TRAPPER MEN END YEAR IN SHOOTOUT

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Postseason soccer did not disappoint at Trapper Field on Saturday afternoon, as the Northwest College men's soccer team battled Laramie County Community College to a 1-1 tie through overtime, before the Golden Eagles defeated the Trappers 5-3 in a shootout in the first round of the postseason.   

LCCC 1, NORTHWEST 1 (5-3 SO)
After a late season push to earn a home match the Trappers (6-2-7) welcomed in the Golden Eagles (8-4-2) for the second weekend in a row after defeating them the prior weekend 2-1.

Northwest took control of possession from the jump, as LCCC was comfortable sitting back and letting the Trappers control the ball.

Unfortunately the Trappers were unable to get a lot of chances in the first half, struggling to find shots against the Golden Eagle defense.

Northwest finally found a breakthrough just after the midway point of the half, when Shota Akima cut inside after a good passage of play on the right wing, and curled in a left footed shot into the side netting to give the Trappers a 1-0 lead.

Northwest continued to maintain possession but was unable to create many chances before halftime as it remained 1-0.

That rang true early in the second half, but the Golden Eagles took advantage of their first clear cut chance just over 10 minutes in.

A left footed shot blew past Trapper keeper Harvey Bolland, to tied the match with 34:32 left.

With 29:27 left a yellow card was awarded to LCCC's Adrian Espinoza for a foul on Trapper center back Alan De Paula, however after further discussion the yellow was changed to a red card after the foul was deemed serious foul play and the Golden Eagles were down to 10 men the rest of the match.

Despite the one man advantage the Trappers were unable to create many chances going forward, as both teams were unable to find a winning goal over the final 30 minutes and the game went into extra time.

In extra time, both teams played two 10 minute halves, with the rules being that the first team that scored won regardless of how much time remained.

Neither team created significant chances in the first 10 minutes, but LCCC got the best chance of extra time just a minute into the second half when a shot hit off the post and out.

Neither team found a winning goal, which meant penalty kicks would decide the winner.

LCCC went first, scoring before Jake Coltart put his in to tie the score 1-1.

The Golden Eagles scored their second, but the opposing keeper picked correctly on Akima's penalty, diving to his right and saving the shot to give LCCC a 2-1 lead.

In the third round LCCC and Northwest's Djordy Lefevere scored, keeping it 3-2 going into the fourth round.

Yet again LCCC scored just past the outstretched hand of Bolland, and Enrique Martinez Collado scored his for Northwest to send it to a fifth round. 

In the fifth round, Bolland guessed correctly on the Golden Eagle shot, diving to his right and saving the effort.

Unfortunately, it was deemed by the assistant referee that he had taken both feet off the goal line before the shot was taken, giving the Golden Eagles a retake.

Bolland guessed correctly again and got a hand to it, but it wasn't strong enough to keep the ball out as the Golden Eagles earned the 5-3 shootout win and ended the Trappers' season.  

LOOKING AHEAD
Following a season in which the Trappers only lost two matches while tying seven of the 15 played, Northwest has the potential to return a strong lineup next season with eight outgoing sophomores and 23 freshmen eligible to return from this year's squad.

Northwest will be seeking to advance further in the postseason after finding recent success with two straight winning seasons, as the Trappers now head into the offseason which will include scrimmages in the spring.   

POSTSEASON BRACKET
No. 5 LCCC def. No. 4 Northwest 1-1 (5-3 SO)
No. 3 Otero def. No. 6 Central Wyoming 3-0  

SEMIFINALS
(Both matches on Saturday)
2 p.m. No. 3 Otero at No. 2 Casper College
2 p.m. No. 5 LCCC at No. 1 Western Nebraska   

CHAMPIONSHIP
TBD Nov. 2 at highest seed