Your future, our focus
Trappers Shut Out In Otero, Trinidad
After a pair of home wins, the Northwest women’s soccer team returned from a two-game Colorado roadtrip winless and scoreless.
The Trappers were shutout in a pair of conference matches, first against Otero 6-0 on Friday, and then against Trinidad State 1-0 on Saturday.
Northwest (2-3 overall, 2-2 Region IX) can get back on track this weekend with two more home conference matches against Laramie County (1 p.m. Friday) and Western Nebraska (noon Saturday).
Head coach Rob Hill said he was more disappointed in the one-goal loss than the previous day’s blowout.
“We played very somber,” Hill said of the Trappers’ Saturday performance.
The type of effort Hill wanted to see in his team was embodied by Trinidad.
“It was a game I felt we should win, we could win. But we were out-battled, and all credit to Trinidad,” Hill said. “They had the desire, they were first to the ball, they were second to the ball, they were third to the ball.”
Northwest was within striking distance of Trinidad for a full 90 minutes, but lacked effort, especially following the Trojans’ goal.
“Against Trinidad we just hit rock bottom,” Hill said. “We conceded a soft goal, and we just lacked that desire as a team to go and win the game.”
The Trappers directed five shots on goal, all of which were stopped by Rattler keeper Heather Thompson.
Trinidad’s Alejandrina Rivas scored the game’s lone goal in the 30th minute to secure the win for the Trojans.
NWC sophomore Barbara Fidelis was ejected after receiving a pair of yellow cards in the second half. Fidelis was carded for late tackles in the 67th and 87th minutes.
“Some referees would call it, some wouldn’t,” Hill said. “He’s giving two yellow cards for what I wouldn’t call anything but two tackles that were mistimed. They weren’t malicious.”
Fidelis is ineligible to play against Laramie County.
The Trojans sent 12 shots to NWC freshmen keepers Raven Johnson, who played the first half, and Alex Gonzales, who played the second.
A disastrous first half against Otero buried the Trappers in a hole five goals deep.
Johnson was tested with nine shots in the first 45 minutes, and made just four saves. Gonzales again replaced Johnson in the second half and allowed one goal on four shots.
The Trappers generated just two shots on goal themselves, one from Fidelis and one from freshman Taylor Gregory.
Hill said Johnson was not to blame for the five-goal halftime deficit, and was removed to get Gonzales playing time.
“It wasn’t Raven’s fault by any means,” Hill said. “When Alex has come in, she’s done well.”
The NWC keepers weren’t helped much by the Trapper defense.
“We defended pretty poorly and we made silly mistakes,” Hill said. We played to their strengths and before that we talked about taking away their strengths and we didn’t do it.”
Otero’s goals were scored by Christina Tafoya (2), Karla Dominguez, Aleonya Hunter, Thalya Dwyer and Lariza De. The Rattler attack was constant, and scored goals in the 8th, 18th, 26th, 39th, 44th and 87th minutes.
Otero’s ball domination led to 12 corner kicks, compared to just two for Northwest.
“Otero is a good team, they went to the national tourney and were region champs,” Hill said. “Were they 6-nil good? No. We conceded some pretty weak goals.”
The Trappers turned up the offensive pressure in the second half, when the game was virtually over.
“At halftime when you’re 5-0 down, you’ve already lost the game and you’re just talking about playing for pride,” Hill said.
Now the whole team will be asked to rebound in Powell.
“Hopefully we can come back this weekend,” Hill said.
Laramie County (4-3-2, 2-1) split against Northwest’s recent Colorado opponents. LCCC lost 1-0 to Otero on Sept. 4 and beat Trinidad State 5-1 on Sept. 5. Western Nebraska (2-0, 2-0) beat Trinidad State 3-2 on Sept. 4 and Otero on Sept. 5.