Mustangs Play Tough, #17 Eagles Prevail

On Saturday in Cheyenne on a wet, muddy and sloppy pitch the oldest rivals in the state of Wyoming WWCC Mustangs and LCCC Golden Eagles squared off in their second match of the 2012 season.  LCCC came into the match number 1 in the Region and ranked number 17th in the NJCAA, the Mustangs in 4th place in the Region.  Western had a good solid defensive plan which they executed to perfection.  The sloppy play and pitch also contributed to the Golden Eagle offensive struggles on the day.  The first 45 minutes were played with a stiff wind behind the backs of the Mustangs.  They were able to get several long shots off and held the LCCC team to very few chances and frustrated them with physical play and not losing easy possession of the ball.  The half time score was 0 - 0.
The second half had all the makings of a classic 0 - 0 draw as both teams had few chances and  both defenses were stout.  The inevitable scoreless draw was thwarted in the 84th minute when Brandon Bushman of the Mustangs flicked a ball past his defender to an oncoming Greg Howard who placed the ball perfectly past the LCCC keeper.  The goal gave WWCC a 1 - 0 lead with 6 minutes left in the match.  LCCC threw everything that they had at the WWCC defense.  In the 88th minute a foul was called about 22 yards out on the Mustangs and set up a free-kick for LCCC.  The kick from the Golden Eagles was good and hit the crossbar, it bounced down from the crossbar and was cleared by the Mustang defense.  After the clear, the officials decided that the ball crossed the goal-line and awarded LCCC a goal for an even score of 1 -1.  The final minutes of the second half were intense but with no additional scoring.  The score at the end of regulation was 1 goal for each team.
The 3rd overtime match for WWCC in two weeks and second in two days started just 5 minutes after the end of regulation.  The Golden Eagles won the toss and got the wind at their backs for the first ten minutes.  Eerily the match was decided in the 8th minute of overtime, the 98th minute of the match, when LCCC was awarded a free kick about 20 yards away from goal.  The LCCC kicker placed a good kick towards the back post that WWCC keeper Mitch Jensen just could not get to due to the conditions in the box.  NJCAA overtime periods are sudden victory and the Golden Eagles celebrated their victory on their home turf.  The overtime loss brings the WWCC record to 9 - 7 - 1 and 4 - 5 - 1 in Region IX, good enough for 4th place and 1 match ahead of the 5th place team.

Match Facts; Shots – WWCC 11, LCCC 15; Assists – WWCC 1, LCCC 0; Saves – WWCC 3, LCCC 2; Free Kicks – WWCC 8, LCCC 12; Corner Kicks – WWCC 5, LCCC 3; Cards – WWCC 2, LCCC 3

Mustang Man of the Match – Greg Howard - Greg played 90 + minutes, had several shots on frame including the only WWCC goal of the match.

Up Next for the Mustangs – Wednesday October 17th vs Northwest College (Region IX) at Rock Springs WY, Rock Springs Junior High at 2:30pm.  This is our first annual Cancer Awareness night as we will wear pink and ask our supporters to make donations to help us Kick Cancer.