NWC WOMEN FALL IN OVERTIME

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

After a strong October pushed the Northwest College women's soccer team into the postseason on a high note, the season came to a close on the road at Central Wyoming College. A golden goal off a corner kick in overtime ended the Trapper's season 2-1 in Riverton on Saturday.

CENTRAL WYOMING 2, NORTHWEST 1 (OT)
Starting the postseason in Riverton the No. 5 seeded Trappers (7-6-1) were hoping to avenge the last loss on their schedule against the No. 4 seeded Rustlers (9-5) which came on Sept. 27.
In the first half, neither team found the back of the net, as coach Rob Hill felt the Trappers played to the strengths of the Rustlers rather than their game.
"The first half we just played the majority of the time like they were, which was just kicking the ball without really any purpose and without any thought process," Hill said. "At times we were possessing it and moving it all the time, we just got caught in their kind of ugly game. That's kind of their (Central's) identity really. They win with athletes, but it's kind of ugly."
The Trappers moved the ball better in the second half, but it was Central who struck first.
A free kick from more than 40 yards out found its way to the middle of the box and was headed home into the side netting at the far post to put the Rustlers up 1-0.
"The free kick they got, arguably it wasn't a free kick, but never mind that you've got to deal with the ball in the air," Hill said. "When you don't challenge in the air in the box, and that's the only chance they've had all game up to that point … It was a great header, so don't take away from that. But we didn't even challenge it. We just jumped. That's not trying to win the ball, that's just jumping and we paid the price."
Northwest then created better opportunities, but pushed them wide or off the crossbar.
The Trappers got their equalizer when a cross into the box found its way to Brooke Travers, who found herself free and headed it home to make it 1-1.
Neither team found a winner in regulation, and the two teams went into extra time.
Extra time in junior college soccer features a golden goal system, so the team that scores first will end the game. If it remains tied after the two 10-minute sessions then the teams go to a penalty shootout.
Central Wyoming did not have to wait long to find its winner, heading home another ball, this time from a corner kick the Trappers were unable to clear That ended the game before the end of the first 10 minute period.
"It was simple, don't let the ball bounce in the box. Head the ball. We let it bounce, and it goes over three defenders and they headed it in," Hill said. "You've got to head the ball, you've got to win balls out of the air. So we paid the price for that. It was unfortunate because I thought we were the better football side and possessed a majority of the ball … It was disappointing. We should have done better in front of goal, and that's been the story of the season. We create a lot of chances, but you need to be clinical. And if you're not clinical you often pay the price."  

SEASON COMES TO AN END
Throughout the month of October the Trappers had scored 16 goals and hadn't conceded a goal until the Central contest, as Hill saw a number of players grow late in the season.
"I felt like we could have made a run, but such is life, we didn't get the job done. But I think the girls had a lot of growth. I think that there was some unbelievable individual growth from people that kind of learned late on," Hill said. "There were a lot of people that did grow and develop, which is huge for us next year. It just took a little bit longer than I wanted them to, but they eventually started to pick it up and realize what the league demanded and what the conference demanded; how much they had to work and how much more physical they needed to be."
The Trappers will say goodbye to a number of contributors to the program the past several seasons, as Northwest will lose two third year sophomores as well as a number of sophomores who started and contributed over the past two years.
"It's going to be tough. We're going to have to do a lot of work," Hill said. "We've got to do a very good job of scouring the world to try and find those replacements … But that's the life of junior college, we've just got to work hard to find the right people."