NORFOLK – The Western Nebraska Community College men's soccer team dominated a Northeast Community College soccer team in earning a 2-0 shutout win Thursday in Norfolk to open the season.

                The Cougars will look for win number two on Friday when they head to Columbus to face Central Community College-Columbus in action.

                WNCC head coach Todd Rasnic said the men's team played well and pretty much controlled the pace of the match.

                "I felt like we dominated every aspect of the game," Rasnic said. "They went at us the first 10 minutes and worked us hard and tried to put us on our heals we weren't having it. Our guys stepped up and took control of the match. We controlled it like we wanted to, and I don't think there was ever a doubt."

                WNCC finished the game with nine shots with five on goal compared to 11 shots for the Hawks and five on goal.

                The shutout win was impressive for Cougar goalkeeper Imanal Munez, who recorded five saves in net.

                WNCC scored first with 24 minutes to play as Shota Masuko drove to the box and was fouled causing a penalty kick. Rodrigo Cercal then punched the penalty kick in to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead leading into halftime.

                Rasnic said that was the second time in the two matches that Masuko was fouled on a breakaway in the box allowing someone else to take the penalty kick. Last week, Masuko was fouled the same way and Washington Alves took the penalty kick and Thursday, Cercal took the penalty kick.

                The second half saw WNCC continue to control play as the Cougars took a 2-0 lead on an early second-half goal by Yugo Brito.

                Rasnic said it wasn't that far of a shot, but he doesn't know if Brito shot it or was going to cross it, but the ball went over the goalkeeper's head into the back of the net.

                After that the Cougars held their own to get the shutout win.

                Rasnic said on Friday, his team will have to work better in the midfield area to come away with another win.

                "We have to continue to work our discipline in the middle," Rasnic said. "We are still getting a little reckless with the way we play in the middle of the field. The midfielders get to high and we lose our space. If we can fix those things, we will be fine."