The Northwest College women’s soccer team’s season came to a close after a close game Saturday, as the Trappers fell to visiting Western Wyoming Community College 1-0.

WESTERN WYOMING 1, NORTHWEST 0

Needing points to advance to the postseason the Trappers (4-3-6 overall, 4-2-4 Region IX) took on the Mustangs (9-2-6 overall, 7-1-2 Region IX).

Chances were few and far between for both teams, until a flurry came before the halftime whistle.

A Mustang attacker weaved her way through the Trapper defense and slotted the ball home at the near post, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead with five minutes left in the half.

“The goal we conceded was poor, it was from us making a mistake and we never made up for it,” coach Rob Hill said.

Northwest appeared to have an equalizer four minutes later, as Kali Bach’s shot on target was saved into the path of Orla Kingsley, whose follow-up shot was saved before Bach put home the rebound.

Unfortunately for the Trappers, Kingsley was flagged for being offside on the rebound attempt, and the score remained 1-0 at halftime.

“Unfortunately when we played it back she was onside — It’s life, these things happen,” Hill said. “The game was the same story we’ve had all season, we weren’t consistent winning first and second balls. You can never get a rhythm in the game because you’re always chasing your opponent back and when you do get it, you panic.”

The Trappers could’t convert in the second half, as crosses sailed out of bounds and shots went wide of the target.

Western had a chance to add to its lead midway through the half, but the shot went wide.

Northwest would have advanced to the postseason had they found a way to win the game, as a win would have earned three points, and moved them past Western Nebraska Community College (5-4-5 overall, 4-4-2 Region IX).

“The name of the game is consistency, and we didn’t compete for first and second balls as much as I’d like,” Hill said. “We shouldn’t have been in that situation had we played to our potential. We were never able to repeat that success after Casper and Gillette. It put us in a situation where we had to win. We needed nine of nine points and we got six of nine. I think the girls will have a lot of lessons from it.”

OFFSEASON STARTS

Heading into the offseason the Trappers have seven listed sophomores on the roster, and will be looking for reinforcements, attempting to return to the postseason next year after missing it for the first time since the region switched to a top six format.

“They have to be competitive for 90 minutes. You have no chance to dominate when you play in 10 minute spurts,” Hill said. “An enjoyable group, they just have to improve individually mentally and in their competitive spirit.”

REGION IX TOURNAMENT

QUARTERFINALS

Saturday

Game 1: 1 p.m. — No. 5 Casper College at No. 4 LCCC

Game 2: 11 a.m. — No. 6 Western Nebraska at No. 3 Western Wyoming

SEMIFINALS

Saturday, Oct. 31

Semifinal 1: 1 p.m. Winner Game 1 at No. 1 Gillette College

Semifinal 2: 2 p.m. Winner Game 2 at No. 2 Central Wyoming

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, Nov. 7

(Hosted by higher seed)

Championship: TBD — Winner Semifinal 1 vs. Winner Semifinal 2