Needing wins on the road to make a postseason push, the Northwest College women’s soccer team earned two shutout victories on a long trip southeast, defeating  Laramie County Community College 1-0 and Western Nebraska Community College 4-0 to put the Trappers in the driver’s seat for a postseason berth.

“I thought they really dug in and showed some grit and determination, which we hadn’t seen all year,” coach Rob Hill said.

NORTHWEST 1, LCCC 0

Starting with a rematch from the Region IX championship game a year ago, the Trappers (5-5-1 overall, 4-4 Region IX) were looking to end a two game slide at the end of September against the Golden Eagles (7-3-2 overall, 7-1-1 Region IX) on Friday.

Throughout the first half both teams had their opportunities in the opponent’s half, but neither could find the back of the net before the break.

“We still were under a lot of pressure from them. Juliana (Hidalgo) had to make a couple good saves, but the back line was very, very good. I mean, we didn’t concede a goal all weekend,” Hill said.

Northwest made the breakthrough early in the second half, when Amelia Grace Franklin chipped the ball over the Golden Eagle keeper from 20 yards, giving the Trappers the lead just two minutes into the second half.

“That was a good finish,” Hill said.

With that goal happening early in the second half on the road, Hill said instead of opting to have a “sit in and bunker mentality,” the Trappers decided to try for a second goal.

“It would have been so easy to just go into a back five and sit in, but we didn’t do that. We continued to play,” Hill said.

Northwest was able to hold off the Golden Eagles in the second half, handing LCCC its first conference loss of the season and earning the Trappers three important points in the standings.

NORTHWEST 4, WESTERN NEBRASKA 0

Continuing to Scottsbluff on Saturday the Trappers matched up with the Cougars (3-11 overall, 2-7 Region IX) for a second time this season.

Northwest got on the board early, as a cross in on a corner from Savannah Morton was deflected in from the Cougars for an own goal just six minutes in.

The Trappers continued to apply pressure and added a second goal when Nayelli Aguayo found the back of the net off another Morton corner to make it 2-0 just before the break.

In the second half the Trappers got two more goals, both from Elli Lewis, who, after strong runs, finished two one-vs-one opportunities against the Cougar keeper to make it 4-0 and give Northwest a weekend sweep.

“Good performance. The biggest thing for me was two clean sheets and the defense was very good,” Hill said. “I was pleased for them that they finally showed some grit and that’s good coming into postseason play.”

FINAL REGULAR SEASON GAMES

After the two wins on the road the Trappers return home  this weekend to end the regular season, needing points to guarantee another trip to the postseason.

Northwest sits in a three-way tie with 12 points in the Region IX standings. Should the Trappers win both matches, they are guaranteed a postseason spot, but a split of matches this weekend will lead to tiebreaking scenarios likely coming into play to determine the final two of six postseason spots.

Northwest is currently tied with the Otero College Rattlers (4-6 overall, 4-4 Region IX) and Northeastern Junior College Plainswomen (5-5-1 overall, 4-4 Region IX), with the Trappers having lost to Otero and the Rattlers losing to the Plainswomen.

The first match for the Trappers at 2 p.m. on Friday comes against Lamar Community College (1-11 overall, 1-7 Region IX), before the Trappers get their chance to take on the Plainswomen at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

“If we win on the weekend it will put us in the postseason,” Hill said. “Hopefully we can get a couple of good wins on the weekend and finish out the home season (strong).”

Northwest has an outside chance at hosting a Region IX first round match should Central Wyoming drop both of its contests this weekend. However, if the Rustlers win either game, they are guaranteed to finish ahead of the Trappers based on
tiebreakers.

REGION IX WOMEN’S STANDINGS

(Overall record and points then Region IX record and points)

1. Western Wyoming CC, 8-5-2 26 points; 7-0-1 22 points

2. LCCC 7-3-2, 23 points; 7-1-1, 22 points

3. Casper College 8-2-2, 26 points; 6-0-2 20 points

4. Central Wyoming CC 6-5, 18 points; 5-3, 15 points

5. Otero College 4-6, 12 points; 4-4, 12 points

6. Northwest 5-5-1, 16 points; 4-4, 12 points

7. Northeastern JC 4-5, 12 points; 4-4, 12 points

8. Gillette College 7-7, 21 points; 3-5, 9 points

9. Western Nebraska CC 3-11, 9 points; 2-7, 6 points

10. Lamar CC 1-11, 3 points; 1-7, 3 points

11. Trinidad State College 0-11, 0 points; 0-7, 0 points