Rock Springs Tiger Soccer

It is with a saddened heart and a tear in my eye that I, Coach Jeff Atkinson, am announcing my resignation effective immediately as the head coach of the Rock Springs Tigers Boy’s Soccer program. I feel that I am unable to dedicate the time necessary in the off-season (fall and summer especially) to help the program take the next step and win a state title. I feel that I am being stretched too thin with my teaching duties, coaching at Western Wyoming and trying to be a good husband and father to my children. The last two years as the head coach, I have not felt like I have connected with the players and feel that we have not played to our potential on the field. The program in the last couple of seasons was inconsistent and not improving throughout the season like teams should. We are falling behind other programs because we are only training these players from March to May where most of the other 4A teams have camps in the summer, club teams in the fall and are sending their...

The 2010 Rock Springs Tigers had 1 player earn 1st Team All-State recognition. Storie Ratcliff #19 (Junior) forward earned his second 1st Team award this spring -------------------------------- Rock Springs had 2 other players placed on the 2nd team All-State list. Luke Aust #24 (Senior) - Defense Matt Lehman #1 (Senior) - Midfield -------------------------------- Three Rock Springs Tigers were 1st team All Conference in the 4A West. Luke Aust #24 (Senior) - Defense Matt Lehman #1 (Senior) - Midfield Storie Ratcliff #19 (Junior) - Forward ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rock Springs also had 4 players receive Honorable Mention All Conference in the 4A West. Jesse Love #11 (Senior) - Midfield Gus Wagner #0 (Sophomore) - Keeper Pat Walker #23 (Senior) - Forward Riley Yerkovich #5 (Senior) - Defense

2010 Most Valuable Player Luke Aust - Senior ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tiger Tough (Hardest Working Player) Riley Yerkovich - Senior ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Most Inspirational Luke Aust - Senior ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Senior Stud (Best Senior) Matt Lehman -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Junior Leader (Best Junior) Storie Ratcliff ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Super Sophomore (Best Sophomore) Austin Lever -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fab Frosh (Best Freshman) Jordan Rood

On Thursday in Casper the Tigers of Rock Springs played against the Braves of Star Valley. This was a re-match of a game less than a week ago in Afton. This time the Tigers played so much better than the previous time. The first half was scoreless but saw the Tigers have some genuine chances on frame including Riley Yerkovich's shot. But the score would remain zero to zero after 40 minutes. In the second half the Tigers took more control of the match playing the majority of it in the attacking side of the field. But the match changed with just 7 minutes left when off of a rebound from the crossbar a Star Valley player kicked the ball into the net and broke the scoreless tie. The Tigers rallied in the final 7 minutes to try to find the equalizing goal but it was not to be. The Tigers lost in the elimination match to the Braves by a score of 1 to 0 and thus ended their season on the field at Natrona County High School. This was a difficult season in many ways for the Tigers who strug...

In the last match of the regular season the Tigers traveled to Afton to face the Star Valley Braves. The match started well for the Tigers as Matt Lehman got his first goal of the season in the 29th minute the assist for Kortny Lancaster. The Braves struck back kick with two goals in the next ten minutes, one in the 30th and the other in the 39th to lead at half time by a score of 2 to 1. The Tigers were deflated in the second half and could not seem to find the offense necessary to get a goal. The Braves added to insurance goals later in the half to win by a score of 4 - 1. The Brave's second half goals came in the 76th and 78th minutes. These two teams will match up against each other in the 1st round of Regionals on Thursday May 13th in Casper at 6:00pm Man of the Match; Matt Lehman (1st goal and good hustle)

On Tuesday in Evanston the Tigers found themselves down early to the Red Devils. Evanston scored in the 3rd and 7th minutes to take an early 2 - 0 lead. The Red Devils were very aggressive and used this to find holes in the Tiger's defense. The Tigers and the Red Devils could not mount much offense in the rest of the 1st half and the score remained 2 - 0 in favor of Evanston at the half. The second half saw the Tigers take more control of the match and use the width of the field to find their way through the defense. But they still could not find the net. Tides started to change when in the 70th minute the Tigers were awarded a penalty kick. Unfortunetly the kick was a little high and hit the crossbar. But Rock Springs kept on fighting and found their way back into the match when they scored on their second penalty kick in the 74th minute. The kick was put in by Luke Aust. Three minutes later Kortny Lancaster scored off of direct free kick from about 45 yards away by perfectly plac...