Your future, our focus
The Northwest women’s soccer team scored the only goal of their first-round tournament game against No. 1 Laramie County. Unfortunately, it was in the wrong net.
The Trappers lost to the Golden Eagles 1-0 and were eliminated from the Region IX tournament Nov. 1 in Cheyenne.
“Just one mistake, and that was it,” said head coach Rob Hill.
The game was scoreless until the 68th minute, when a cross into the box was misplayed by Trapper defender Charlie Streek.
“Charlie jumped too early and it deflected off her head and went over the top (of goalkeeper Katie Duffy),” Hill said.
Hill said it’s never easy to lose in the tournament, but the own goal “made it even more of a sour loss.”
Northwest (9-8-1, 6-3 in conference) had 10 shots on goal to Laramie’s 11, and Hill said his team had more quality scoring chances.
“If we’d have put one of those away, it certainly would have changed the game and changed the approach from (Laramie),” Hill said. “We were too casual when we got that chance. When they come to you, you have to be prepared.”
The Trapper defense didn’t make things easy for Laramie County, which averaged four goals per game during the regular season.
“For the most part, we frustrated the heck out of them and really made it difficult for them,” Hill said. “They (Laramie) really didn’t create any clear chances and we had the better chances in the second half.”
Halftime marked the end of the Trappers playing with the wind at their backs. Hill said the approximately 20-mile-per-hour wind made deep, aerial passes difficult to complete. Long balls attempted in the first half often sailed past the front line and rolled out of bounds.
“In the first half with the wind, we played more to feet; in the second half we could take advantage of spacing,” Hill said.
Three freshmen tallied all the shots for the Trappers. Aline De Lima led the team with seven, Bridget Schumacher had two and Shelby Pugh had one.
Duffy made seven saves. Friday’s game ended what had been a successful second-half run for the Northwest women.
The Trappers won five of their past six heading into the tournament.
“The second half of the season was certainly something they can be proud of,” Hill said.
“We were just a little ways off, we were a couple of plays short of really making a dent, and hopefully we can carry that into next season.”