CHEYENNE, WY – It was a tough day at home for the #17 Laramie County Community College men's soccer team, falling in a well contested match against Western Nebraska Community College 3-1 in a game that decided who would be at the top of the conference standings going into the final week.
Western Nebraska came out with the initial momentum and used a cross into the box and were able to beat LCCC to the ball and slip it past Luke Hyatt for the opening goal of the game.
Nearly fifteen minutes later, the Cougars would add on another, this time on another cross, but it wasn't a pure of a shot and Hyatt was able to get his hands and body to the post but the ball just slipped in past the Golden Eagles keeper.
During the halftime break, the Golden Eagles composed themselves and brought a new energy to the match in the opening ten minutes, putting the Cougars onto their heels and resulting in the first goal of the match for LCCC.
Alvin Udoto moved in on a cross from Josh Rodriguez and was able to finish in the 55th minute to bring the match to a one goal game. Udoto had a second opportunity that was barely saved by a diving stop from Owen Henderson in net for WNCC.
LCCC couldn't take advantage of the newly earned momentum, and the Cougars were able to use the numbers that the Golden Eagles were throwing forward to counterattack.
That opened up Eduardo Oliveira, who had finished the second goal and assisted on the first, the opportunity and position to take a cross and put it in for his fifth point of the match.
The final goal happened in the 58th minute, leaving plenty of time for LCCC to respond, but the energy had been taken away from the comeback by the answer from the Cougars and they went on to seal the win.
The Golden Eagle fall into a tie with Otero for the second spot in the Region IX standings with two games to play. The Rattlers have only one match remaining, giving the edge to LCCC to earn the first-round bye this weekend.
First up this weekend for LCCC is Central Wyoming (3-4-1, 3-2-1) before LCCC heads to Northwest College (3-2-6, 2-1-3) where the Trappers are holding down the fifth spot in the Region IX standings.
There will be no stream available for the game against Central Wyoming. For more information on the schedule, please visit www.golccc.com.