TORRINGTON – The Torrington Trailblazer boy’s soccer team picked up a 1-0 win over Scottsbluff, Neb. at home on Tuesday on an extra-time goal by striker A.J. Shields.
The Blazers and Bearcats were knotted up at intermission after several missed chances by both teams. The final 40 minutes of regulation could not separate the two teams, sending the game into extra time.
“I was very impressed by the way our team played tonight,” coach Jeshua Arnusch said. “I think it was one of our best performances of the year in terms of possession, especially in the season half and in the overtime periods. We just had a hard time putting a quality shot on goal.”
Five minutes into the first period of overtime, Scottsbluff fouled the Blazers between the 18-yard box and midfield. Ethan Creagar served a lob into the box, where Shields got a head on it and flipped it into the net for the goal.
“I was very excited to see a set piece goal tonight,” Arnusch said. “I thought that Ethan played a wonderful ball to A.J., who finished with a fantastic header. A.J. has been a big part of our offense lately. He is really starting to learn his role on the team and how to open up space for his teammates by using the width of the field along with his speed.”
Shield was not the only Blazer receiving praise from Arnusch after the game.
“I really though that our midfielders played well, especially Devin Flores, Nathan Stitt and Ethan Creagar,” he said. “They did a great job of moving into space and playing the ball to one another and to our outside backs, who also did a great job of finding open teammates.”
After the Torrington goal by Shields, Scottsbluff threw numbers forward for the remaining 15 minutes between the two extra time periods. Despite more Bearcats in the attacking third, the Blazers were able to hold off the late-game attacks to seal the win. Tyler Ring recorded six saves during the 100-minute game.
The Blazers improved to 9-2 on the season, with a 2-0 record in the conference, which puts them first, ahead of Lander and Rawlins. Torrington is the first team in 3A to get to nine wins on the season.
“Overall, I’m really proud of these guys,” Arnusch said. “They are playing as a team and are playing for each other in both the great moments and the moments that are kind of painful.”
The Blazers hosted Douglas on Thursday after the press deadline. Torrington’s next action comes at home against Buffalo on April 29. The JV game starts at 12 p.m. with the varsity game to follow at 2 p.m.
