Two difficult opponents and set pieces caused trouble for the Northwest College women’s soccer team, as the Trappers fell to Western Nebraska Community College and Laramie County Community College 3-0 at home.

WESTERN NEBRASKA CC 3, NORTHWEST 0

Kicking off on Friday the Trappers (2-3-5 overall, 2-2-3 Region IX) took on the Cougars (5-2-4 overall, 4-2-1 Region IX).

The Trappers had opportunities early on, but the Cougars appeared to have found the back of the net first 14 minutes in, but an offside negated it and kept the score 0-0.

Four minutes later the visitors did get their goal, when a free kick was turned in at the back post, finding the back of the net, scoring on what would be one of five set piece opportunities conceded by the Trappers on the weekend.

“The first 20 minutes of that game I thought we were at it. We were doing exactly what we’d worked on,” coach Rob Hill said. “We were winning first balls, second balls. We were kind of passing the ball pretty well, and then after 20 minutes it kind of went back to us getting dominated.”

Northwest’s best chance came 31 minutes into the game, when Kassidi Webb’s shot hit off the post and out as the opportunities  came few and far between.

“We need to do better in our final third. Our pass completion in the final third is about 20%, which means we are not making the right decisions,” Hill said. “We’re getting in positions, but we’re either passing to feet when it should be to space, or passing to space when it should be to feet. It’s just the final balls when we get into the final third that’s been the biggest problem. So we need to improve on that.”

In an almost identical goal to the first, the Cougars fired a free kick into the box which was put into the back of the net to make it 2-0 just five minutes before the break.

Western Nebraska did not let up in the second half, and got a third goal off a set piece, as the Cougars scored off a corner to make it 3-0.

“Western didn’t really threaten us other than set pieces,” Hill said.

LARAMIE COUNTY CC 3, NORTHWEST 0

On Saturday the Trappers welcomed in the Golden Eagles (5-2-4 overall, 5-1-1 Region IX).

LCCC got on the board early, when a through ball found its way behind the defense, and was slotted into the net to make it 1-0 just six minutes in.

Chances continued to pour in for the visitors, as they hit one off the crossbar 12 minutes in.

Northwest had its opportunities in the first half too, as a shot was put just wide 14 minutes into the game, and a goal by the Trappers was called off due to a foul on the Golden Eagle keeper midway through the half.

The visitors doubled their advantage three minutes into the second half, as another goal found the back of the net on a corner kick to make it 2-0.

“We need to do a better job of taking responsibility and ownership of those,” Hill said. “It was just easy tap-ins for them.”

Orla Kingsley had a chance to respond a minute later, but her opportunity was met with a big save by the visiting keeper to maintain the 2-0 lead.

A direct free kick from the visitors ended the weekend for the Trappers, scoring with 16 minutes left to make it 3-0 and extend the NWC losing streak to three.

“Ever since we played Casper and Gillette, we’ve kind of dropped off a level, stopped competing for balls,” Hill said. “It was like we were satisfied with those results, and now we’re in a tough spot.”

WINS NEEDED

Heading into the final two weeks of the regular season the Trappers sit seventh in the Region IX standings, tied with Casper College on points with eight with one more loss in region play.

Northwest needs wins down the stretch to have a chance to pull ahead of the Thunderbirds, and the Trappers start in Colorado with a game against Northeastern Junior College (3-2-5 overall, 1-1-4 Region IX) at 3 p.m. on Friday.

Northwest then continues on to Lamar Community College (0-0-8 overall, 0-0-4 Region IX) at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

“It’s tough because you’re (driving) eight to nine hours and then playing, and then you’ve got to do another three to four hours of travel and do it again,” Hill said. “We’ve got to give ourselves a chance. We need nothing but six points this weekend.”

The Trappers finish the season at home next weekend with a game against Western Wyoming Community College (7-1-5 overall, 5-0-1 Region IX).

REGION IX STANDINGS

(Overall record then conference record, Wins-Draws-Losses)

1. Gillette College 8-3-0 overall, 5-1-0 Region IX

2. LCCC — 5-2-4 overall, 5-1-1 Region IX

3. Western Wyoming — 7-1-5 overall, 5-0-1 Region IX

4. Central Wyoming — 5-3-3 overall, 4-2-1 Region IX

5. Western Nebraska — 5-2-4 overall, 4-2-1 Region IX

6. Casper College — 4-3-4 overall, 2-2-2 Region IX

7. Northwest — 2-3-5 overall, 2-2-3 Region IX

8. Northeastern JC 3-2-5 overall, 1-1-4 Region IX

9. Otero College — 1-2-6 overall, 0-1-4 Region IX

10. Lamar CC 0-0-8 overall, 0-0-4 Region IX

11. Trinidad State — 0-0-11 overall, 0-0-4 Region IX