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On Tuesday on a cold day in Rock Springs the WWCC Mustangs hosted the 1st Round of the Region IX playoffs when Trinidad State Junior College came and visited for an elimination match. This is TSJC's first year in Region IX, so this was the first time that TSJC and WWCC have squared off during the Region IX tournament. On the cold day the Mustangs started off hot getting in past the TSJC defense several times in the first 10 minutes, especially with quick direct runs from Steven Shelley. The good runs got the Mustangs close but not a goal. In the 15th minute the Mustang tenacity finally paid off when the ball was sent to Greg Howard from a flick on by Jarom Stuart. Greg Howard was able to touch it past the Trojan keeper for an early 1 - 0 lead. The Mustang lead was very short loved as TSJC took the kick-off after the WWCC goal and attacked the Mustang defense out wide and brought it in for a nice angled shot that beat Mitch Jensen in the 16th minute. The possession and the momentum of the match switched several times in the next twenty minutes. The Mustangs had more chances than the Trojans but no more goals until the 40th minute. In the 40th minute Taylor Egbert fed the ball to Richard Harris who blasted it to the top corner of the goal, where for a moment it looked like the TSJC keeper would make a save but the ball ended up in the back of the net for a Mustang goal and a 2 - 1 lead. This lead would stay for the rest of the first half.The second half the Mustangs got the wind behind them and used the extra burst to pepper the Trojan goal with shots. On 3 separate occasions it looked like the Mustangs would score to only have a Trojan defender clear the ball off of the goal line. WWCC also took control of the possession in the second half. The performance was dominant however the scoreline remained close. Trinidad threw everything they had at the Mustangs especially in the last 7 minutes of the match when the play got very chippy and heated. The Mustang defense was up to the challenge and never let the Trojans get close to the goal and hung on for the 2 - 1 win. This is the 1st Region IX tournament win for WWCC in 4 years. Their last win was a semi-final win against WNCC which was WWCC's only previous play in the Region Championship match. The Mustang record is now 11 - 8 - 1. The Mustangs advance to the Semi-final round of the Region IX tournament in Cheyenne WY. The #4 seed Mustangs will play the #1 seed LCCC Golden Eagles on Friday at 12:00pm. This will be the 3rd time that the Golden Eagles and the Mustangs have meet in the Region tournament, the last time was in the 2008 Region Tournament Championship match.
Match Facts; Shots – WWCC ?, TSJC ?; Assists – WWCC 2, TSJC 0; Saves – WWCC ?, TSJC ?; Free Kicks – WWCC ?, TSJC ?; Corner Kicks – WWCC ?, TSJC ?; Cards – WWCC 2, TSJC ?
Mustang Man of the Match – Richard Harris - Many players were worthy of this honor but Richard scored the Mustang's second goal late in the first half which turned out to be the game winner.
Up Next for the Mustangs –Friday October 26th vs Laramie County Community College (Region IX Tournament - Semi-finals) at Cheyenne WY, LCCC campus at 12:00pm.
