The Western Nebraska Community College men's soccer team played a strong match against the 12th-ranked team in the nation and it was a strong defensive contest with the Thunderbirds capturing the 1-0 win on Friday at Landers Soccer Complex.

          It was a contest in which WNCC played a strong defensive contest against Casper as neither team scored in the opening half. WNCC only had three shots in the first half while Casper had at least seven good scoring chances, but neither team scored as they entered intermission knotted at 0-0.

          The second half saw WNCC get a shot off early, which wasn't good. Casper then had a shot with 23 minutes left in the game and finally found the back of the net with 22:12 to play as Casper's Kota Yamanashi scored after one shot was saved and Yamanashi scored on the rebound.

          WNCC then had to pick up the pace to try to get the tying score and with 15 minutes to play, Rodrigo Cercal had a free kick that sailed high. WNCC had another shot with 8:40 to play that was saved by Casper's goalkeeper.

          WNCC kept trying to get the tying score with another shot at 6:25 that went high and then back-to-back corner kicks with 2:15 to play and then a minute to play. The second corner kick just missed going in.

          WNCC kept fighting and after a foul with one second to play, Jacob Collins had a free kick from midfield and his shot was on target for the net, but it went right to the goalkeeper to end the match.

          WNCC had just seven shots compared to 17 for Casper. Casper also had six corner kicks to four for the Cougars.

          WNCC, who suffered their first conference loss on Friday, will look to rebound on Saturday when they host Northwest College at 3:30 p.m. It will be the Cougars' last regular season home contest of the year.