It was a big upset in girls soccer last night as Star Valley knocked off Jackson 1-0 in Afton. Emma Thomson scored the game winner on a free kick in the 77th minute and Addie Butler was stellar in goal with 14 saves. The Lady Braves improve to 2-3-1 while the Lady Broncs fell to 5-2.
“The main thing I wanna say is I’m happy to finally have the evidence to show these girls that what I have seen and believed in them was not wrong,” stated first-year Head Coach Jessica Bagley. “They played a great game and worked hard! They applied techniques taught in practice and many believed in themselves. Gentry Hendriks came out with confidence and played the way I have been waiting to see.”
Much of the victory was also due to Butler’s heroics between the pipes.
“I’ve had many compliments to our keeper Addie Butler,” Bagley continued. “She has been so worried about what coach wants her to do, come out, stay in etc. And I have been talking her up to apply what she has learned in basketball. To trust her instincts and the decision is hers. And to make the decision and stick with it. I have confidence in her abilities to decide and she has been crushing it!”
Bagley owed the win to a great week of intense practices.
“This week our games were filled with a fire to win and I’m grateful for the hard work of our players.”
Star Valley’s Brant Nelson attempts a free kick into the wall of the Jackson Broncs. (Photo by Dahl Erickson)
It was a different story in the boys match as the Broncs blanked Star Valley 6-0 behind three goals from Timmy Opler. Jackson is now 7-0 on the season as the Braves fall to 1-4.
It will be a very busy week for the guys who will play their make-up match on the road in Evanston on Tuesday, April 20, before hosting Green River on Thursday April 22 and then Rock Springs on Saturday, April 24.
Look for more insights in the April 21 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
