Category Archives: Boys Soccer

South boys find a new level of confidence after positive weekend

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Zac West and the Cheyenne South boys soccer team finally got a break through win over Torrington. Shawn Havel/staff

Zac West and the Cheyenne South boys soccer team finally got a break through win over Torrington. Shawn Havel/staff

CHEYENNE — It’s a 24-hour stretch that could change a lot for the Cheyenne South boys soccer program.

If nothing else, it was a pair of games that certainly show how far the team has come.

On Friday, the Bison traveled to Laramie for a Class 4A East Conference battle with the Plainsmen. South led 1-0 in the game before Laramie rallied to claim a 3-1 win.

About 15 hours later, the team returned home to face Class 3A Torrington and earned a 3-2 win.

“We’ve grown a lot as a team throughout the season. We’ve had a couple injuries but we’re playing through them,” South defender Abner Gracia said.  Continue reading →

2012 Class 3A boys all-state soccer team

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Buffalo: D Seth Hostetler, jr; GK Neil Medders, jr.; D Kade Myers, sr.; F Kalob Rodriguez, sr.; M Wyatt Witty, sr.; Cody: M Wyatt Febrizio, jr.; Jackson: F Will Horstmann, so.; M Lucas Freeze, sr.; D Teague Guddeman, sr.; M James Lummis, jr.; F Juan Morillon, fr.; D Gus Pierce, sr.; Lander: M Kyle Leeman, so.; D Derek Peil, sr.; F Austin Roberts, sr.; GK Marcus Vigil, sr.; Newcastle: M Dominic Rainbolt, sr.; Rawlins: D Cameron Olson, sr.; Star Valley: M Derek Smith, sr.; Torrington: D Christian Munoz, sr.; Worland: GK Ian Feather, sr.; D Austin Frazier, sr.; M Zach Lempka, sr.; F Kris Mull, sr.; F Bryce Overcast, jr.; D Bru Swing, sr.
Underclassman of the year: Will Horstmann, Jackson.
Upperclassman of the year: Kris Mull, Worland.

South boys learning lessons, ready to put things together

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CHEYENNE — Every game is a learning experience for the Cheyenne South boys soccer team. And these guys are soaking it all in.

Four games into the season, the Bison have already learned valuable lessons. Some have come from coach Jeff Vega’s instructions. Others have come the hard way.

“We’ve got to have quicker touches, be stronger on defense. We need to go to the outside more instead of playing so vertically,” South forward Zachary West points out as some of the things the team has noticed. Continue reading →

East’s Pushcar combines success with a little luck

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Cheyenne East's Caleb Pushcar (4) and Cheyenne Central's Kyle Foster (7) battle for a ball during Friday's match. East won 3-2. Miranda Grubss/staff

CHEYENNE — Without Caleb Pushcar, the Cheyenne East boys soccer team wouldn’t have gotten a win over cross-town rival Cheyenne Central.

And without some fortuitous bounces, Pushcar wouldn’t have been able to make a play for his team.

“I know there’s luck in soccer,” Pushcar said with a smile following a 3-2 Thunderbirds’ win on Friday. Continue reading →

4A East all-conference soccer

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Here’s the list of Class 4A East boys and girls all-conference selections. Full all-state lists are expected to be released Wednesday.

GIRLS
First-team
Cheyenne Central: GK Kelley Fisher; F Makena Cameron; M Christie Schiel; D Jennie Barsotti; Cheyenne East: F Rachel Erickson; M Sarah Erickson; M Heather Baker; D Makenzie Drake; Casper Kelly Walsh: GK Jocelyn Morris; Gillette: GK Missy Schultz; F Shereer Small; F Brittney Lacek; M Karen Storie; M Angie Benson; M Michelle McGeary; D Kayla Corcoran; D Tiffany Polson; D Bailey Wenz; Laramie: F Cassidy Aguilar; M Haley Moon; D Haley Ahrenholtz; D Josie Bowdish; Sheridan: F Rickie Ryan; M Stephanie Sessions; D Nikki Kassen.

Second-team
Central: M Jaymie Syracuse; D Alysha Honaker; East: D McKenna Horsley; Kelly Walsh: F Taylor Hockley; M Carly Hooker; D April Taylor; D Abby Vierkant; Gillette: M Julionna Skinner; Laramie: GK Rachel Rettinger; M Jacqui Pulley; M Lindsey Martinez; Sheridan: GK Jacey Repsis; F Haley Ligocki; M Noelle Gollinvaux; D Harley Stewart.

BOYS
First-team
Cheyenne Central: M Ryan Krempels; D Ryan McGhee; Cheyenne East: M Jalen Willett; F Alex Cowns; Casper Kelly Walsh: GK Cameron Stanek; D Marcus Couldridge; D Matt Binder; M Tanner Vivian; F Caleb Romsa; Gillette: D Cody Nice; Laramie: GK Andrew Amen; D Ian Muller; D Arlo Stansbury; M Andrew Johnson; M Jimi Gomez; M Brock Mosier; F Vitor Nazareth; F Dillon Barbour; Sheridan: GK Cole Smith; D Gabe Dahmke; D Kurt Price; M Colby Wollenman; F Hunter Reece; F Drew Slikker.
Coach of the year: Andy Pannell, Laramie.

Sibling rivalry

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It’s not uncommon for siblings to compete on opposite sides of the Cheyenne Central-Cheyenne East rivalry. However, they’re usually around the same age and wearing uniforms. That’s not the case for Colby and Trenton Keller.

Colby Keller is a senior at East and the Thunderbirds’ starting goalkeeper. His older brother Trenton is a hair over his mid-20s and an assistant for the Central boys.

These weeks get awfully quiet when Trenton returns home for a visit.

“He’ll come over for dinners and stuff, but I don’t really talk to him,” Colby said with a grin. “I try and stay down in my room for a while and not talk to him when we’re getting ready to play Central.”

Not an easy task

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Weather has wreaked havoc on all sports this spring, but soccer has been the most adversely impacted. Case in point: The Cheyenne Central boys and girls just finished a string of four matches in seven days. The Cheyenne East boys and girls begin a stretch of four in seven today against Gering, Neb.

 

I really feel for those athletes. Not only have they had a lot of matches moved around, but the weather that moved those matches has pretty much kept them from being outside and training. Soccer is a sport players have to be well-conditioned for. They run countless miles per match and there are plenty of collisions in matches that create many  nicks and bruises. Without rest, those nicks and bruises can turn into larger, nagging injuries.

 

The players currently aren’t getting much rest. They play one day and the coaches give them the next off. If players don’t get the day off, they do a short pregame walk through or minor drills to polish skills.

 

The other problem with a jam-packed schedule is it doesn’t allow much time for teaching. Sure, coaches can make in game adjustments and remind players of those adjustments heading into the next game. But game after game with little to no practice in between doesn’t allow coaches to drill points home and work on correcting problems. This is exactly why Central girls coach Scott Foster was excited having about three days of practice before his team returns to action Friday in Gillette.

 

“We don’t get a lot of time to work and reflect in games,” he said after his team’s 1-1 draw Monday with visiting Riverton. “I’m looking forward to three practices before two more tough games this weekend. This is going to be a good time for us to look at how we’ve been playing and make corrections.”

Even more moves

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Rather than playing Casper Kelly Walsh tomorrow evening, the Cheyenne East soccer teams will face Riverton in matches that were postponed because of this weekend’s weather. The boys traveling to Riverton and the girls hosting the Lady Wolverines. Both matches are scheduled to start at 4 p.m.

 

Meanwhile, the Kelly Walsh matches have been moved to May 4 with the boys at home and the girls on the road.

 

Cheyenne Central will face Riverton on Monday, April 27. The Lady Indians host Riverton at 5 p.m. at Riske Field. Central’s boys will play at 5 p.m. in Riverton.

Indians offense deserves credit too

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Cheyenne Central’s defensive unit of Garret Cowley, Patrick Schum, Brad Ramsey and Jack Stacy deserves a lot of credit for the Indians’ perfect start through four matches. Central hasn’t surrendered a goal this season.

 

However, the midfielders and forwards also have been instrumental in the hot start.

 

The forwards are finishing their chances. Even more than that, they’re not letting the ball get past midfield all that often. Those guys are keeping pressure on defenders trying to advance the ball upfield, passing well and doing a good job of maintaining possession.

 

Junior forward Kevin Cox said the offense feels it can take more chances because it has such a good defense behind it. Same goes for the defense, senior sweeper Brad Ramsey said.

 

It’s hard to maintain that level or performance for an entire season, but the Indians will be a serious state title contender if they can find this same form at the state and regional tournaments in late May.