NWC women earn first win over Central Wyoming

Posted 4/29/21

After grabbing a 1-0 lead over Central Wyoming on April 21, the Northwest College women’s soccer team found itself in a hole. The Trappers allowed two goals in a row to trail 2-1 at halftime

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

NWC women earn first win over Central Wyoming

Posted

After grabbing a 1-0 lead over Central Wyoming on April 21, the Northwest College women’s soccer team found itself in a hole. The Trappers allowed two goals in a row to trail 2-1 at halftime

In danger of losing once again, it would’ve been easy for the team to become discouraged. The opposite happened.

“It was grit and determination,” NWC head coach Rob Hill said. 

Late in the second half, NWC saw more offensive opportunities, and eventually, that equated to scoring. Shyley Hunter scored two goals in a two-minute span (76th- and 78th-minute), allowing the Trappers to re-take the lead. 

Northwest played well enough defensively, controlling most of the possession, sealing NWC’s first victory of the 2021 season, 3-2.

“It would’ve been very easy to quit and get down and have the ‘here we go again’ attitude,” Hill said. “The fight in them, to keep going, was brilliant. They just kept persisting and persisting and got the reward.”

The Trappers’ other goal came from Kierra Cutright in the 10th minute on a breakaway, and Larissa Santos had the assist on the early score. NWC posted 17 shots on goal in the win, its highest figure of the season.

At one point, the Trappers didn’t have enough players to field a roster, due to several players leaving the program in the fall and early spring. But now several matches into the 2021 campaign, they have shown significant growth.

“Every game they have character, and I felt like this one was a big improvement,” Hill said. 

Their second game of last week, however, was a setback. Northwest ventured to Sterling, Colorado, for a match against Northeastern Junior College, falling 6-0. 

NWC was short-staffed in the loss, missing several players due to injuries or family commitments. As a result, the Trappers had just one sub on hand, and when Hunter suffered an injury early on, they had to play with zero subs.

“They competed as well as they could’ve, but it was a tough ask,” the coach said.

Offensive opportunities were hard to come by in the loss, with the Trappers just tallying three shots on goal. With the defeat, NWC’s record moved to 1-6 overall. 

Northwest plays two more road games this weekend, facing Western Nebraska and Laramie County on Friday and Saturday. Key players Taryn Wagstaff, Isabella Navoa and Malia Hedges will be back in the lineup, giving NWC 15 available players entering the weekend’s slate. 

With four matches remaining in the regular season, Hill’s focus is keeping the team healthy while continuing to develop as a squad. 

“We should be better off this weekend,” he said. “We’re trying to make improvements from game to game. I want to see them keep working and let the chips fall where they may.”

   

Northwest 3, Central Wyoming 2

Goals — Shyley Hunter 2, Kierra Cutright 1;

Assists — Larissa Santos 1, Michele Wagner 1;

Shots — Cutright 8, Hunter 3, Riley Surratt 3, Taryn Wagstaff 2, Kaitlin Castle 1;

Saves — Alexa Williams 4

    

Northeastern 6, Northwest 0

Shots — Hunter 2, Castle 1;

Saves — Williams 14

Northwest College, Trapper Soccer

Comments