Undermanned Mustangs Fiesty But not Truimphant

On Saturday in La Junta CO the WWCC Mustangs played the #22 nationally ranked Rattlers from Otero Junior College.  The Mustangs who did not travel with their full squad were limited even more when Nate Cutler had to sit out with yellow card accumulation and starter Steven Shelley has only able to play five minutes before his injured leg affected his play.  The shorthanded Mustangs played bravely and as a team following the team game plan almost to perfection.  With three field players on the bench and keeper, Taylor West, the Mustangs played smart soccer with smart subbing and showed their true heart and hustle.  Neither squad had many looks at the goal in the first 45 minutes with the Mustangs being patient and trying to catch the Rattlers with a quick counter attack.  But the score at the half was 0 - 0.
The second half was again well played by both squads with more chances going to the OJC Rattlers but with some good chances by WWCC.  The chances for the Mustangs in the second half were by Taylor Egbert, Jarom Stuart and DJ Searcy.  The one mistake that WWCC had in the entire 90 minutes was with a deflection off of a header that the OJC forwards corralled behind the Mustang defense.  The WWCC keeper Mitch Jensen had to foul the player or let him score an easy goal.  The foul was called and a penalty kick was awarded in the 81st minute.  OJC converted on the kick and took a 1 goal lead.  The Mustangs did not hang their heads and played with great heart and intensity the final 9 minutes with a few looks at goal by Brandon Bushman, Bernard Manuel and Jarom Stuart.  But no goals were to be had by the Mustangs.  The final score was 1 - 0 in favor of Otero.  The loss brings the Mustangs to 8 - 6 - 1 on the season and 3 - 4 - 1 in the Region IX play.  WWCC is still in 4th place in the Region and set to host a region tournament match in a couple of weeks.

Match Facts; Shots – WWCC 8, OJC 19 Assists – WWCC 0, OJC 0; Saves – WWCC 4, OJC 0; Free Kicks – WWCC 5, OJC 6; Corner Kicks – WWCC 2, OJC 10; Cards – WWCC 2, OJC 1

Mustang Man of the Match – Logan Anderson - Logan was awesome at centerback, without a doubt the best player on the field today.

Up Next for the Mustangs – Friday October 12th vs Western Nebraska CC (Region IX) at Scottsbluff NE at 3:00pm.