JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Jackson Lady Broncs outlasted an overmatched but athletic Lady Braves team in Star Valley Tuesday. The 4-0 win moves Jackson to 7-2-1 on the season.
Jackson 4, Star Valley 0
Star Valley (0-7-1) made the Jackson girls earn every opportunity they had in the opening 40 minutes. The Lady Broncs could manage just the lone goal, coming just 5 minutes in, when Taya McClennen and Melissa Morillon Jimenez—who had magic together all afternoon—executed a sweet give-and-go that sent McClennen in all alone for an easy tap-in past Braves keeper McKayla Christensen.
The Lady Broncs stayed patient and used vision to create scoring opportunities throughout the 1st half. Credit the Star Valley girls, who do not yet have a middle school soccer program, for using their athleticism and speed to diffuse Jackson threats for the remaining 35 minutes of the 1st half.
Whatever coach Kristen Pizzaro said at the half got through to the troops. Jackson came storming off the opening kickoff, Morillon Jimenez and McClennan again hooking up for a scoring chance. Morillon Jimenez’ shot was saved, only briefly, but Piper Lee was right there to toe in the easy rebound to make it 2-0 Jackson just 10 seconds into the 2nd half.
Jackson got on the board again at the 43-minute mark when Phoebe Alva Rosa fired one off a hapless Amber Milne. The Star Valley fullback instinctively put up her arms to protect her face, resulting in a hand ball in the box, which gave the Broncs a penalty kick. McClennan converted it for a 3-0 Jackson lead.
Similarly, freshman attacker Ella Steinberg was fouled in the box for a PK. She hit the same spot with a worm-burner just inside the left post with 7:43 left in the game.
