On championship Saturday the Star Valley fans were fortunate to have a pair of teams to cheer for but unfortunately both of them lost close matches as the 2018 soccer season came to a close.
First off in the 3A Girls consolation final, the Lady Braves had a nightmare start as they literally fell behind in the 1st minute on a lapse in concentration. The Buffalo Bison punched in another goal in the 19th minute for a 2-0 lead and had another carom off the cross bar.
Things started to roll Star Valley’s way however as a failure to clear the box on Buffalo’s part resulted in a backwards corkscrew of a ball that bounced backwards and into the Bison net for an own goal and cut the lead 2-1.
Macy Erickson then put in a rebounded goal just seconds before the half after McKenna Brog took the ball deep into the teeth of the Buffalo defense.
The second half was physical and the Bison put in the game-winner in the 60th minute to take the consolation trophy, 3-2. The Lady Braves wrapped up their season with an overall record of (9-8-2).
The Braves brought a big contingent up the Snake River Canyon for the 3A Boys Championship match against Worland as the two very evenly matched teams put on a show. Worland’s Daniel Weyrich had a one-timer slip through the gloves of Star Valley keeper Alek Lawson in the 12th minute and the two teams traded shots throughout the rest of the half.
Star Valley’s Andrew Jeske and Worland’s Luke Lamb each received a yellow card in the final two minutes heading into the intermission.
Worland’s Jaime Luna received a yellow card in the 58th minute as well.
Star Valley was unable to score heading into the match’s final minute when Noah Hutchinson was awarded a direct kick from approximately 35 yards out when Luna jumped in front and knocked the ball down, collecting his second yellow card and being sent out of the match.
On the subsequent re-try, the rebound from the initial block was put into the Worland net by Jantzen Isaacson, tying the match and forcing overtime.
Down a man, the Warriors still managed to score a shorthanded goal from Rylan Mocko in the 86th minute after the Braves had send a barrage of four different shots at the Worland goal.
The score took the wind out of the Star Valley sails and the Warriors salted away the second overtime period before celebrating the 2-1 championship score.
The Braves finished with an overall record of (13-4-1) this season and set program records for goals scored and team wins. The runner-up finish matches the program’s best ever (2013).
