Allen Simpson has been the play by play voice of Braves soccer for several seasons now and was SVI’s man on location for regionals in Rock Springs last weekend as the Braves would need round 1 victories in order to find themselves in the State tournament this coming week which will also take place in Rock Springs. The Girls unfortunately were unable to pull the upset in the 1st round and their season came to an end on Thursday but the boys for yet another year have managed a 1st round surprise to punch their ticket to State.

The boys were the 5 seed going up against the 4th seeded Riverton Wolverines, who the Braves had just played the week before to a 2-2 tie after 2 OT’s couldn’t determine a winner and it would be more extra time for the 2 teams at Regionals as after 80 minutes had been played the 2 teams looked up to notice they had each scored 1 goal apiece. It was a thrilling finish to regulation as well with the Braves staring a 1-0 defeat in the face with precious little time remaining until Jesus Allred came up with the game tying tally with under 5 minutes in the game with a brilliant snipe to the near post.

The Riverton goal-tending was unreal throughout the game as Rylee Murray played on of his best games of his season for much of the game until an unsaveable, perfect shot from Allred finally managed to break the seal that seemed to exist across the Wolverines goal line. In overtime Kayson Haderlie broke the tie with about 4 minutes left in overtime on a penalty kick to send the Braves to state with a 2-1 overtime victory over one of their closest competing opponents during the season all year.

Star Valley would then earn a 2nd round date with the undefeated Kelly Walsh Trojans who they had twice during the regular season taken a 1-0 lead on early before succumbing to Kelly Walsh’s speed as the games would go on and on Friday Kelly Walsh would once again put the Braves away with a 4-1 victory and then after Jackson got hit with a technicality following their victory over Natrona they were disqualified from the match for too many men on their active roster and Star Valley played rival Jackson in the 3rd place game, which the Broncs promptly took 4-1 (legally this time).

The full interview can be found below: