The cross-town rivals had another classic.

This time it bore little resemblance to a Casper Cup, though Kelly Walsh and Natrona County kept the drama.

In a series known for defense and not much else, both teams opened up offensively in a 4-3 shootout thriller that gave the Trojans the Class 4A West regional title on Saturday in Rock Springs.

"Shootouts are always tough, you look at the effort that they put into that game and you hate to have either team lose," KW coach Jerry Realing said. "I guess this one, it was definitely worth the price of admission to the regional tournament, that's for sure."

It also punched the Trojans' ticket for the state tournament with a top seed, sealed with a penalty kick by Lauren Bradley in the eighth round of the shootout to give KW its second win in a week against the Fillies.

The Trojans also matched their offensive output from what was then a surprising performance against NC's vaunted defense, a unit that's only allowed two goals to teams other than KW this season.

But unlike last week, the Fillies were able to keep pace offensively in the regional final.

"Overall I'm really pleased with how the girls played," NC coach Paul Kinner said. "It was a really exciting game to watch and just to be a part of.

"It was one of those games that's just a real pleasure to be around."

They certainly had plenty of time to enjoy it.

Both teams came back from one-goal deficits in regulation.

Both scored in overtime.

They were so evenly matched, it took three extra shooters to finally put an end to their third meeting of the season - all of which had plenty at stake.

"It's always good to have it go your way in the end because you work so hard, but you really feel bad for the other team," Realing said. "We have a lot of mutual respect for each other, and I know it's tough for them, especially when it's a regional title on the line, a rivalry game, and you know they were kind of looking to redeem themselves from the Casper Cup.

"You put all that into girls going up there to take a penalty kick and that's pretty tough."

The Trojans eventually handled it better, though it could end up being a benefit for both teams this week in the one-and-done pressure cooker at state in Laramie.

KW will open against Cheyenne East, NC faces Gillette - and the possibility of a fourth showdown looms in the bracket with even more on the line.

"We talked this morning about what this game means, and we really weren't playing for titles or anything," Realing said. "We were playing for each other and making some of the best memories that we could, and we definitely did that."

They couldn't even fit them into 100 minutes.

n CLASS 4A WEST BOYS: The boys didn't have as much drama.

But they accomplished the same thing.

Kelly Walsh completed the regional sweep with a 2-1 win over Rock Springs in Evanston, bouncing back from a disappointing loss last week and a sluggish start Friday to clinch the West's top seed at state.

"I thought we came off the bus a little slow (in the semifinals), but we definitely put it together," KW coach Bryan Chadderdon said. "In the second half (Friday) and this entire game we played with a lot more intensity, we played physical, which you have to do to be able to compete in high school soccer, and offensively we put together some things that we've worked on and got chances."

Luke Underwood and Eric Martinez each finished one of them off, staking the Trojans to a two-goal lead that was enough support for goalkeeper Zack Johnson.

Chadderdon called Underwood's 7th-minute strike "one of the prettiest" KW has had this season, a one-touch, left-footer off a perfect pass from Kevin Bell to open the scoring.

Martinez capped it for the Trojans with a breakaway goal in the 45th minute, helping set off the celebration for the defending state champs.

"Just to be able to get out and have fun and not having to fight the weather and the wind and the rain, that was fun right there," Chadderdon said. "I think we'll enjoy it today and Monday, we'll talk about it Monday and then get after it.

"They're pretty focused, and we had a good talk (Saturday) about just enjoying it and having fun instead of worrying so much about next week."

Starting with Gillette in the first round Thursday, they'll be plenty of time for that in Laramie.

Contact sports reporter Austin Ward at (307) 266-0634 or austin.ward@trib.com.

Girls Soccer

Class 4A West Regional

at Rock Springs

Final

Kelly Walsh 4, Natrona County 3 (SO)

NC 1 1 0 1 - 3

KW 0 2 1 0 - 3

Kelly Walsh won shootout 6-5.

Scoring: NC, Acacia Tille (Ashley Tuschling) 5; KW, Taylor Diller (UA) 41; KW, Kayla Fakelman (Leah Underwood) 69; NC, Tille (Krista Elder) 75; KW, Fakelman (Sarah Gillett) 86; NC, Hannah Couldridge (Ashley Akers) 96.

Shots: Natrona County 24, Kelly Walsh 14. Shots on goal: Natrona County 14, Kelly Walsh 6. Saves: Kelly Walsh (Karissa Thunselle) 11, Natrona County (Melissa Heck) 3.

Boys Soccer

Class 4A West Regional

at Evanston

Final

Kelly Walsh 2, Rock Springs 1

RS 0 1 - 1

KW 1 1 - 2

Scoring: KW, Luke Underwood (Kevin Bell) 7; KW, Eric Martinez (Luke Ginsbach) 45; RS, Ron Halstead (UA) 64.

Shots: Kelly Walsh 13, Rock Springs 6. Shots on goal: Kelly Walsh 5, Rock Springs 2. Corner kicks: Kelly Walsh 6, Rock Springs 2. WGK: Zack Johnson (1 save).

Consolation game

Natrona County 1, Green River 0

The Mustangs bounced back from their semifinal loss to Rock Springs and locked up the West's third seed at state. NC will open against Cheyenne East on Thursday.

No other information was available.