Three scrimmages in four days put the Northwest College women’s soccer team to the test in the preseason, battling against four-year schools Rocky Mountain College, Carroll College and the University of Providence from Aug 10-13.

Starting out against the Battlin’ Bears, the Trappers found themselves in a fight till the end, playing three 30 minute periods. 

Tessa Hyland got the Trappers on the board first, scoring on a free kick from 25 yards out to give Northwest the lead in the first period.

Rocky answered in the second period, scoring two to take the lead, but Pressly Taylor had an immediate answer to tie the contest at 2-2.

The Battlin’ Bears got the winner in the third period, scoring amidst confusion and discussion during a free kick, taking the 3-2 opening win.

“I thought against Rocky, for a first game out and with new players, I was pleased with how we played,” coach Rob Hill said. “I thought we played some pretty good soccer. The lapses came in defending, and that’s communication and organization.”

Hill said that there were some good debuts from freshmen for the Trappers, who got a good first taste of college soccer.

Carroll and Providence

Continuing the Montana road trip the Trappers made the jump over to Helena to take on the Fighting Saints of Carroll College in another scrimmage.

For a majority of the match, Hill felt as if the Trappers came out timid, unable to handle the pressure of the hosts over the first two 30 minute periods.

“Against Carroll for 60 minutes, we looked nervous,” Hill said. “I don’t know what happened, but we just, I think Carroll pressured us a little bit more and there was less space and time.”

Over the final 30 minutes, Hill felt as if the Trappers got their feet under them and played well towards the end, but came up short in the contest 2-1.

“(In) the third part of the 30 minutes, I thought that’s when we really started to possess the ball better, showed a bit more confidence and a bit more belief,” Hill said. “We missed a penalty in that game as well, so we could have gone 2-2. I was pleased with that game against a very stout defense as well.”

The final scrimmage of the road trip sent the Trappers to Great Falls, taking on the Argonauts from the University of Providence.

What went wrong in the Carroll scrimmage the Trappers remedied against Providence, as Hill felt the team controlled the ball better and kept it in the Argonauts’ end for most of the game.

“I think for a majority of the game, I’d say 75% of the game, we were in their half, and when they attacked, we dealt with it,” Hill said.

He said that freshman keeper Jiliana Hidalgo was tested during the game but was up to the challenge.

Another change that benefited the Trappers against Providence came in the prior game, switching to two strikers which Hill said was beneficial for freshman Nayeli Acosta alongside the returning Taylor.

“We (have) switched formations as well, which we tried in the Carroll game, and it seems to be working,” Hill said. “Nayeli and Pressly work very well together. They got a goal each and got an assist for each other.”

Prep for first contest

Continuing prep following the early scrimmages, Hill said the Trappers need to work defensively before the first official game, as well as on generating chances offensively.

“I think defensive shape,” Hill said. “I think getting organized, distances between lines, making sure we know who is going to the ball, when to drop and when to stay high. Defending set pieces is huge, so we’ve got a lot to work on defensively. I think we’ll create chances (but) we still need to work on that.”

The first few weeks of practice and scrimmages have kept the Trappers busy, with the first contest looming this week.

The Trappers’ first official contest will be this weekend, on the road to take on Western Nebraska Community College at 10 a.m. on Friday.

“There’s so much to cram in the few weeks that we get, but I think if we can organize defensively, roles and responsibilities, I think we’ll be ready for our first game against Western Nebraska,” Hill said.

Northwest will then head back up into Montana to Billings next week, taking on Montana State University Billings in a scrimmage at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.