After intense competition in September and October, the Western Nebraska Community College men's and women's soccer teams will be in post-season action this weekend with first-round contests.

                The Cougar men will open the post-season with a home first-round contest on Saturday. WNCC, 7-4-3 overall and 5-2-2 in conference play, earned the right to host after topping Laramie County Community College 1-0 on a Eduardo Oliveira penalty kick over the weekend.

                The men's Region IX tournament will have two first-round contests. WNCC will host Laramie County Community College on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Landers Soccer Complex while the other first-round contest will pit Casper College hosting Northeastern Junior College on Saturday.

                The winners on Saturday Will advance to the semifinals on Oct. 28 against the top two seeds, who earned byes. Otero College earned the No. 1 seed by winning the conference and Northwest College captured the No. 2 seed.

                The semifinal winners will then face each other for the championship at the higher seed with the right to automatically qualify for the NJCAA national tournament in Wichita, Kansas.

                The women's Region IX tournament will the same format as the men's with the higher seeds hosting games. Casper College earned the No. 1 seed while Western Wyoming Community College earned the second seed. Both teams earned first-round byes.

                The women's first-round will be played this weekend. The WNCC women will travel to face Laramie County Community College on Friday at 2 p.m. in Cheyenne, Wyoming, while the other first round contest will bit Northwest at Otero on Saturday at 6 p.m.

                The winners will advance to play the top two teams on Saturday, October 28 with the championship game slated for either November 4 or 5 at the higher seed. The winner of the women's national tournament will qualify for the national tournament in Wichita, Kansas later in November.