Lady Wolves struggle at state tourney

State may not have went the way the Green River High School Lady Wolves soccer team wanted it to go, but they did gain experience.

Head coach Tracy Wyant said she was confident and excited when the team found out they were going to play Cheyenne Central first because she knew her team could beat them.

However, much like the rest of the Lady Wolves’ season, things don’t always work out the way they plan or go their way.

“It was like a giant roller coaster ride for sure this year,” Wyant said.

The season was filled with highs and lows. One of those highs was when the Lady Wolves beat the Rock Springs Lady Tigers to reclaim the Sweetwater Cup.

Wyant said it was almost like one minute the team was on top and the next they were struggling to just stay in the game.

At state it was much of the same story. Unfortunately, the team struggled against Cheyenne Central, losing 4-1. Wyant said that was a frustrating game because the girls had more shots on goal than Cheyenne Central and yet they lost.

Senior Taylor Stoeger continued to show the state why she’s second in the state in goals.

This loss sent the team to the consolation game. It was a must win to stay in situation.

During the Jackson game, the Lady Wolves continued to struggle in the first half and within the first 17 minutes of the game Jackson scored three goals.

Wyant said it’s really hard to come back when the team gets behind by three right away.

In the second half of the Jackson game, the Lady Wolves Wyant knows and likes to see were playing hard.

“We fought to the very end of the game,” Wyant said. “We might not have won that last game, but in the second half they played well. It was a little too late.”

The Lady Wolves lost the game 4-2. Stoeger put in the two goals in that game.

Wyant said it didn’t feel good to lose both games, but she has a young team and knows they will only get better with practice. For seniors Stoeger, America Zarate and Grace Johnson it was their last game as Lady Wolves.

Despite having an up-and-down season, the Lady Wolves still put up some impressive stats.

Stoeger ended the regular season with 20 goals, plus three at state, for a total of 23, she was followed by junior Chezney Mamalis with five goals, freshman Carly Kettering with four, freshmen Raena Finch with two, Zarate with two and freshman Caitlyn Croft with one.

Wyant said Stoeger had a stellar year and out of her four years there was only one other year when she had more goals with 28.

Wyant said for Mamlis and Kettering to be getting goals shows they’ve been playing hard because they are mid fielders. That position usually gets a lot of assists, but not goals.

“Chezney is a workhorse,” Wyant said. “She’s constantly running. She’ll play wherever I need her.”

In fact, Mamalis played the entire second half of the Jackson game without a break.

As for assists, Finch and Stoeger were tied at three apiece, followed by Zarate with two.

Goalie and junior Holly Hunt led the team in saves with 144 for the year, followed by sophomore Kendahl Coy with 57 and junior MaryRebekah Shafe with 5.

“It shows that she’s a good goalie,” Wyant said. “She’s tall, tough and strong.”

 

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