A Draw in the 2015 Season Opener

Photos Courtesy of Jen Atkinson

The 2015 Men's Soccer Mustangs kicked off the regular season playing against the team that ended their post season last year, the Utah State - Eastern Golden Eagles.  The match was in Price UT on a very warm and smoky day.

This was a great match to start a very promising season for Western.  USU-E struck first with a goal coming off of a beautiful shot in the 24th minute.  The Golden Eagle lead would remain 1 - 0 for the rest of the first half.  Fouls and cards issued to Western would throw a curve ball into the Mustangs plans and strategy in the remainder of the first half.

After the half time break the Mustangs settled down and continued to play good soccer.  Their efforts were rewarded in the 64th minute when Alex Sorenson redirected a free kick that found Jake Samsel's feet.  Samsel blasted a shot to the left post past the Golden Eagle keeper and into the net to even the score.  For the rest of regulation Western played very well and kept the opposition off of the board through good defense and three great saves from Mitch Jensen, our keeper.

NJCAA overtime is two 10 minute periods, sudden victory - meaning whomever scores first wins the match.  USU-E and WWCC played very hard for the two overtime periods but no team found a goal and the match resulted in a 1 - 1 draw.  The 2015 record of the Mustangs is 0 - 0 - 1 on the young season.

Mustang Man of the Match: Mitch Jensen - 7 Saves including three spectacular saves in the final minutes to preserve a road point.

Match Facts - Shots - WWCC 8, USU-E 16; Assists - WWCC 1, USU-E 1; Saves - WWCC 7, USU-E 1 ; Corner Kicks - WWCC 3, USU-E 5; Free Kicks - WWCC 13, USU-E 18; Cards - WWCC 4, USU-E 2

Up Next for the Mustangs; First Home Match vs Northwest Kansas Tech - Friday August 21st in Rock Springs WY at Rock Springs Junior High - 5:00pm