Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
A series of road trips had the Northwest College women’s soccer team experiencing highs and lows throughout — losing to Western Wyoming 2-1 on Sept. 23 before defeating Trinidad State 7-2 and losing to Otero 6-0 on Sept. 29 and 30.
WESTERN WYOMING 2, NORTHWEST 1
Breaking from the schedule that mirrored the men’s, the Trapper women (7-6 overall, 3-3 Region IX) made the trip to Rock Springs on Sept. 23 to take on the No. 17-ranked Western Wyoming Mustangs (11-3-3 overall, 4-1-1 Region IX).
The hosts got on the board immediately, scoring in the first two and a half minutes to put Northwest down 1-0.
The Trappers had an answer in the first half, when Autumn Wilson found the back of the net just under 27 minutes into the game to tie it 1-1.
Back and forth the two teams went, until late in the contest when the Mustangs found the back of the net 73 minutes in to claim the late victory 2-1.
That continued a trend of alternating wins and losses for Northwest throughout September, and the pattern continued heading on the longest road trip of the season.
NORTHWEST 7, TRINIDAD STATE 2
That long road trip sent the Trappers down to southern Colorado, squaring off with the two furthest south Region IX teams — beginning with Trinidad State (1-10-1 overall, 0-7 Region IX) on Friday.
The game remained scoreless early on, before Northwest finally got a quick breakthrough just over midway through the half.
Pressly Taylor got a goal 27 minutes in off an Amy Price assist before another goal found the back of the net just minutes later to make it 2-0 after 30 minutes.
Taylor got a second goal 38 minutes in, and the lead quickly grew before going into the break as Aspen Kalkowski and Abby Derbyshire both got goals of their own just before the half to make it 5-0.
Trinidad got one back out of the break, scoring six minutes into the half to cut into the lead.
Northwest responded 15 minutes later on an Abigail Allen goal to reestablish the five goal cushion.
The Spartans scored one with five minutes remaining, before Taylor completed her hat trick just before the final whistle to make it 7-2.
OTERO 6, NORTHWEST 0
The scoring and defensive prowess that came on Friday did not follow through onto Saturday, as Otero (8-1 overall, 6-1 Region IX) scored with ease and shut down the Trappers early.
Just 30 seconds into the contest Otero found the back of the net, and that held until 22 minutes later when the Rattlers extended the lead.
First half misery continued for the Trappers, when two more goals within five minutes helped Otero establish a 4-0 lead at the break.
The fifth goal came 20 minutes after the break, and was capped off with just a minute to play to sink the Trappers 6-0.
Northwest was outshot 17-7 in the contest by Otero.
BUSY HOME WEEK
Northwest returns home this week after weeks away, battling with No. 15-ranked Casper College (10-2-1 overall, 6-0-1 Region IX) at 2 p.m. on Friday.
That will be followed by a match against Gillette College (2-10-1 overall, 1-6 Region IX) on Saturday at noon when the Trappers will recognize sophomore day.
The final home match of the year will be a makeup for an already delayed contest against Northeastern Junior College (4-7-1 overall, 2-4 Region IX) at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.