The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
League record stands at 6-2
The Titans split their last two home games and are now battling for the top spot in the region 5 league standings with a record of 6-2.
They opened the two-game home stand with an 11-0 win over the Center Vikings on Thursday, October 7. Center can be hit or miss every season, yet typically bring a team flush with individual talent.
This year, they appear to be struggling and fell victim to a relentless Crested Butte attack.
Senior captain Henry Linehan led the charge early, netting a hat trick in the first half. Two goals from senior Sam Evans and a solo strike from senior Mick Osmundson had the Titans on top 6-0 by halftime.
A host of other Titans got in on the scoring frenzy in the second half, capped by senior Ryan Oros who broke free from 20 yards out and drove his shot past the outstretched hands of the Center goalie to cap the 11-0 win.
The Titans’ big test came on Saturday and while they lost, it wasn’t from a lack of effort. Rather, it was from a lack of finishing, as a stifling Alamosa defense held the Titans offense in check.
With four starters missing, coaches Than Acuff and Mike Martin looked to a couple players with limited varsity time to step into the mix on Saturday. Sophomore Dylan Curtiss and junior Ian Kelly were called into action on defense and freshman Pharwit Durgan and sophomore Clifford Gibbens stepped in to fill some holes in the midfield.
All four players rose to the occasion, with Curtiss and Kelly dominating the Alamosa strikers and Durgan and Gibbens keeping pace with the Alamosa midfielders.
Alamosa struck first 33 minutes into the game when a cross pass found an Alamosa player alone at the top of the six and he finished with a quick head ball.
Following the goal, Alamosa retreated to an impressive defensive stand, setting up shop in their own half.
The Titans flirted with an equalizer in the closing minutes of the first half with a rapid succession of shots but the Alamosa defense were in position to help out their keeper and clear the ball from in front of the net.
The Titans kept the pressure on through the entire second half but stalled repeatedly 30 yards outside the Alamosa net trying to find seams in the defense.
Their effort offered up a handful of chances at game-tying goals but the shots failed to find the back of the net and the Titans fell 1-0.
Crested Butte has this week off before the final two games of the regular season. The Titans will host Telluride on Tuesday, October 19 at Rainbow Field at 3:30 p.m. and then will close the regular season in Ridgway on Thursday, October 21.
If they finish with two wins, the Titans should qualify for the state tournament; a loss in either game may spell the end of the Titans season.
