit the road to compete in this year’s Pinnacle Cup in Worland. Rock Springs entered the tournament on a three-game losing streak but two of the three games were decided by one goal. This included the Tigers last game as they controlled Evanston throughout but gave up a goal with 11 minutes left and another in overtime to fall 2-1.
The team opened with three games and took two while tying the third. The Tigers beat Rawlins and Pinedale while battling to a one-all tie against host team Worland. Offensively, the Tigers scored seven goals in the three games while only allowing one. Despite a strong Friday, Rock Springs moved into the Silver Bracket after losing a coin toss to Worland.
On Saturday, the Tigers looked to keep it going against Star Valley. The Braves went 1-1 in Friday play. They stomped Douglas 9-0 but fell to Green River 3-1. The Tigers took the lead in the first half as Jeremy Weber found Willy Quezada to get the scoring started.
The game remained that way until there were six minutes left. Star Valley was on the attack fighting to even the game. A Star Valley player in the box was fouled by goalie Courtland Carroll who also received a yellow card. Freshman Keeper Nic Kautzman suited up. The Braves were able to make a penalty kick to even the game at one at the end of regulation.
In the tournament set-up, ties in Saturday play would go to penalty kicks to decide a winner. Hector Quezada scored first and Kautzman was able to stop the Brave shot. Willy Quezada was next and gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Star Valley responded to get its first goal in the pk battle.
The Braves stopped the Tigers next attempt and was able to even at two. The last two Tigers shots by Kade Moeller and Balldi Rodriquez both found the back of the net. Star Valley also made both of its final two as the first round of penalty kicked ended tied at four.
Isaias Duran was able to break the tie for Rock Springs and Kautzman made a huge save to give the Tigers the win and a shot at the Silver Bracket Title.
In the title game, Rock Springs faced Cody who beat Powell in a shootout in the other semi-final game on Saturday. The strong offensive push by the Tigers continued and they did not waste any time taking the lead.
Hector Quezada has been on fire for Rock Springs and it only took him three minutes to get Rock Springs going against Cody. Hector took the pass from his brother Willy and blasted a shot from approximately 40 yards out for the first goal. Nine minutes later, Duran made it 2-0 for the Tigers.
At the 34th minute, Tiger Sergio Lemuz found Rodriquez to go up 3-0 and four minutes later Fernando Hernandez found Lemuz for the fourth goal of the half. That is how the first would end.
Cody would score first in the second off a penalty kick but that was all the Rock Springs defense would allow. Hector Quezada ended his strong Pinnacle Cup performance scoring the final goal and giving Rock Springs the 5-1 Silver Bracket Championship win.
In the first six games of the year, Rock Springs scored a total of five goals. In the five games of the Pinnacle Cup, the offense came alive with 14 goals over the weekend. The Tiger defense continued to play strong only allowing three goals in the five games.
Head Coach Sean Grube was pleased with the all-around effort of the players as the only thing the Tigers lost all weekend was the coin toss to Worland.
“We had short numbers with about three subs all weekend. For the kids to step up and put five solid games together I am very pleased,” Grube said.
He added they will be hoping to take this momentum back to conference play.
“The boys are working well together and starting to see the offensive potential they have,” Grube continued. “I am impressed with the defense again. We only had three goals scored all weekend on us and every single goal was a penalty kick. For the defense to step up and stop all the attacks is quite an accomplishment.”
Rock Springs will look to keep it going with three straight home conference games. On April 24, Kelly Walsh and the Tigers will meet followed by Natrona the next day. The real measuring stick will come on April 30 as the Wolves come to town for the second meeting of the year. Green River dominated with a 6-0 win in the first meeting.
