The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Finish 6-3-1
The Crested Butte Titans soccer team closed the regular season splitting two games on the road, falling one win short of their sixth consecutive trip to the post season.
The Titans were fresh off a solid home game stretch and were poised for a run at a playoff berth when they headed to Telluride on Tuesday, October 6 to face the Miners.
The Miners were ready though, as they were looking to keep their hopes for a league title alive.
The Titans struck first as senior Jenner Currier carried the ball through three Telluride defenders to the net and drove the ball past the outstretched hands of the Miner net minder to put Crested Butte on top 1-0.
The Miners responded later in the first half converting on a corner kick, sending the two teams into the half locked in a 1-1 tie.
The Miners took over the game in the second half combining a sort passing attack with pure hustle, netting back-to-back goals to build a 3-1 lead.
Crested Butte responded with 10 minutes left in the game as sophomore Collin Dill found Currier wide open at the top of the Miners’ penalty area with a pass. Currier settled the ball and finished again pulling the Titans back to within one.
The Miners remained calm and continued to pressure the Titans defense. A foul just outside the Titans’ penalty area offered up a direct kick for Telluride and they converted, blasting a quick set past an unsuspecting Crested Butte defense to seal the 4-2 win.
Crested Butte closed their season with a trip to the San Luis Valley to face Center. With numbers depleted due to hunting season, October break and the H1N1 virus, the Titans fielded a mix of varsity starters and JV standouts. The mix proved potent as Crested Butte struck 36 seconds into the game when Currier fed freshman Graham Koval in front of the net for a 1-0 Titans lead.
The Titans would continue to pour on the offense with everyone getting in on a piece of the action. Koval finished the day with a goal and three assists, and Currier closed his career with two goals and an assist. Senior defensive specialist Ricky Sandoval netted his first goal in his last game, freshman Dylan Curtiss poked two goals in, and junior Ryan Oros and sophomore Ian Kelly closed the game with a goal apiece, capping the Titans offensive output.
Junior goalie Jake Grogg made the most of his first start in net for the varsity with a shut-out, including three unbelievable saves to close the game with an 8-0 Titans win.
