Plainsmen Battle Past Broncs to the Title Game [VIDEO]

In a match filled with plenty of intensity and drama, the Laramie Plainsmen beat the Sheridan Broncs in overtime, 1-0, Friday in the semifinals of the 4A State Soccer Tournament.

The lone goal of the match came from Plainsmen senior Anthony Castano on a penalty kick in the 98th minute, the second half of overtime.

Plainsmen head coach Dan Benford said when Castano was about to take the penalty kick his mind was all over the place.

“I knew Sheridan had finished early the day before and watched our shoot-out. I was thinking the coach had taken notes, and the keeper probably had an idea of what Anthony was going to do on his 3rd PK in two days. Credit him (Castano), he remained calm and cool under pressure. He waited for the keeper to react and put it where he wasn’t.”

Laramie got revenge for a semifinal loss in last weekend’s regional tournament.

Benford added, “This was the best game out of the four we’ve played against Sheridan. Both teams played great today. It came down to the one play, and we’re excited to be moving through.”

The Plainsmen will take on Riverton in the 4A State Championship match Saturday afternoon. Laramie beat Riverton 7-0 on April 22nd in the Gem City.

Benford stated that result doesn’t matter on Saturday.

“The only way we can approach this is like we haven’t seen them. This is not the same Riverton team we saw earlier. We must go into the match with the same defensive set we had in semis. We can take nothing for granted based on what took place a month ago.”

The Plainsmen will be vying for the sixth boys’ soccer state championship in school history and third in the last four years. The Wolverines have never won a boys soccer crown. They last played in the title match in 1997, but lost to Buffalo.

The 4A boy’s championship game is set for 4 p.m. from the Big Horn Equestrian Center.