WOMEN'S SOCCER SNEAKS INTO PLAYOFFS

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

The Northwest women's soccer team will be heading to the Region IX playoffs, sneaking in after Central Wyoming forfeited its match Friday against the Trappers, who then lost Saturday to Western Wyoming 4-0.

Central Wyoming (2-7-1 overall 0-5 Region IX) has been battling injuries in recent weeks, forfeiting six matches since Oct. 4 including the match to Northwest (2-12 overall, 1-7 Region IX).

In the Western Wyoming match, the Trappers were playing strong and competing early against the Lady Mustangs (12-8 overall, 6-3 Region IX).

Despite maintaining possession of the ball well, the Trappers conceded a goal late in the half after a Western Wyoming player dribbled past three defenders and put the ball in the back of the net.

Just five minutes into the second half, Western doubled its lead on a quick attack around the Northwest defense, making it 2-0.

The Trappers were unable to find significant scoring chances against the Lady Mustangs, while the visitors applied more pressure with the wind at their backs.

"The wind was a big factor for both teams," coach Rob Hill said. "Going into the wind after going down 1-0 at halftime was not ideal."

A third goal came with just under eight minutes left on an own goal after a ball crossed into the box found its way into the back of the net off a Northwest head.

The fourth and final goal came with just 4:30 left, giving Western a 4-0 victory over Northwest.

After the loss the Trappers now head on one of the longest road trips for a Region IX quarterfinal matchup, heading to No. 1 seed Otero (8-1-1 overall, 8-0-1 Region IX).

"At some point we have to have it click," Hill said. "Otero is a difficult place to go. You travel 14 hours one way and then play on turf."

Otero defeated Northwest 1-0 back on Sept. 17 in Powell, as the Trappers head down to La Junta, Colorado, for a 5 p.m. contest with the hope of pulling off an upset.