STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College and Northeastern Junior College men's soccer teams battled back and forth on the soccer pitch Friday in a Region IX conference showdown in Sterling, Colorado.

                After one half, neither team scored and in the second half each team netted a goal as the teams settled for a 1-1 tie.

                The tie moves the Cougars to 5-2-2- overall and 3-1-1 in conference play. NJC moves to 3-3-2 overall and 2-1-2 in conference play.

                WNCC will be back in action Saturday when they continue the Colorado road trip with a contest against Lamar Community College, a team that is 1-12 overall and 1-6 in conference play.

                Friday, though, WNCC dominated on the offensive side with 28 shots of which 13 were on net compared to just 17 shots for NJC.

                Despite the shot disparity, neither team scored in the first half. The second half saw NJC grab a 1-0 lead early. WNCC earned the tie later on in the second half as Robert Rivero scored on a Sabastian Arenas assist.

                Neither team could score again as the two teams had to settle for the tie.

                WNCC goalkeeper Hernan Burdiles had eight saves in net.

                Arenas led the Cougars with three shots, two of which were on net. Four Cougars had two shots in the contest with Jeronimo Zelaya Diaz, Pablo Dominguez, Isrrael Rodriguez, and Maximo Niyibaho.