JACKSON — With three teams in a tight battle for the two guaranteed tickets to the state tournament, the Rock Springs High School boys soccer team could not afford a slip-up on the road Friday night. That meant the group had to beat Jackson Hole High School on its senior night.
The loss drops Rock Springs two games out of first place behind Green River and Kelly Walsh high schools. It’s a big change after winning eight straight to start the season.
The Broncs made the most of the special night to create a little problem in the playoff plans. They scored first and last, and Rock Springs never led in a 2-1 upset loss.
In the first meeting, the Tigers won 5-4 despite giving up four penalty kicks. They did not give up any PKs this time around but lost the game.
Rock Springs did not waste any time looking for an open spot in the net. Kingdom Wanjoku, Eduardo Bravo and Aaron Goldman went right at the heart of the Jackson defense with attack after attack.
The problem was the shots were just enough off frame to help out Jackson. That was a common theme the entire game.
The Broncs were denied on their first shot on goal by keeper Nic Kautzman. However, the second shot was huge as a rocket sizzled through a small gap between Kautzman’s hand and the left post to give Jackson a 1-0 lead with 32:54 left in the half.
The Broncs never got another look like that in the half. Nick Nelson, Kreston Klein and Jaymin Carroll created plenty of havoc on the forwards the rest of the way.
Rock Springs had many chances, more than enough to win the game. Luswin Trujillo, Bravo and Wanjoku had seven shots either hit the post or go just wide of the goal.
The failed attempts to score finally ended on a corner kick by Goldman. He placed the ball perfectly in the middle, where Jose Andicoechea slammed the ball into the net to make it 1-1 with 16:01 left it half.
It was mostly Rock Springs the rest of the half. Two more corner kicks and four shots on goal were all snuffed out, and the Broncs were lucky to go into halftime time 1-1.
The Tigers faced the same challenges in the second half. There were nine shots on goal but no one managed to sneak into the back of the net.
Jackson only had four shots but made one count after taking the lead 10 minutes into the second half.
The Broncos held off several attacks by the Tigers to pull out the surprise win.
Let the news come to you
Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.
