Lady Wolves' soccer season ends before state

The Green River varsity girls soccer team won’t be going to state this year.

The girls had trouble scoring in their last few games of the season. The fire they built in the first half of the season dissipated with players missing from injuries and not finishing goals.

“They were taking shots, we were just having a hard time finishing,” Wyant said.

The team lost key defensive player Kelsey Moffit from a knee injury shortly before regionals as well.

“We lost some speed in the back,” head coach Tracy Wyant said.

To compensate for the missing defense, Forward Lauren Hoyt was pulled to the back to help.

The team was tried and stretched going into their first game of regionals Thursday, against Evanston.

Even so, Green River stayed in front of Evanston’s goal the majority of the first half of the game.

“We possessed the ball, dominating the game,” she said.

Ten minutes into the second half of the game, Green River made one mistake which resulted in the game to go to Evanston. The defense went to clear the ball away from their goal and miss touched the ball.

Evanston was there to follow up and put it in the back of the net, Wyant said.

“We played a pretty good game,” she said. “Evanston gave a good game. They capitalized on a mistake and we were unable to answer back.”

The game ended with a win to Evanston, 1-0. The loss ended Green River’s regional tournament game play. The loss ended Green River’s season and chances to state.

“We won’t be going to state for the first time in several years,” Wyant said. “Things don’t always go your way all the time. We just need to learn from it and come back stronger next year.”

The girls varsity team was very young this year. Freshman players were able to get more varsity time and proved their worth in the season.

“I have a young team, we struggled a little bit this year,” she said. “We will get there and we’ll be alright.”

“I told them, if you gave it your all, then hang your heads high,” Wyant said. “If you did everything you could and left it all on the field, then be proud of yourselves.”

The wolves are proud of the work they’ve done, but will be putting themselves to work over the summer to reach their goals in the year to come.

The girls plan to attend a team soccer camp in July, as well as other team camps. There are 23 girls signed up for the team camp so far, Wyant said.

“After that, it’s on them,” she said. “The more they do in the off season the better. Hopefully they’ll work hard in the summer and be ready for the next season.”

“The opportunity is there; I just hope they get it done and I think they will.”