In a gritty and rain-soaked showdown at the Laramie County Community College soccer field, the Golden Eagles overcame an early deficit to defeat Western Wyoming Community College 3-1 in a pivotal match to determine postseason seeding.
The game opened with intensity as both teams traded possession and chances in a back-and-forth first half. WWCC broke the deadlock in the 27th minute when Oakley Hess surged down the right wing and delivered a dangerous cross into the box. The ball deflected off a defender and fell perfectly for Makaydi Jenks, who capitalized on the opportunity to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.
LCCC responded swiftly. Just three minutes later, a contested corner kick from Jentrie Porter dropped into the path of Emily Sheather, who made no mistake in burying the ball to level the score at 1-1.
The Golden Eagles continued to press, and in the 32nd minute, Victoria Espinoza launched a well-placed throw-in that found Sheather in stride. Sheather powered past her defender and slotted the ball past the keeper to give LCCC a 2-1 advantage.
The final goal of the match came in the 37th minute, when Sheather turned playmaker. She threaded a precise through ball to Avery Anderson, who beat both the defender and WWCC goalkeeper to the ball and calmly finished to seal the 3-1 victory.
Head Coach Lugo Arenas praised his team's resilience and execution, saying:
"It was a gritty performance in tough conditions. The girls showed heart and composure after going down early. I'm proud of how they responded and stayed focused. This win means a lot as we head into the postseason."