Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
Conference season brought a pair of tight matches for the Northwest College women’s soccer team this past weekend on the road — winning a high scoring affair 5-3 over Western Nebraska on Friday before a difficult 1-0 loss to Laramie County Community College on Saturday.
NORTHWEST 5, WESTERN NEBRASKA 3
The weekend kicked off in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where the Trappers (5-4 overall, 1-1 Region IX) squared off with the Cougars (1-2-2 overall, 0-1-1 Region IX).
A slow start saw the Trappers trailing inside the first 10 minutes after the Cougars took advantage and found the back of the net.
Autumn Wilson answered eight minutes later off an Alexzia Garcia assist, but Western Nebraska once again had an answer to take the lead back less than two minutes later.
“We were just not on our game at all in the first half,” coach Rob Hill said.
Tessa Hyland tied the game for Northwest off an Abigail Allen assist with 20 minutes left in the half.
It appeared the teams would go into the break deadlocked, but the Cougars found the back of the net with just 20 seconds left in the first half to make it 3-2.
“A lot of people spoke up at halftime,” Hill said. “Fair credit to the girls for coming back and putting themselves in a winning position.”
After the half, Miranda Acacia Williams scored the tying goal for the Trappers off another Garcia assist, as Northwest searched for a winning goal over the final 24 minutes.
Amy Price gave Northwest the lead off an Abby Derbyshire assist in the 73rd minute, before Pressly Taylor put the game away off a Wilson assist with two minutes to go.
Hill acknowledged that the girls have been able to come back from deficits several times this season, but knows that will not continue unless they work on getting on the board first.
“Credit to the girls for showing resilience and character, but it’s only so long before that runs out,” Hill said.
LCCC 1, NORTHWEST 0
After Friday the Trappers continued the road trip in Cheyenne, taking on the LCCC Golden Eagles (2-3 overall, 2-0 Region IX).
Northwest and LCCC battled throughout, but the breakthrough came just seven minutes in for the hosts.
“The goal we conceded was a 40-yard free kick, it was very well hit,” Hill said. “It was just one of those where it was a really well taken goal.”
Hill said the Trappers were unable to stamp their authority on the game in the first half, but came close to scoring multiple times.
That came through a chance that hit the crossbar, along with two chances late in the game that weren’t finished.
He said the Trappers played much better in the second half, but were unable to find that finish at the end.
“We should’ve scored,” Hill said. “We created the better chances.”
HOME GAMES
That quick road trip is set to be followed by a pair of home matches this weekend, starting with Northeastern Junior College (3-4-1 overall, 1-1 Region IX) at 2 p.m. on Friday.
That will be followed by another match, this time against Lamar Community College (2-3-2 overall, 1-1 Region IX) at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Trapper Field.
“There’s a lot of talent on [the Trappers],” Hill said. “Hopefully we can turn it on this weekend and get another set of wins.”