Titans soccer concludes regular season with winless record

Gunnison peaking for playoff run

by Than Acuff

Things went from bad to worse for the Crested Butte Titans spring soccer team the final weekend of league play as they dropped two more games to finish the regular season 0-6. They will head into the league playoffs this weekend as the last seed and will open the post-season against the number-one team, Glenwood Springs Ice.

Fitness, field awareness, cohesiveness and rust continued to plague the Titans team as they faced Gunnison on Friday, May 1 and then Delta on Saturday, May 2, shutout by a combined score of 16-0.

Gunnison has been hot and cold all season and came into the match on Friday with a record of 2-3. They’ve been a threat all season to the top teams in the league, falling one goal shy of upsetting league powerhouse Glenwood 4-3 last week.

On Friday, all pistons were firing as they took the Titans down 9-0 in Gunnison, fueled by superior speed, solid possession play and a potent offensive attack.

Gunnison jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minutes of the game and continued to press, taking a 5-0 lead by halftime.

The same continued in the second half. As Crested Butte shuffled players in to get additional experience playing higher-level teams, Gunnison maintained possession and dictated the pace to add in five more goals for the 10-0 win. Jorge Rodriguez led Gunnison with a hat trick, followed by Sebastian Infante who netted two. Moises and Alan Navarette combined for three Gunnison goals and Jordan Duft and Javi Canares each scored one.

“We came out flat and they got two quick goals, and we never really got it back after that,” says Crested Butte captain Thomas Taaca

“I am very happy with the way the team played against Crested Butte,” says Gunnison coach Damon Parker. “We have been playing great team soccer all season long and to finish the regular season with a win is always a good day.”

The win leaves Gunnison in fourth place in the league standings with a record of 3-3. Parker looks to build off of the regular season for a strong finish in the playoff tournament.

“It’s been another great season for us. We have been playing so well as a team this season, controlling possession, better communication, not rushing on offense, better shot selection. It’s been a fun season,” says Parker. “As for the tournament, we are sitting right in the middle of the pack in the standings, so I would love for the team to win the first game and move on to one of the teams that we should of beat this season and pay it back some.”

Crested Butte then hit the road on Saturday to face Delta, somewhat depleted from SAT testing that morning. Fourteen players made the trip and coach Than Acuff used the opportunity to try a new formation with the team in an attempt to breathe some life into Crested Butte’s offense.

The switch did nothing but confuse Crested Butte, as they stumbled through the first 20 minutes and fell behind 3-0. A switch back to their normal formation offered a reprieve and Crested Butte started to find some passing sequences out of the defensive third, but the team continued to stall on offense.

Delta dictated the flow of the game through the second half to tack on four more goals and finish off Crested Butte 7-0.

“Defensively things were different because we didn’t have our usual players,” says Taaca. “And we had kids in different places and it was tough to figure it out.”

Crested Butte finished the regular season 0-6 with just two goals scored all season. Nevertheless, the focus has always been on progression rather than results and Taaca feels the season has helped in that respect.

“It’s been good because kids are learning to play at a higher tempo and it’s been good for development, but it’s definitely tough to go 0-6,” says Taaca.

The team heads to Montrose this Saturday for the post-season tournament and will enter as the last seed. They are faced with the dubious task of playing the top team in the opening game.

“With more playing time and the ability to practice outside instead of in the gym, I think we have a better chance at a win,” says Taaca. “We have a chance, but kids are going to have to work really hard.”