Spring Season a Success

On Saturday in Provo UT the WWCC men's socccer team concluded their spring soccer season with 3 short scrimmages. The men's soccer team practiced all spring looking forward to these scrimmages. The Mustangs had 3 different lineups in the 3 scrimmages and tried 4 different formations. We saw some Mustangs put on the red and black kit for the last time; Logan Bailey, Gilbert Gonzalez, Braxton Hamilton, Cody Rall and Taylor Whetman. The Mustangs saw players play for WWCC for the first time since 2008 as these players have returned from LDS missions; Ricardo Arreola, Devin King, Cameron Lowry and Erik Stembridge. We also had a new member of the WWCC soccer family make his debut for us; Luis Trevisan started 2 matches in goal for WWCC. Spencer Mohlman, Angel Muniz, Zach Plitt and Nathaniel Sellis finished off their freshman year with strong play in the spring.

The first scrimmage was between the Mustangs and the Rocky Mountain Rival Senior team. The Mustangs and the Rivals were tied at the half zero to zero. The first 50 seconds of the second half saw each team score a goal. The Mustangs scored off of the kick-off when Taylor Whetman booted the ball past the Rival goalkeeper from the half stripe. The Rivals were awarded a penalty kick seconds later and placed the ball past Luis Trevisan. Each team scored twice more in the half for a 3 to 3 tie. Goals for the Mustangs were by Taylor Whetman and Gilbert Gonzalez.

The second scrimmage pitted the Mustangs against the Empire FC team, formerly Rocky Mountain Rival Junior Team. The Mustangs played flat and did not look good at keeping possession in the first half. The formation used by the Mustangs was not the optimal formation against their opponent. Empire FC scored 3 goals in the first half and led 3 - 0. The second half saw the Mustangs change formation which seemed to help them keep position and energize the team. The rally was fun to watch but was not enough to have the Mustangs tie the match. WWCC was only able to score 2 goals and lost the second scrimmage 3 - 2. The goals in the second scrimmage were scored by Sellis and Erik Stembridge.

The final scrimmage was between the WWCC team and the Utah Valley University team out of Orem UT. This was a hard fought match with two teams a little tired and fatigued from their previous matches. The Wolverines scored first in the first half but the Mustangs answered back as Charley Lifferth touched in a long throw in by Cameron Lowry. The half time score was 1 - 1. The second half was when the Mustangs began to dominate the play but could not find the game winning goal. Gilbert Gonzalez, Zach Plitt and Nathaniel Sellis worked well as forwards in the second half to create opportunities. Neither team could find the net and the match ended in a 1 - 1 draw.