JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Jackson girls soccer team ended its season very much the same way they did last year. A superb regular season where the girls finished 13-5-2 was capped by a disappointing semifinal round loss to Rock Springs and a nice comeback win in the consultation round to seize 3rd place at state.
Rock Springs 2, Jackson 1
After an emotional win over Sheridan, Jackson had only Rock Springs to beat to earn a date with Thunder Basin for all the marbles. On a game played almost to the day a year ago, Jackson came up short against the Lady Tigers. This same fate was to be theirs again Friday as the Lady Broncs could not find any offense other than Taya McClennen’s penalty kick early in the 2nd half.
After grabbing the 1-0 lead, Rock Springs responded with 2 unanswered goals of their own and hung on for the 2-1 win over Jackson.
“They’re physical and quick. That’s a good team over there,” said coach Kristen Pizarro. “We played well but they played better. It was a real battle.”
Jackson 2, Natrona County 1
The girls returned Saturday with resilience. Playing their third game in as many days, the Broncs took the attack to Natrona—a team they had not beaten this season in three tries—and earned a real moral victory.
Jackson got an early goal from Melissa Morillon Jimenez and never looked back.
“Melissa had her best three games of the season at the tournament,” Pizarro said. “She can struggle with self-confidence at times after a mistake but she’s one of our best dribblers. So good.”
Morillon Jimenez made a nice pass to Albany McCooey who flat out muscled her way to the goal, bowling over one defender and then kicking one right through Natrona keeper Rian Barthel for the 2-0 Jackson lead with 27:03 to play.
“Albany is my sleeper,” coach Pizarro said. “While other players in the middle get noticed because they are flashy, Albany is just so consistent. Great touch on the ball. I think she is fast becoming one of the best wingers in the state.”
Natrona answered with a late goal of their own after Jackson goalkeeper Sidney Nash mishandled a routine save. It gave the Lady Trojans life, but they could not get the equalizer in the final 120 seconds.
“Third place in the state is not nothing. After first and second there are 14 other teams that would want to be where we are after the season,” Pizarro noted. “That win against Natrona speaks to the character of this team. Resilient, competitive to the end. They wanted to send the seniors out on a positive note.”
Pizarro said the Lady Broncs will be ready for a reload next year with young talent getting better. She mentioned McCooey as well as sophomores Maddy Kramer, Michelle Vargas Ramirez, and freshman Ella Steinberg as ones to watch in ’23.
“It’s bittersweet to see the seniors go. This is the first group [of graduates] I’ve coached all the way up,” Pizarro said.
Thunder Basin beat Rock Springs 2-0 for the state championship in 4A.
