WWCC Beat the Cougars and Gain 2nd Place

On Friday in Scottsbluff NE the Region IX rivals Western Nebraska and Western Wyoming faced each other again in the 2009 season. The first match in the rivalry was a draw. Today's match was very exciting and saw several lead changes. Kyle Seljaas started the scoring in the 3rd minute when he collected a loose ball in the box and beat the Cougar keeper. Gilbert Gonzalez is credited with the assist. Western Nebraska responded with their own goal in the 29th minute to equalize the score. Although both teams had some chances the score remained 1 to 1 at the half.

The second half was played at a fast and furious pace especially the last 20 minutes. WNCC scored first in the second half in the 51st minute to take a 2 to 1 lead. That lead looked like it might stay until Mika Goodman blasted a shot from the right side of the field that found upper 90 and evened the score in the 70th minute. The Goodman goal was assisted by Brandon Bushman. The Cougars wasted little time to regain their lead when they scored in the 80th minute. With under ten minutes to go the Mustangs played a very offensive style of play and caught a break when with 1 minute to play the Cougars were whistled for a penalty in the box. Kyle Seljaas stepped up and nailed the penalty shot to even the match at 3 goals with 1:11 to play. No more goals were scored in regulation and both teams knew the match must be settled in overtime.

The first half of overtime was dominated by the Mustangs in the possession but resulted in very few looks at the goal until there were but 2 minutes remaining. The defender Logan Bailey sent a beautiful diagonal pass to a streaking Kyle Seljaas down the middle of the field. Seljaas noticed the WNCC keeper attacking the ball and made a good quick decision to chip the keeper. His shot sailed above the keeper and dropped perfectly into the net to give the Mustangs the 4 to 3 overtime victory. The win moves the WWCC Mustangs into sole possession of second place in Region IX for the 2009 season. It also guarantees the worst the Mustangs can do is finish the season at .500. The Mustang's record is now 8 wins, 7 losses and 2 ties.

Game Stats - Shots; WNCC 15, WWCC 13 - Keeper Saves; WNCC 4, WWCC 8 - Corner Kicks; WNCC 2, WWCC 2

Up Next for the Mustangs; Region IX Semi-Final Match on Friday October 23rd at 2:30pm in Cheyenne WY (LCCC Campus) versus Western Nebraska CC

Workhorse of the Match: Kyle Seljaas (3 goals - 1st hat trick since 10/12/2007)