WOMEN'S SOCCER EARNS TOP THREE SEED

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Wrapping up the regular season the Northwest College women's soccer team continued its strong form, defeating Western Nebraska Community College 4-0 before fighting back to a 2-2 draw against Laramie County Community College to earn the No. 3 seed heading into the postseason.  

NORTHWEST 4, WESTERN NEBRASKA 0
With a spot in the postseason assured, the Trappers (9-3-2 overall, 7-2-1 Region IX) were battling for seeding while the Cougars (3-11-1 overall, 3-6-1 Region IX) were hoping for a late push to make the playoffs.

Both teams fought for chances in the first half, with the Cougars getting the best opportunity with eight minutes left.

Dangerous play was called on the Trappers inside their own 6-yard box, leading to an indirect free kick for the opposition.

Western Nebraska put the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was called off after it was determined that the ball did not move in any direction after the initial touch by the Western Nebraska player; resulting in the Trappers escaping into halftime with a 0-0 scoreline.

"They were frustrating us because they were playing with quite a bit of intensity and they were playing quite low," coach Rob Hill said. 

Northwest had its opportunities early and often in the second half, with Sam Bonar heading a ball off the crossbar 5:30 minutes in, and Brooke Travers having a shot deflected off the crossbar just a minute later.

"We had several that just didn't go our way," Hill said.

The Trappers finally got on the board when Elliasen Lewis finished off a cross from Pressly Taylor with 22:37 left to give Northwest a 1-0 lead.

Lewis got an assist of her own just two minutes later, when Nayeli Aguayo finished her cross to extend the lead to 2-0.

"When we finally broke through, especially after the second goal, you could tell by the body language, they (Western Nebraska) were kind of done," Hill said. "I think once we got the second that was it. We were just more comfortable then and played a little bit better soccer, a bit more free."

Northwest kept pressing, and Katelyn Dandridge saw her shot hit off the crossbar with 15:30 left as the Trappers attempted  putting away the match.

Olivia Bradley helped seal the match for Northwest, when her shot turned cross found the back of the net with 3:39 left.

Sara De Wit capped off the scoring with 2:42 left, firing home a shot to give Northwest the 4-0 win.

Anina Gut finished with four saves for the Trappers in the shutout, while the Northwest offense recorded 20 shots in the match.    

NORTHWEST 2, LCCC 2
Welcoming in the Golden Eagles (8-4-3 overall, 6-2-2 Region IX) on Saturday the Trappers needed a win or a draw to take the No. 3 seed, while the visitors needed a win to leapfrog Northwest.

The Golden Eagles struck first, when a free kick from just outside the box found the top corner of the net and made it 1-0 with 27:32 left in the first half. 

Another free kick gave the visitors an opportunity to double their lead, and they took advantage, crossing the ball and scoring on a tap-in in front of the net past the Trappers to make it 2-0.

"Four games in eight days was not ideal," Hill said. "I thought we were very sluggish, very slow. I thought we played our worst game of soccer probably that we've done all season."

Northwest needed a goal to go into the break on a positive note, and the Trappers got just that when Taylor headed in a goal off a corner with just over a minute left to make it 2-1.

"It was a set piece that we've worked on so that was great," Hill said. "Then we knew we were in the hunt."

The Trappers gained more possession in the second half and eventually broke through with a tying goal.

Northwest finally got their equalizer with 8:17 left, when Travers scored a goal after the ball deflected to her from a free kick to give the Trappers the 2-2 tie.

Gut finished with three saves in the game while Juliana Hidalgo also got a save in a half of action.    

HOME PLAYOFF GAME
Finishing as the No. 3 seed means that the season will continue for the Trappers, hosting a Region IX playoff game on Saturday against the No. 6 seeded Otero College Rattlers (5-4-1 overall, 5-4-1 Region IX) at noon.

Northwest defeated the Rattlers at home earlier in the season 5-0. The winner will head on the road next weekend to take on the No. 2 seeded Western Wyoming Mustangs (10-6-1 overall, 9-1 Region IX) who have a bye this weekend.

"Otero could quite easily come here and beat us, so we've got to be prepared," Hill said. "I think it's the first time in program history that men and women have a postseason game at home."

The other first round matchup is LCCC hosting No. 5 seeded Gillette College Pronghorns (7-6 overall, 6-4 Region IX) at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The winner of that match will head to Region IX winner and NJCAA No. 19-ranked Casper College (10-2-3 overall, 8-0-1 Region IX) next weekend.

The highest seeded team will then host the Region IX Championship on Nov. 2.   

POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
(Both first round matchups are on Saturday)
No. 1 Casper College (bye); Will host winner of LCCC and Gillette College
No. 2 Western Wyoming (bye); Will host winner of Northwest and Otero College
Noon: No. 3 Northwest vs. No. 6 Otero College
1 p.m. No. 4 LCCC vs. No. 5 Gillette College