WOMEN'S SOCCER CONTINUES WIN STREAK

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

October has been just what the Northwest College women's soccer team needed, as the Trappers continued their undefeated run with another pair of shutout wins, defeating Lamar Community College 6-0 and Northeastern Junior College 5-0 to earn a spot in the postseason.     

NORTHWEST 6, LAMAR 0
Wins were needed by the Trappers (7-5-1 overall, 6-4 Region IX) to ensure a spot in the postseason, starting with a game against the Runnin' Lopes (1-13 overall, 1-9 Region IX).
Northwest got the scoring started early, when Nayeli Aguayo fired home a shot after a bouncing ball found its way to Aguayo from Bailey Wright to make it 1-0 just nine minutes in.
Just five minutes later Aguayo got a second, after a cross from Elli Lewis was tapped up by Aguayo who outraced the visiting keeper and headed it home and made it 2-0.
That score helped going into the break, before the Trappers put the game even further away early in the second half.
Amelia Grace Franklin made it 3-0 just 10 minutes into the second half, firing home a shot from the edge of the box, hitting down off the crossbar and in off a pass from Emma Vaughan.
Katelyn Dandridge added a fourth with 10 minutes left, putting home a corner kick from Savannah Morton.
Brooke Travers fired home a first time shot from just outside the 18-yard box to make it 5-0 and Lewis finished the scoreline after weaving her way 50 yards through the defense and firing it home near post to make it 6-0.
"That's the best possession I've seen them play (this weekend), and it's very easy to play down as well," coach Rob Hill said. "We were up at the half and then we came in (second half) and it just kind of dropped off a little bit. They try and keep motivated, but when you're three up and the other team is not trying that much, you kind of just see out the minutes."

NORTHWEST 5, NORTHEASTERN 0
The win Friday meant that the Trappers needed at least a tie against the Plainswomen (4-7 overall, 3-5 Region IX) on Saturday to ensure they made the postseason.
Travers started early for the Trappers, putting home a corner that was passed back across the frame of goal by Josephine Etheridge to make it 1-0 just 2:23 into the game.
Aguayo helped the cause with a little help from the Plainswomen, as her cross was deflected into the net by a visiting defender to double the lead 21 minutes into the game.
Grace Franklin added to the lead 12 minutes before the break, weaving her way through the Plainswomen defense and curling home a shot at the far post to make it 3-0 at the half.
"I thought we started the game again very well," Hill said. "Everyone's used to Elli scoring, and we've had several different people score. From Brooke to Amelia to Nayeli, it's been very good to share the goals as well because we often rely on Elli too much. But over the last few weeks I think the pressure has been relieved off her because we've had other people getting in good scoring positions."
Aguayo got her goal after receiving a ball at the edge of the box from Riley Noles, dribbling to the penalty spot and firing it into the bottom corner to make it 4-0 with 15 minutes remaining.
Travers capped off Northwest's scoring, putting in a long range effort from more than 30 yards out to make it 5-0 with 2:22 left.
The win ensured the Trappers made it to the postseason, and guaranteed the five seed in the first round.

FIRST ROUND ROAD GAME
Northwest will likely be on the road for the entire postseason barring a strong run from Gillette College at the No. 6 seed, starting with a road game at No. 4 Central Wyoming College (8-5 overall, 7-3 Region IX) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Rustlers were the last team to defeat the Trappers in a 2-1 game on Sept. 27, before the Trappers went on their current four game winning streak, scoring 16 goals and conceding none in October, including a win over No. 1 seeded Laramie County Community College.
"Defensively we've had a lot of change in there because of injuries … I think we've got a lot to prove going down there," Hill said. "It's different conditions, it's a different environment being in the postseason. I expect the girls to compete a lot harder than what they did the first time we played them."
The winner of Northwest vs. Central will head to Cheyenne the weekend of Oct. 25, taking on No. 1 LCCC (8-3-2 overall, 8-1-1 Region IX). LCCC was awarded the No. 1 seed after Casper College had to forfeit an earlier game this season against Gillette, resulting in LCCC and Western Wyoming moving up a seed and Casper dropping to the No. 3 seed. 

REGION IX TOURNAMENT
Every game at the higher seed
FIRST ROUND 
(Both games Saturday, Oct. 18)
GAME 1 — Noon: No. 3 Casper College vs. No. 6 Gillette
GAME 2 — 3:30 p.m. No. 4 Central Wyoming vs. No. 5 Northwest
SEMIFINALS
(Scheduled for Oct. 25, times TBD)
GAME 3 — TBD Winner Game 1 at No. 2 Western Wyoming
GAME 4 — TBD Winner Game 2 at No. 1 LCCC
CHAMPIONSHIP
(Scheduled for Nov. 1, time TBD)
GAME 5 — TBD Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4