CHEYENNE, WY – The Laramie County Community College women's soccer team got off to a great start in their Region IX quarterfinal match with Gillette College, scoring in the first ten minutes on their way to a 4-0 victory to punch a ticket to the semifinals and a date with top seeded Casper College next Saturday.
"We have a good group of eleven that just started out the game with positive energy," Head Coach Lugo Arenas said. "For them to build a 2-0 lead and to capitalize in the second half and bring that same type of energy, I think that's what really drove us."
LCCC got onto the board quick from a unexpected source when Aubrey Yantis drew the defenses attention and crossed a ball through the six-yard box to Rachelle Pinto who finished it to the right of the Pronghorns goalie.
Another goal followed in the 32nd minute when Pinto followed Danielle O'Leary on the attack and finished another cross from her fellow sophomore to double the lead and give Pinto her first two-goal game of her career.
"It came as a surprise to me," Pinto said, who only found out she was in the starting lineup just before the game. "I've played midfield all season and I got put as forward so I'm glad I just was able to execute that as a forward and do my job."
"I just had a hunch on the energy she was going to bring and she took advantage of it and capitalized on it," Arenas added.
The two sides went into the half with the score at 2-0, but it was less than three minutes into the second 45 that LCCC was back onto the board.
An attempt from 35-yards out by Ekena Little took advantage of the Gillette goalie being out of position and pushed the lead to 3-0 while also setting the tone of the second half for the Golden Eagles, who dominated the time of possession in the second half.
"I haven't scored since the beginning of the season, so it was pretty special," Little said. "Especially because it was from far out and I wasn't expecting to score. At the beginning of the game, I think I started out rough, so it gave me confidence for the rest of the game."
One more goal finished off the scoring party when Aubrey Yantis finished from the top of the 18-yard box after Haley Pierson set the Rock Springs native up with a look on goal for her eighth of the season.
LCCC limited the Pronghorns to just six shots in the match and only two of those made it on frame as the back line played airtight defense all match long, something Arenas credited to their chemistry they have built all season long.
On the attack, the Golden Eagles took 26 shots, with 16 finding the frame, keeping Addy Harris busy all game long.
The win moves the women into the semifinals of the Region IX Championship next weekend when they will travel to Casper College to face off with the top seeded Thunderbirds on Saturday afternoon. Gametime has not been set at the time of publication.
Arenas said it will come down to how they execute their gameplan on the road.
"Regardless of whether you are home or not, you still have to perform. I think that's the big test for us. I mean, we saw two upsets last year and hopefully we can get some magic going our way and prove that we can do the same thing. I think the final four team are just so neck and neck that every game is going to be a close game from this point on."
For more information including streaming and updated game times, visit www.golccc.com.