Have One-Game Conference Lead Over Trinidad
While their female counterparts were reeling off three consecutive wins, the Northwest Trapper men were struggling to find the back of the net, and went 1-2 in three Region IX games.
The Trappers defeated the last-place Sheridan Generals (0-10) in Sheridan Oct. 9 but lost to Trinidad (5-5-1) and Otero (8- 2-1) at home over the weekend.
Northwest (7-6-3, 5-3-3) got out to a 2-0 first-half lead against the Generals and tacked on a third goal in the second half to win 3-2.
Freshman Matt Lowndes, sophomore Will Moats and sophomore Gage Woodward each scored a goal for the Trappers. Woodward also tallied an assist.
Defenseman Marcus Couldridge was put in goal again because of injuries. Couldridge stopped six of the eight shots he faced.
Lowndes led the Trappers with six shots while Woodward, sophomore Zach Lempka and freshman Daniel Moats all had two.
The men didn’t fair as well at home, beginning with Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Trinidad.
The Trojans have beat the Trappers twice this season, both one-goal games.
Northwest fell in a 2-1 hole at half and was unable to pick things up in the second, in which both teams scored one goal.
Lowndes and Daniel Moats got on the board for the Trappers, who were outshot 13-11 by Trinidad. Woodward had one assist.
Starting keeper Erik Wehse returned to mind the net, but allowed three goals in his first game back to action.
Wehse had another rough day Saturday against the Otero Rattlers, who trounced Northwest 4-1.
The Rattlers scored on half of their eight shots, and Northwest could only put one of its 10 shots past the Otero keeper.
Otero did most of its damage in the first half, scoring in the 12th, 23rd and 24th minutes. Lowndes got one back in the second half but it was not nearly enough. It was Lowndes’ team-leading seventh goal of the season.
Woodward is second with six goals and sophomore Wyatt Fabrizio has five.
The men will complete their conference schedule this weekend with home games against Western Wyoming at 4 p.m. Friday and Laramie County Community College at 3 p.m. Saturday.