TRAPPER MEN SCRAPPY IN SCRIMMAGES
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
Friendly preseason scrimmages were anything but friendly for the Northwest College men's soccer team, as the Trappers defeated Carroll College 2-1 Thursday, drew with the University of Providence 1-1 on Friday before losing 5-4 to Rocky Mountain College on Sunday.
NORTHWEST 2, CARROLL 1
Starting against Carroll College, the Trappers and Saints played a scoreless first half before a better scoring second half.
Carroll got on the board first just two minutes in, finding the back of the net before the Trappers started settling into the game.
Northwest started pressing and got an equalizer with 16 minutes left, as Joe Hughes got onto a cross and fired it home to make it 1-1.
The Trappers continued to find opportunities in the box, causing chaos before Axel Lopez put home another ball among a scramble in the box to make it 2-1 with six minutes left to give the Trappers the win.
"We came back and won against a very tough Carroll team," coach Rob Hill said.
NORTHWEST 1, PROVIDENCE 1
After the win Thursday the Trappers took on the Argonauts on Friday, looking to carry their late momentum into the second scrimmage.
Providence got on the board first, as the Trappers gifted a goal to the visitors after a poor pass back in defense, which the Argonauts took advantage of to make it 1-0.
Northwest again grew into the game in the second half, before finding an equalizing goal from Mateo de Souza with 17 minutes left in the game.
"I think that in the second half you could see the change in the tempo, and give us 10 more minutes we'd have won that game. We were pushing and hunting again," Hill said.
ROCKY 5, NORTHWEST 4
Hoping to go unbeaten in their scrimmages, the Trappers welcomed in the Battlin' Bears on Sunday and battled windy conditions in the process.
Northwest got on the board first, as Shay Lonergan finished off a strong run of play just five minutes into the game to make it 1-0.
Rocky got on the board with a penalty 12 minutes into the game, putting it home to tie it 1-1.
The two teams went into the break tied 1-1, before Rocky started the second half strong.
The Battlin' Bears got two goals inside the first 10 minutes to take a 3-1 lead.
Northwest got a goal back when Shota Akima stole the ball and ran up the left wing before squaring it to Jake Coltart who tapped it home to make it 3-2, 13 minutes into the second half.
Rocky extended its lead after a free kick bounced around in the box before hitting off the post and being fired home.
A minute later, the Battlin' Bears added another after a corner kick bounced out and was shot back in to find the back of the net to make it 5-2 with just 16 minutes left.
Akima got a goal of his own with six minutes remaining, before Sora Taenaka added a goal of his own off a header from a free kick with three minutes left to make it a 5-4 contest.
Northwest had a chance to tie, as Akima drew a penalty with 10 seconds left, but the shot was saved and Rocky earned the 5-4 win.
"Preseason going 1-1-1 I will take that all day long," Hill said. "They (Rocky) scored a couple of great goals, but they were preventable for us … But we showed some fighting spirit. We fought back."
TOUGH TESTS
Northwest now heads on the road for a couple of weeks before returning home Sept. 6, starting with two nationally ranked opponents in Utah this weekend.
The Trappers take on No. 17-ranked Snow College at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, before taking on No. 9-ranked Salt Lake Community College at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Hill said the Trappers are planning to focus defensively after conceding seven goals in their scrimmages, while expecting a tough game from two opponents which made the national tournament last year.
"We need to clean up our defensive shape, defensive pressure and how we pressure up front," Hill said. "I think we're going into probably the toughest games of the season in my opinion … It's going to be fast paced, it's going to be hectic. These guys are going to see something that they haven't seen yet. These guys are going to be very good, very athletic … The next two weeks are going to be brilliant for us in terms of just handling the pace, speed and handling intensity … Can't wait for it. I think the boys are up for it."