Defense holds steady against USU

The Northwest College men’s soccer team wasted little time finding the back of the net in a season-opening win over Utah Sate University-Eastern on Saturday.

Sophomore Sam White scored just three minutes into the match and freshman Felix Pastenes put the Trappers up 2-0 three minutes into the second half as the Trappers (1-0) shut out the Golden Eagles at home.

“We’re trying to start quickly from the whistle,” head coach Rob Hill said. “I want us to start much sharper.”

The Trappers did that in both halves before relying on an improved defense and some friendly bounces to seal the win.

The Golden Eagles created some quality scoring chances despite managing just three shots on goal.

“They had probably three really good chances,” Hill said. “There was a free kick and (keeper) Nate Snyder made two really big saves. There was one he turned around the near post in the first half.”

Snyder, a freshman from Boise, Idaho, needed to make just three saves for the shutout.

Another Golden Eagle shot bounced off the crossbar, which didn’t count as a shot on goal.

Hill said the Northwest defense has made strides since surrendering six goals to University of Great Falls on Aug. 13 and five in Billings to Rocky Mountain on Aug. 21, but isn’t completely solidified.

“We’re still a work in progress,” Hill said. “There’s still little errors that we need to clean up and need to get right. We’ve changed the personnel back there quite a few times … and we did look a little bit more comfortable there on Saturday.”

The Trappers still conceded too many chances to USU, and Hill said they were somewhat lucky to escape with a clean sheet.

“(The Golden Eagles) didn’t capitalize on that, it didn’t work in their favor,” Hill said.

Northwest capitalized on its chances early, but couldn’t follow up either half-opening goal with another score.

“The problem with scoring so early in each of the halves is we were kind of content with that and we kind of sat back,” Hill said. “You would have thought the score was 2- or 3-nil. The lack of pressure and the space we gave the opponents … we kind of backed off.”

Hill would like to see his team develop a more aggressive mindset and the ability to extend leads beyond the opponent’s reach. Had USU been more apt in front of the NWC goal, it could have been a one-goal or even tied game.

“We watched the film (Monday) night and they (the Trappers) could see that,” Hill said. “They knew what we were talking about.

We didn’t keep a good tempo going throughout.” 

Northwest was able to generate a healthy number of shots in each half.

The Trappers generated 15 shots on goal from nine players.

Freshman Danny Mort led the Trappers with four shots on goal while Pastenes had three and White had two.

“In each half, you’re lucky if you get five or six opportunities,” Hill said. “We’ve been getting opportunities, I feel like our composure in front of goal needs to improve. We’re just very rusted and don’t seem to settle. In practice, we’ve been finishing a lot better and we need to take that to the game field.”

White’s goal came on a corner kick 3:10 into the match. The midfielder out of Bracknell, England headed the corner — taken by Pastenes — and into the USU goal.

Hill said the Trappers haven’t focused much on the offensive side of set pieces yet.

“I’ve been more worried about defending them than attacking them,” Hill said. “We haven’t really come up with any set piece routines yet. We’ll start to introduce them for sure.”

White was still able to open the regular-season scoring for Northwest despite battling a quad injury during the preseason.

Snyder got the first start in goal after a three-way competition during the preseason.

“Its been a tough one, having three keepers,” Hill said. “They’ve all got good qualities. Nate’s very vocal at the back and that kind of gives him the nod. When you’re working on the defensive side you’ve got to include the keeper. And if you can eliminate the doubt by having a vocal keeper.”

However, Hill didn’t commit to Snyder longterm, and said he hoped to see a season-long competition between Snyder, freshman Connor Tornquist and sophomore Alex Basulto.

The Trappers opened Region IX play against the visiting Sheridan College Wednesday (after press time) and host Western Wyoming on Friday.

“Everyone’s in the same spot right now,” Hill said. “Everyone’s got so many new players.”

Sheridan beat USU 3-2 at home on Aug. 27.

“I anticipate them to be much improved from last year and it’s going to be a very tough game I think,” Hill said.

Western Wyoming has been a consistent force in Region IX, and Hill doesn’t expect any different this season.

“It’s always a very competitive game (against Western),” Hill said. “It’s always a very tight game, it’s usually a one-goal game. It’s going to be a tough week for us. But hopefully we stay healthy and stay focused and we’re able to put in a good performance.”

Northwest sophomore defender Colton Strong was given a yellow card in the 52nd minute against USU.

The Trappers played on Sheridan at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and host Western Wyoming at 4 p.m. on Friday. The women’s team will play at 2 p.m both days.

The Northwest men have yet to crack the top 20 this season, but continued to receive votes in the national polls released Tuesday.