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Trappers Will Take on Laramie Friday
The Trappers women’s soccer team beat Trinidad College for the third time this season and earned itself a spot in this weekend’s Region IX tournament in Cheyenne.
Northwest’s 3-0 win against the Trojans Saturday afternoon in Powell earned the Trappers a spot in the Region IX tournament, which begins noon on Friday with a first-round match against the top-seeded Laramie County Golden Eagles.
The Trappers controlled the ball and kept the pressure in the Spartan zone for the majority of the game.
Northwest assistant coach Brad Hammond was in command of the team while head coach Rob Hill was coaching the men’s team at the regional tournament in La Junta, Colo.
Hammond said his team came out strong and used what they had practiced that week to beat the Spartans.
“They came to play,” Hammond said. “We pretty much dominated that game.”
Most of the the preparation for Trinidad was mental, Hammond said, but the Trappers did work on a lot of “two-touch, quick play type stuff” to implement against the Spartans.
The entire available roster contributed for the Trappers.
“Everybody who was available to play, played.” Hammond said. “And they never backed down, even when they got up two-nothing.”
The Trappers wasted little time getting a lead on the Trojans.
Northwest’s newest player, freshman Barbara de Souza scored in the eighth minute with the help of fellow Brazilian Aline De Lima’a pass. The Trappers would take that 1-0 lead into half.
De Lima, also a freshman, assisted on sophomore Rickie Ryan’s sixth goal of the year in the third minute of the second half.
De Lima would tally a goal herself in the 63rd minute. Freshman Sam McLaughlin assisted on De Lima’s team-high 12th goal of the season. She also has four assists on the year.
Sophomore keeper Katie Duffy protected Northwest’s lead by making eight saves in 76 minutes of play.
Fellow sophomore Rachel Rettinger minded the net for the game’s final 14 minutes and sealed the shutout with three saves.
The Trappers out-shot the Spartans 17-14.
Trinidad tallied four yellow cards and two red cards in a game that became increasingly physical as the score and clock swayed in Northwest’s favor.
Hammond said the team knew that things would get chippy if Northwest scored a third goal, and was proud of his team for playing with discipline.
“Our girls did a really good job maintaining their heads and not retaliating,” he said.
One of the Spartan red cards was given to head coach Aaron Miller.
Northwest was called for no penalties.
The Trappers had previously downed Trinidad twice this season, first in a 1-0 match in Trinidad Sept. 21 and again 6-1 Oct. 11 in Powell. But Hammond said it’s not easy to beat a team three times in one season.
“It’s more mental than anything,” Hammond said. “It’s just not looking past them and thinking, ‘Oh man, we’re going to kill them.’”
Northwest will be facing a tough task when it meets Laramie County Friday.
The Golden Eagles had their way with the Trappers this season. Northwest fell to Laramie 6-1 Sept. 27 on the road and then 2-0 at home Oct. 19.
Hammond said the Trappers’ mindset for Laramie will be much different than it was for Trinidad. The assistant coach said the team has “nothing to lose here” and will go in gunning hard for the upset.
Hammond said the Trappers held their own during the Oct. 19 loss and are capable of beating anyone on any given day.
“We played with them, and I think the girls know they can play with anybody if they want to,” Hammond said.