Blazer boys advance to state soccer tournament

Erick Starkey
Posted 5/17/17

Nathan Stitt scored two goals and an assist to help propel the Torrington Trailblazers to a 3-0 win over Pinedale at the state qualifier Friday in Worland, sending the Blazers to the state tournament.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Blazer boys advance to state soccer tournament

Posted

WORLAND – Nathan Stitt scored two goals and an assist to help propel the Torrington Trailblazers to a 3-0 win over Pinedale at the state qualifier Friday in Worland, sending the Blazers to the state tournament.
“I thought Nathan played amazing today,” coach Jeshua Arnusch said. “He really took over the game and let Pinedale know that he wanted to go to state. Both of his goals were beautifully crafted and his assist to Braden Claussen was perfect right in front of goal.”
Claussen netted the third goal for Torrington, off the assist from Stitt. A.J. Shields had the team’s other assist on one of Stitt’s goals.
Torrington kept the offensive pressure on Pinedale, outshooting them 23-12. The Blazers also didn’t allow a corner. Although the team got off several shots, Pinedale’s defense wasn’t the easiest to crack.

“We haven’t seen a team defensively play such a high offside trap,” Arnusch said. “It was nice to see because we really had to work at beating it for the first 15 minutes of the game and we might see it again at state from some of the teams on the other side.”
With the win, the Blazers improved to 14-3 on the season. The victory in the state qualifier puts Torrington in the state tournament.
“It has been a great season and now we get the chance to set out on our journey of winning a title,” Arnusch said. “That’s been our goal all year and we have been working toward it every day. These guys want it so bad and so do I and I wouldn’t have chosen any other road.”
The Blazers’ first contest of the state tournament comes Thursday against Buffalo at 4 p.m. All of the tournament games are played in Sheridan. Torrington and Buffalo faced off earlier this year, with the Blazers getting the win, 3-0.
“These guys know each other well and the state tournament always seems to find us pitted up against one another,” Arnusch said. “Both teams have eliminated one another the past few years.
“I tell the boys it’s like the Steelers-Ravens rivalry in football. Throw out the previous 20 games because the only thing that matters is getting the W in the 90 minutes at Sheridan, and the team that keeps their cool and plays a physical game is going to win,” he said. “I’m pumped – this is what it’s all about.”