ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Needing a win to break into the postseason the Northwest College men's soccer team did that and more, earning a pair of wins over the top teams in Region IX on the final weekend. 

The Trappers defeated top seeded Western Nebraska 2-0 before coming back to defeat Laramie County Community College 2-1 and move past the Golden Eagles to the No. 4 seed in the postseason, which earned them a home playoff match on Saturday.   

NORTHWEST 2, WESTERN NEBRASKA 0
Needing a win to get into the postseason the Trappers (6-2-6 overall, 5-1-3 Region IX) welcomed in the top seeded Cougars (8-4-2 overall, 7-1-1 Region IX) on Friday, and started to press from the start.

Northwest created chances throughout the first half, and the Trappers finally took advantage midway through the half on a corner kick.

That kick was played to the back post before it was headed back across the frame of goal, and Alan De Paula put home the ball to make it 1-0.

"It was huge [to go up early]," coach Rob Hill said. "Because so often we have gone down and then teams have sat in and we've had to chase the game. I think it was important to set that mental tone of going up early."

Northwest continued to press and secured its second goal before the break.

That goal came courtesy of Shota Akima, who found his way in behind the defense after a Shay Lonergan through ball, slotting it home to make it 2-0 with 10 minutes left in the half.

Throughout the second half the Trappers and Cougars continued to battle back and forth, with the Trappers holding off any comeback attempt as they finished with the 2-0 clean sheet.     

NORTHWEST 2, LCCC 1
With the win on Friday, the Trappers had all but locked up a playoff berth, but had an opportunity to move up in the rankings with a win against the Golden Eagles (8-4-1 overall, 5-3-1 Region IX).

The visitors got on the board first, when a cross was deflected back into the box and put home to give the Golden Eagles the 1-0 lead with 30:15 left in the first half.

"The LCCC goal was very tough because it was our fault. I felt it was a sloppy goal," Hill said.

The Golden Eagles had a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the first half, when a turnover at the back led to a foul in the box and gave a penalty to the visitors.

Holding his line and guessing correctly, Trapper keeper Harvey Bolland dove to his right and saved the shot to keep it at 1-0 heading into the half.

"Harvey came up absolutely massive with the penalty save," Hill said.

Northwest appeared to find an equalizing goal early in the second half, when a free kick played into the box was headed home, but the center official called off the goal due to the official having not blown his whistle to restart play.

The Trappers found their equalizer with 33:18 left in the game, when Pedro Nunez put home a free kick and made it 1-1.

Both teams had their opportunities, but it was Northwest getting the winning goal.

Confusion from the Golden Eagles regarding a potential foul allowed for Nunez to win the ball, going around the keeper and putting it home to make it 2-1 with 3:31 remaining.

The Trappers saw out the final minutes for the win.    

POSTSEASON HOME MATCH
Northwest will stay at home heading into the postseason, turning right back around and playing against the same team they just beat on Saturday, the Golden Eagles.

The Trappers and Golden Eagles will meet at 2:30 p.m. with the winner heading to No. 1 Western Nebraska for a semifinal matchup in Scottsbluff.

Despite just defeating LCCC, Hill expects a more difficult matchup after the Golden Eagles did not have one of their top center back options in the previous game.

"I think both teams are going to be much more wary of each other because of the previous experience," Hill said. "One of their important center backs comes back from a red card. It's going to be a very tough game on the men's side."

The Trappers tied with Otero College (5-2-4 overall, 5-1-3 Region IX), but the Rattlers got the tiebreaker to be the No. 3 seed to host No. 6 seeded Central Wyoming College (3-5-3 overall, 3-3-3 Region IX) at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The winner of the Otero and Central Wyoming game will head to No. 2 seeded Casper College (11-4-1 overall, 6-2-1 Region IX) next weekend for a semifinal.

After the semifinal the highest seeded team will host the regional championship on Saturday, Nov. 2.

"Any one of these top six teams can go through," Hill said. "Last year I thought there were three in the hunt, this year, there's six in the hunt … Anyone can win it."   

POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
(Both first round matchups are on Saturday)
No. 1 Western Nebraska (bye); Will host winner of Northwest and LCCC
No. 2 Casper College (bye); Will host winner of Otero College and Central Wyoming
2:30 p.m. No. 4 Northwest vs. No. 5 LCCC
4 p.m. No. 3 Otero College vs. No. 6 Central Wyoming