The Rustlers traveled to Cheyenne, WY to take on LCCC last Friday, September 8th.  The men's team started the afternoon matches with a hard-fought battle. LCCC reached the net twice at the start of the match but the Rustlers settled in when Dorian Penner on a break away put one in the net. LCCC was able to score another goal in the 2nd half. When asked about the match Penner stated, "It was great to get a score and beat that defender but we just needed some more time. We were putting pressure on their defense but just couldn't find the net quick enough." Coach DeCook followed Penner stating, "LCCC is a quality soccer team and it was a great match. We needed to pressure them earlier in the match. The great thing is we are improving weekly and these guys are becoming quite the team."  The final score of the match was 1-3.

The second match of the day was the Lady Rustlers against the Golden Eagles of LCCC.  The CWC ladies started slow and allowed four LCCC goals in the first 20 minutes.  Finally, Felicity Johnstun found the net late in the first half. After the break, LCCC was able to get an additional four goals. When asked about the game Felicity Johnstun stated, "We played but never seemed to get going today. I'm disappointed but we have a match tomorrow that we will do everything we can to win."  Coach Haskell continued that sentiment stating, "This afternoon we did not have any rhythm and the score certainly shows that...1-8"   

 

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Scottsbluff, NE the CWC soccer teams played Western Nebraska Community College. The CWC women came out hard and attacked from the first minute of the match. Within eight minutes Emma Mansel took a great pass from Joey Kay and put it in the net. WNCC was able to get one later during the half and the score was 1-1 at half. The 2nd half started with Brynnley Wardle being held out after taking a ball squarely in the face. Midway into the 2nd half, Barbara Ruiz put a freekick in the net from outside the penalty box. WNCC fought back and was able to tie the match again near the 20-minute mark. The CWC ladies were excited about their play after the match. Emma Mansell with a large smile said, "It felt great to get my first college goal and the pass from Joey was great and just where it needed to be." Joey Kay was pumped from the match and said, "We should have won that game but we played great and gave it everything we had. Can we play them again?" Barbara Ruiz, a sophomore from Spain, said, "We had many scoring opportunities and I am glad I could put one in for us and help the team." Coach DeCook stated, "These ladies leave everything on the field. We should have gotten the win but we were handed some interesting challenges during the 2nd half. I'm proud of how solid of a team they have become."

The Rustler men took a 3-5 loss to the WNCC men's team. While a huge disappointing loss with many questionable calls by the refs there were some tremendous plays by the Rustlers. Tanner Johnson, the freshman from Riverton, WY, had a magnificent day scoring three times on assists by Drake Simmons and another by Pedro da Costa. Johnson's last goal came on a PK at the 23:09 mark when he was fouled in the box. The WNCC men were able to reach the net three times in the second half while the Rustler men were playing with a man down.
Tanner Johnson was asked about his day and he stated, " I felt really great today. Being able to put us in the lead and score a hat trick is a fantastic feeling. I just wished we could have been on the winning side of things. While playing with only 10 men we gave it everything we had." Coach DeCook and Coach Haskell were disappointed in the outcome but both reflected on the game. "This match got pretty ugly and our guys were true sportsmen today. They handled the heckling and taunting with class and just like we would want." Haskell went on to say, "The guys played like they were a quality soccer team and did a great job, particularly under the circumstances. We are proud of them."

 

Both Rustler teams will play at home this Friday, September 15th against Lamar CC and again on Saturday, September 16th against Northeastern JC.

 

Photo credit: Stacie Simmons