The Braves most jam-packed week of soccer likely of the entire season came to it’s conclusion on Saturday as they faced the Kelly Walsh Trojans and Lady Trojans, both of which entered the game as top 5 ranked squads on the WyoPreps coaches and media poll. Both the Kelly Walsh teams came into yesterdays matchup with either the top or 2nd best scoring offenses in 4A West play on the season and it was on full display over the weekend for those that tuned in to the SVI broadcast or braved the early start times to see in person.
The girls game started off the weekend battle at 10am sharp and with Mikayla Christiansen getting the game off in net, the Braves turned to usual JV net-minder Ashlee Hepworth to hold off a Kelly Walsh team with a +23 goal differential on the season. It was a rough start with the Trojans finding the twine 4 times in the first 10 minutes of the game but Hepworth would get significantly better as the game went on and while the score may indicate otherwise, the Braves goalie was playing on her head all game long and once she got a rhythm going behind her she was able to make incredible save after incredible save throughout the game.
The shots on goal difference was immense which may have been expected heading in, but a credit to Hepworth as she registered 17 saves on the morning which kept the Braves streak alive of 5 consecutive games with double digit saves. For the Trojans it was a great day to be Sydney Stephan or Hannah Holmberg as the respective freshman and Senior each registered a hat trick during the Kelly Walsh 9-0 victory over Star Valley with Peyton Hill, Eleanor Veauthier, and an unrostered #37 each netting the remaining 3 goals.
For the guys it was nearly an identical repeat of the first meeting against the undefeated Trojans team with the Braves actually striking first at the 14 minute mark when McKell Merritt managed to finally boot in a loose rebound after a misplay of a deep throw in from Kayson Haderlie as Kason Adsit of the Trojans came out to try and grab the throw in directly out of the air but missed it leading to a loose ball being as previously stated, kicked in for the 1-0 Braves lead. Things would only go the Trojans way from there however as freshman Ethan Leslie would tie the game about 9 minutes later and then the Trojans would take the lead on a penalty kick from fellow freshman Brandon Gonzalez at the 30 minute mark.
The score would stay at 2-1 at the half and for a decent chunk of time in the 2nd half it remained 2-1 and the Braves appeared to have a chance in the close game but a 5 minute span from the Braves nightmares would blow the game wide open. From minute 12 to minute 17 the Trojans converted 4 shots into goals from Britton Butler, Beau Barclay, Ethan Leslie, and Beau Barclay again and would ultimately hold that score until the final with the score sitting at 6-1 in favor of the visitors despite a solid 14 save performance from Tayt Lawson.
The Braves will be on the road this week on Wednesday and Thursday against Evanston and Jackson respectively and then play their final home game of the season next Saturday as they take on the Riverton in a week that will be VERY important for seeding for the Regional playoffs this season as Natrona will enter this week 1 game behind Star Valley in the standings and Riverton just half a game ahead of Star Valley for the 4 seed.
