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On Friday night in Rock Springs at Rock Springs High the Western Wyoming Mustangs opened the Region IX regular season play by hosting Otero Junior College from La Junta CO. This was a highly anticipated region match from two semi-finalists in the Region IX tournament last year. The Rattlers wasted little time to get on the board when they sent a long ball into the box that they were able to win and head past keeper Taylor Bell in the 7th minute. The Mustangs still played hard even with the early deficit. There were several chances in the first half that Western was just not able to put away. Most of these chances came off of free kicks and corner kicks. But the OJC lead remained and the half time score was 1 - 0 in favor of Otero.
The second half was highly contested as both teams made adjustments at half and were playing top quality soccer. The match changed in the 71st minute when Chandler Young stepped up to a free kick about 60 yards from goal. The Young kick went to the back of the Rattler goal, it was just inches from Adrian Sanchez's head but bounced in the turf and into the goal for the equalizing goal. 2 minutes later in the 73rd minute Raul Cavazos sent a wonderful through ball to Bernard Manuel who calmly sank the ball past the OJC keeper into the bottom right of the net. The Mustangs were able to continue to create some havoc in front of the OJC goal and keep the Otero offense at bay. The win improves the Mustang record to 5 - 2 - 0 and 1 - 0 - 0 in Region IX play.
Mustang Man of the Match – Chandler Young - Chandler played well coming off of the bench and scored the Mustangs first goal in the 71st minute from a 60 yard free kick.
Up Next for the Mustangs –Saturday September 14th - vs Trinidad State Junior College at Rock Springs WY - Rock Springs Junior High (3500 Foothill Blvd) at 2:00pm - Region IX Match.
