The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Homecoming game Friday at 4 p.m.
By Than Acuff
The Crested Butte Titans soccer team is in the midst of their toughest week of the regular season with matches against Telluride, Gunnison and Vail Mountain.
They kicked off the week on Friday, September 22 with a match in Telluride and it seems every time the Crested Butte Titans soccer team take on the Telluride Miners, it comes down to the wire and their latest showdown was no different.
The Miners brought the heat in the first half of the match with heavy pressure in the midfield and a stifling back line that left Crested Butte little room to move. Their effort paid off 25 minutes into the game when continued pressure led to a set piece and the Miners converted for a 1-0 lead. Six minutes later Telluride struck again when their top player drilled a shot from 40 yards out to give the Miners a 2-0 lead at halftime.
“The boys competed hard and just needed time to adjust to the unique turf field,” says coach Bradley Davies. “Hats off to Telluride, especially that second goal which was an absolute banger.”
Down 2-0 at halftime at Telluride’s Homecoming is quite a hill to climb but the Titans were far from throwing in the towel.
“There wasn’t any sense of panic at halftime,” says Davies. “We just focused on what adjustments we needed to make to get that next goal and make it a game.”
Crested Butte brought more energy to the field in the second half and while the Miners did threaten early on, the Titans resilience paid off 12 minutes into the second half when Will Harpel cracked a shot from 30 yards out to pull the Titans back into the game.
Then with nine minutes left in regulation, the Titans struck again as Shawn Moran found Kai Greene open just outside the 18-yard box and Greene took two touches to set himself up in traffic and pick the low corner tying the game 2-2.
“Will’s goal was a momentum turner and Kai’s equalizer was top class,” says Davies.
Crested Butte continued to press while their back line fended off the Miner attack but both teams struggled to find the finishing touch as the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
“Considering the circumstances, away from home in front of a big crowd, 2-2 was a fair result for both teams but it definitely left us wanting more,” says Davies.
They got a chance at getting more when the Titans hosted the Gunnison Cowboys on Tuesday, September 26 and the coaching staff and players were looking forward to the challenge.
“We had high hopes for the game and had a great practice Monday, so things were looking in our favor,” says coach Matt Wilson.
Things didn’t play out as hoped though as Gunnison dictated all aspects of the game throughout the first half. They threatened to score several times, but the back line of the Titans defense and goalie Joseph Sudderth held off the attack and the two teams entered halftime tied 0-0.
“We didn’t show up in the first half but made the necessary adjustments and came out better in the second half,” says Wilson.
The changes did affect the overall momentum of the game, but the Titans couldn’t finish the handful of chances they got as the game ended in a scoreless draw.
“We have to play a full 80 minutes if we want to beat tough teams,” says Wilson.
The Titans will now host Vail Mountain for their Homecoming game at Rainbow field on Friday, September 29. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.
