The Western Nebraska Community College women's soccer team put up a fight with Laramie County Community College on Saturday before falling in the Region IX conference contest 2-1.

                The Cougars, who drop to 4-6-3 overall and 3-5-2 in conference play, will enter the post-season as the sixth seed and got into the Region IX playoffs because of a Lamar Community College win over Northeastern Junior College on Saturday.

                WNCC will travel to Cheyenne, Wyoming, on Friday to face Laramie County Community College in the first round with the winner advancing to the semifinals the following week.

                In Saturday's contest, which was also sophomore recognition for the four sophomores Tania Razo, Lesley Vasquez, Aileen Perez, and Sara Lourenco, the Cougars played one of their toughest defensive contests before falling.

                Razo, of those sophomores, said they played from start to finish and left everything on the pitch in the team's final home match of the season.

                "I think we played very well because we played with our hearts," she said. "We need to like that for our next game."

                The gutsy effort that the women showed was key in keeping the score low and the team within striking distance. Razo said playing from start to finish is critical if the Cougars are to go far in the post-season.

                "It's (playing the entire game) really important and it shows we play for each other and we care for one another," she said. "We need to focus in not making errors that cost goals so we need to focus to play until the end."
                LCCC's two goals were on errors on the field, which could have been avoided. The Golden Eagles got on the scoreboard first when Caroline Kuhn took a pass from Abby Williams and fired in a shot from 18 yards out that went into the net in the high corner for the 1-0 lead with 30:08 to play in the opening half.

                WNCC kept playing hard and earned the tying goal with 10:11 to play. Raso took a pass from Vasquez and went one-on-one to the goal and punched it into the net. That is where the score stood at halftime.

                The second half was a defensive battle as both teams had shots but couldn't capitalize. LCCC finally scored with 20:13 left in the game when Tayler Miller fired a pass to Aubrey Yantis who scored to put the Golden Eagles in front.

                WNCC wasn't finished in fighting for the tying goal. With 2:53 to play, Vasquez took a shot and it was on line to go into the net, but the LCCC goal keeper Kiara Kershaw reached up and tipped the ball over the net. The following corner kick also saw a juggernaut of action in front of the net, but the Cougars couldn't get the tying goal in.

                WNCC managed just six shots compared to 17 for LCCC.

                LCCC had nine corner kicks to seven for WNCC.

                WNCC goal keeper had six saves in net while LCCC keeper had five saves.

                Razo said it has been a great two years and she learned a lot on and off the field during her time at WNCC.

                "In these past two years, I learned a lot," she said. "I am thankful for the opportunity that I got to play here and the friendships that I made."