CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Laramie County Community College men's soccer team scored six first half goals on its way to a 11-0 victory over Region IX foe Western Wyoming Community College on Saturday afternoon.
Laramie County improved to 12-3 (10-0 Region IX) and will host #8 seed Central Community College on Saturday afternoon. Western Wyoming finished the year 3-14-1. The Golden Eagles have captured the #1 seed of the Region IX Tournament.
Freshman Manny Tapia (Longmont, Colorado) and sophomore Cameron Broadhurst recorded hat tricks in the win. Tapia scored in the 1st, 8th and 66th minute. Broadhurst goals came in the 19th, 50th and 84th minute. Omar Castruita (Boulder, Colorado) recorded three assists in the match.
Sophomore goalkeeper Tanner Riedel (Laramie, Wyoming) had three saves in the game.
The Golden Eagles took control of the game from the get go with a goal in the first minute when Tapia scored off a cross from Noe Ortiz-Pena (Aurora, Colorado). The 6-foot-2 forward headed the ball into the hear post for a 1-0 LCCC lead. Seven minutes later, Tapia scored on a one-timer in the box on a pass from Castruita. Carlos Vargas (Heber City, Utah) scored in the 14th minute on a pass from Bryan Vazquez (Denver, Colorado). Broadhurst first goal came off a rebound in the 19th minute. Vargas got his second of the match in the 20th minute on a pass from Matt Wren (Welwyn, England). Nathan Stitt (Torrington, Wyoming) finished the scoring in the first half in the 30th minute on a pass from Wren.
Broadhurst second goal in the 50th minute was a tap in on a pass from Castruita. Tapia's hat trick was completed in the 66th minute on combination pass from Ortiz-Pena. Ortiz-Pena got in the scoring column in the 72nd minute on a pass from Jason Rodriguez (Longmont, Colorado). Stitt got his second goal of the match in the 77th minute on a pass from Alexis Flores (Aurora, Colorado). Broadhurst finished the scoring in the 84th minute on a right-footed shot into the far post. Sagar Bhattarai (Twin Falls, Idaho) was credited with the assist.
Laramie County has won 10 straight matches. Freshman Manny Tapia leads the team with 15 goals on the season and 32 points. Omar Castruita leads the team in assists with 11 on the year.
The Golden Eagles defense limited Western Wyoming to just five shots and three on goal. LCCC had 44 shots and put 21 on goal.