WNCC men's soccer shuts out CMC 10-0 in home opener

The last time the Western Nebraska Community College men’s soccer team scored double digit goals was four years ago to almost the same date when they netted 16 goals on Aug. 31 in the team’s inaugural season.

Four years later to almost the same date, the Cougars found that double figure scoring plateau with a dominating 10-0 win over Colorado Mountain College at the Lander’s Soccer Complex Saturday.

“During practice we have been working on a lot of combinations, and we definitely came out and did that,” freshman Morgan Wall of Alliance said. “We definitely have been trying to work the ball around and control the pace and ball and the biggest thing is we are trying to do short combinations. We are trying to pick it up whenever we can.”

The Cougar men en route to the shutout win had four different players net two goals each. Wall was just one player getting two goals. Overall, Wall said, they had good teamwork.

“What we just did was take the ball up any direction of the field and whoever is open, we try to hit them and let them score,” he said. “We controlled the game and controlled the pace and put a couple of goals in.”

Wall’s first goal came with 16:52 to play in the first half when he took a pass from Nikko Ouzounis for a 3-0 lead. He later capped off the first half netting a goal off an assist from Eloy Matos for the 6-0 lead.

WNCC’s offensive tenacity was evident from the opening whistle. It didn’t take the Cougars long to get on the scoring as Renato Segalla scored with just eight minutes into the match off an assist by Aaron Oesterle.

Segalla then was on the other end of the scoring column delivering a pass to Lazarro Torrez to put WNCC up 2-0 just 14 minutes into the contest.

WNCC’s other two first half goals came from Edwin Enriquez off an assist from Matos, and Diego Campoverde scoring off a pass from Ouzounis.

The Cougars kept up the scoring in the second half off of pin-point accuracy. Lazarro netted his second goal of the match on a penalty kick that he rifled into the net just 11 minutes into the half.

Segalla followed with his second goal of the match on a direct kick just near the penalty box with 20 minutes to play to put WNCC up 8-0.

Matos finished off the scoring with two goals. The sophomore’s first goal came on a penalty kick that he rifled straight into the net.

His second goal came with just under four minutes to play. Matos stole the ball from an Eagle player and went one-on-one with the goalkeeper Adam Morang to cap of the scoring,

WNCC’s domination was evident as the hosts had 20 shots on goal to the Eagles four. WNCC also had seven corner kicks to CMC’s three. Cesar Bazana picked up the win in goal with just four saves to get the shutout.

While four players netted two goals each, 11 different players had at least one shot on goal. One of the reasons for the Cougars offensive dominance was the team’s defense, which was stellar.

“The defense definitely did what they needed to do. They marked up really well on set plays. They definitely controlled the game in the back and played it through the midfield really well for us.”

The Cougars return to action Wednesday when they travel to Rock Springs, Wyo., to face Western Wyoming Community College in a men’s and women’s doubleheader. They will then venture home to face Barton County Community College in a doubleheader next Saturday.

“We are going to rest up for a while and then keep working on our touches. Hopefully we will come out prepared for those games,” Wall said. “It just feels great to get the first win at home. I am definitely proud of our team to come out here and show the home fans what we can do. Hopefully we can keep it up the rest of the season.”