C.B. Titans soccer squeak out overtime win against Ridgway

Prepare for big push

There’s something about the Ridgway Demons that always gives the Crested Butte Titans soccer team fits. No matter what the Demons possess in talent, they always bring their A-game against the Titans and Tuesday, September 23 was no different.
The Titans were coming off a solid home win over Pagosa Springs and looked to carry that momentum on the road in Ridgway.
“The hope was that they would continue to play good soccer and maintain a high level and beat Ridgway,” says coach Drew Canale.
But midway through the first half, it appeared the Titans were in for one of their worst showings of the season. Tired legs, lack of communication and poor passing made for an atrocious opening 20 minutes, while the Demons were organized, sound on attack and focused.
The Demons seized on the Titans confusion, taking a 1-0 lead 25 minutes into the game. Oftentimes, a goal will wake the Titans up but they continued to muddle through the rest of the half. A combination of Tasei Matsui and Sam Reaman tied the game 1-1 but Ridgway finished the half with another goal to take a 2-1 lead into the second half.
“It didn’t go as planned,” says Canale. “It was another slow start for the Titans.”
Improved efforts by Josh Melnick and Isaac Evans helped inspire the Titans to a stronger showing in the second half but the Titans continued to stall at the most inopportune times. While they managed to press into Ridgway’s end of the field for most of the second half, errant passes continued to plague the Titans.
Time was trickling away and so was the game until Jorge Rodriguez moved up to striker and provided the extra punch needed up top. Rodriguez took a pass from Justin Smith to score on the near post and tie the game with seven minutes left in regulation.
“We were forced to shuffle the line-up to try to create some offense,” says Canale.
The 2-2 tie held and forced the game into overtime. While their backs were against the wall, the Titans were surging at the close of the second half and maintained that energy at the start of the first overtime period.
The Demons threatened early with a quick breakaway but the Titans defense turned it away to escape the initial threat. The Titans then sealed the win eight minutes into the first overtime when Rodriguez slipped through the penalty box to take a pass and pushed it past the Ridgway keeper for the 3-2 win.
“I felt like they didn’t turn it on until late in the game,” says Canale. “They were stoked with the overtime win on the road and I think they showed some true grit to stay in the game and keep plugging away.”
The Titans will hit the road again this weekend as they head to Pagosa Springs to face the Pirates on Friday, October 3 and then the Bayfield Wolverines on Saturday, October 4.
“I think we’re ready,” says Canale. “Pagosa is always a hostile environment. They always play better at home and we’ll be coming off a long bus ride. It’ll be a tough weekend but I think we’re up for it.”