The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“The focus coming out of break is simple: get healthy, stay sharp and finish strong”
By Than Acuff
After seeing mixed results the week before with a win and a tough tie, the Crested Butte Titans got back on the winning track as they rolled to a 7-0 win over the Fountain Valley Danes on Tuesday, October 7.
Fountain Valley continues to be an enigma year in and year out. Typically, they’re a strong program that sees success at the 3A level. Then, they couldn’t even field a team four years ago. Since then, they rebuilt into a strong side including scoring in the final seconds of the game last year to tie the Titans 3-3.
The two teams were set to meet earlier this year in Crested Butte, but lightning delays soon turned into a reschedule and so both teams hit the road to meet on one of the nicest grass fields in Colorado at Ben Oswald Park in Salida.
Confidence was high heading into the match as the Titans had the edge on paper, but what they didn’t have was their touch on grass or an overwhelming sense to take the game early.
Passes and dribbling were sloppy and the team muddled its way through the first 15 minutes of the game. Fountain Valley nearly seized on the lack of effort by the Titans twice and provided some fits for Crested Butte’s back four, but goalie Wyatt Anders came up with a big one-on-one save to hold the Danes scoreless.
The scare lit a brief fire in the Titans as they scored in the 16th minute when Bennett Crabtree headed in a cross from Tor Jennison for a 1-0 lead. Crested Butte continued to struggle though and it wasn’t until the 38th minute when they scored their second goal as Will Harpel assisted Shawn Moran on a goal from 20 yards out for a 2-0 lead at halftime.
“We came out flat from the first whistle, and that wasn’t the start we wanted,” says coach Matt Wilson. “Maybe a little bus legs, but mostly a lack of focus. The boys knew Fountain Valley wasn’t a top team, and it showed in the way we played. We got casual, and that’s not who we are or how we want to compete.”
Crested Butte finally turned their game up a notch and scored a third goal in the opening minute of the second half when Archer Bernholtz headed in a corner kick from Jennison. Five minutes later the Titans struck again as Max Naughton slipped a pass to Jennison for a goal and Matias Bonaterre scored two minutes later for a 5-0 Titans lead. Bonnaterre then assisted Kyle Moran for a goal and Crabtree set up Bonnaterre for his second goal of the game late in the second half to wrap up the 7-0 win.
“The halftime talk was about accountability and refocusing,” says Wilson. “We challenged the boys to raise the standard, move the ball with purpose, and play to our level regardless of the opponent. Credit to the boys as they responded right away, tightened up defensively and executed the way we know they can.”
The Titans were slated to face Pagosa Springs on Saturday, October 11 but heavy rains made the Pagosa soccer field unplayable, and the game was cancelled.
“Honestly, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise,” says Wilson. “We were banged up, short on numbers and heading into break with several guys out of town. The rainout gave us a chance to rest, recover and reset instead of forcing a long road trip with a depleted roster. Timing-wise, it couldn’t have worked out better.”
The Titans now take the week off from workouts and games and then return to action with a game on the road against Ridgway and then close out the regular season at home on Friday, October 24 when they face Telluride.
“The focus coming out of break is simple: get healthy, stay sharp and finish strong,” says Wilson. “We’ll use the week to tighten up our shape, polish the small details and rebuild some rhythm. The boys know what’s at stake heading into the postseason, and we want to be playing our best football when it matters most.”
