The Western Nebraska Community College men’s soccer team split a pair of Region IX conference matches over the weekend. 

                On Friday, WNCC was shutout as Casper earned the 1-0 win when the Thunderbirds scored in the 81st minutes on a goal by Jules Foll to earn the win. 

                WNCC’s played strong in that loss despite the loss as Casper had 13 shots on goal and managed just one. WNCC goalkeeper Hernan Burdiles had eight saves in net.  

                WNCC rebounded in a big way over Gillette to pick up the 2-1 win. 

                The Cougars and the Pronghorns had a battle, but the Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the first half when Eduardo Oliveira had an unassisted goals for the 1-0 lead had halftime. 

                Gillette scored in the second half on a David Silva goal, but the Cougars’ winning goal came from Isrrael Rodriguez off an assist from Pedro Roche for the 2-1 win. 

                WNCC had 14 shots with 11 on goal. Rodriguez was 3-3 with shots along with Oliveira. Pablo Dominguez and Adolfo Rojas each were 1-of-2 on shots. 

                Burdiles had five saves in net for the Cougars. 

                The WNCC men, 5-2-1 on the season and 3-1 in conference play, will be back in action next weekend when they hit the road for key conference matches in Colorado when they face Northeastern Junior College on Friday and Lamar Community College on Saturday. 

Vasquez scores twice for WNCC women 

                Lesley Vasquez scored twice to help the Western Nebraska Community College women’s soccer team shutout Gillette College in a Region IX conference match on Saturday. 

                Saturday’s win came a day after the Cougars played tough against Casper College on Friday before falling 2-0. 

                Saturday’s contest against Gillette saw the Cougars score a goal in each half and the let the defense control the Gillette offensive attack that had only seven shots on goal. 

                Vasquez got the scoring started as she scored midway in the first half when Ashley Villagomez fed the sophomore with the ball and Vasquez knew what to do with it and that was put the ball in the back of the net. 

                That is where the contest stood at halftime. In the second half, Vasquez got her second goal when Alejandra Rodriguez earned the assist for the goal and the 2-0 lead. 

                Emily Villagomez recorded seven saves in net.  

                WNCC had 12 shots total in the contest with seven on frame. Vasquez was 2-of-3, while Tania Razo was 3-for-3 in shots and Aileen Perez was 2-for-4. 

                Against Casper on Friday, the Cougars didn’t play bad. Casper scored both goals in the first half. The second half, the tough Cougar defense held the Thunderbirds scoreless and the defense has now had three straight scoreless halves. 

                WNCC, 2-4-2 on the season and 1-3-1 in conference play, will be back on the road next weekend with contests at Northeastern Junior College on Friday and Lamar Community College on Saturday.