LA JUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College women's and men's soccer team split matches on Saturday against Otero Junior College in Region IX conference action.
The Cougar women rebounded from their first defeat of the season on Friday against Trinidad State Junior College with a thundering win over Otero 1-0.
The contest was tight throughout with neither team scoring a goal despite the Cougar women holding a 17-7 shot advantage.
WNCC finally netted the go-ahead goal as Rafaela Passos took a pass from Caroline Vieira in the 79th minute for the goal. WNCC held on the rest of the way in collecting the win.
The Cougars out-shot the Rattlers, but the Rattlers had a 5-4 corner kick advantage.
WNCC goal keepers Laramie Lake and Ana Von Ruden each were stellar in net. Lake had four saves while Von Ruden finished with three.
The WNCC men weren't as fortunate, falling to the Rattlers 4-1 for their third straight defeat.
Otero grabbed a 2-0 lead at halftime and went up 3-0 before WNCC finally found the back of the net in the 62nd minute when Vincius Viana dribbled the ball and booted the ball in to the back of the net.
Otero came back to add an insurance goal late for the conference win.
WNCC and Otero each had 10 shots in the contest, while Otero had the corner kick advantage at 6-4.
Ruam Barbosa and Richard Gutierrez were in net and each goalkeeper had one save in the contest.
Both WNCC teams will return to action next Saturday when they have their home opener against Central Community College-Columbus at the Landers Soccer Complex. The women's contest is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. with the men's game slated for a 4 p.m. start.
WNCC men, women fall to Trinidad State on Friday
TRINIDAD, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College women's and men's soccer teams opened conference play with setbacks on Friday against Trinidad State Junior College.
The No. 19-ranked Lady Cougars fell to Trinidad State in a defensive contest 1-0. The two teams were scoreless after one half before the Trojans scored the only goal of the match to earn the win.
WNCC had 14 shots in the contest compared to nine for the Trojans. The Cougars also had seven corner kicks to two for Trinidad.
Laramie Lake had five saves in net.
The Cougar men were also stymied on Friday. Trinidad held a 1-0 lead at halftime before a lightning delay that held up play. In the second half, the Trojans scored twice, one on a penalty kick and the second on a header to grab a 3-0 lead.
WNCC avoided the shutout as Criztian Avalos netted his first collegiate goal off an assist from Danny Matty. But that was all WNCC could muster.
WNCC finished with 12 shots in the contest while Trinidad had six. WNCC also won the corner kick battle 4-1.
Barbosa recorded two saves in net.