The early season struggles continued for the Northwest College women’s soccer team, which dropped its home opener to the visiting Western Nebraska Cougars 5-1.

Things started disastrous from the start, when a penalty kick was awarded to the Cougars just 4:30 into the game.

Western Nebraska (3-1) buried the kick, putting the visitors up 1-0 over the Trappers (0-5).

The Cougars were not done early, scoring another effort from just over 18 yards out on a curling shot to make it 2-0.

“The first 20 minutes we did not compete,” Trapper women’s soccer coach Rob Hill said. “We were not winning balls and we were not challenging them.”

The third goal came from the Cougars on a punt from the Northwest keeper that Western Nebraska won in midfield, that quickly transitioned to an open striker that found the corner of the net to make it 3-0 in the 28th minute.

The Trappers seemed to be heading into the half trailing only 3-0, but a relaxed approach with 10 seconds left allowed the Cougars to press the ball — scoring with a second left on the clock to make it 4-0 at halftime.

“It does not matter how tactical or technical you are, if you do not do the basics like winning the ball from your goalkeeper then you are not going to win,” Hill said.

He said the team’s effort did improve more in the final 20 minutes of the first half, and the Trappers came out with a more attacking approach in the second half.

Despite creating more chances early, Hill said a lack of concentration allowed Western Nebraska to score a fifth goal just five minutes into the half.

Powell started to press more but was unable to find the back of the net for a majority of the second half. 

Sophomore Zoe Bonner got the lone goal for the Trappers with two minutes remaining, Northwest’s first goal of the regular season.

“It was a much better second half and we created a lot more chances,” Hill said. “The biggest lesson is that they cannot let the other team dominate the first 20 minutes. I think we have the players that can compete, they just need to stop doing it two or three at a time.”

Hill said the team has been dealing with multiple injuries, but expects freshman forward Autumn Wilson to return to the lineup this weekend.

The Trappers head on the road to take on a new NJCAA program in Lamar Community College on Friday at 1 p.m.

Northwest then takes on Northeastern Junior College on Saturday at 11 a.m. before returning home to take the week off to rest before welcoming Trinidad State College and Otero College on Sept. 16 and 17.