Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
A week off from action has allowed for the Northwest College men’s soccer team time to prepare and rest before hosting a Region IX semifinal match Saturday afternoon.
That match for the Trappers (10-4-2 overall, 6-2-1 Region IX) will come against Casper College (8-6-4 overall, 6-1-3 Region IX) at 2 p.m.
Northwest earned a first round bye after finishing as the No. 2 seed in the regular season, while No. 3 seed Casper College won its first round match last weekend 2-0 against Northeastern Junior College.
The Trappers and Thunderbirds have met twice during the regular season, with the teams playing to 1-1 draws in both contests in Casper and Powell.
In both matches, Casper struck first but Northwest answered each time.
In the regular season there is no extra time in junior college soccer, but in the postseason if the match is tied it will head to two extra time periods.
Those will each be 10 minutes with a small break between the start of the first and second periods. If the match remains tied it will go to shots from the mark, with a winner determined via penalty kick shootout.
The temperature is expected to be below freezing on Saturday in Powell.
If Northwest wins the match, it has a chance to host the Region IX championship next weekend.
That will happen if the Trappers win and No. 1 seed Otero is upset by No. 4 Western Nebraska which defeated Laramie County Community College last weekend.
If the Trappers win and Otero wins then Northwest will head south to Colorado for the Region IX championship next weekend.
If Northwest loses, its season will be over.