POWELL, WY – Manny Tapia (Longmont, Colorado) scored a hat trick in a nine minute span, lifting Laramie County Community College (5-3) to a 6-1 win over Northwest College (5-2-1) in a Region IX men's soccer game on Friday evening at Trapper Field. The game started a little over two hours late due to a lightening delay.
The Golden Eagles and Trappers exchanged dangerous opportunities early on in the match with the game going back-and-forth. Abe Lopez (Boulder, Colorado) would get the Golden Eagles on the board first in the 29th minute on a penalty kick. Right before the half, Tapia's first goal came off a cross from Omar Castruita (Boulder, Colorado) to double the lead heading into the half. Tapia rose up on the cross and headed it home for the goal.
Tapia's second goal came in the 51st minute when he headed home a flick from Cameron Broadhurst (Broomfield, Colorado). Tapia would complete the hat trick in the 54th minute and he got on the end of a pass from Noe Ortiz-Pena (Aurora, Colorado). The Trappers got their goal in the 65th minute on a free kick from Aleljandro Fernandez.
Laramie County would get back on the board in the 88th minute on a goal by Broadhurst. He headed in a cross from Ethan Mathis (Cheyenne, Wyoming).
Just a minute later, Bryan Vazquez (Denver, Colorado) recorded his first collegiate goal as he capitalized on a Trapper mistake and fired his shot into the corner of the net.
Laramie County outshot Northwest 22-8 in the match and 15-4 in shots on goal. In goal, Declan Domyan (Johannesburg, South Africa) made three saves to preserve the Golden Eagles win.
LCCC heads to Central Wyoming College on Saturday for a 3 p.m. match in Lander, Wyoming.