The Western Nebraska Community College men's soccer team started strong, but then faltered in the second half to a hot Monroe Community College team in dropping a 4-2 contest in both team's season opener Friday at the Landers Soccer Complex. The Cougars scored two quick goals to take a 2-0 lead midway through the first half before the Tribunes ran off four straight goals to capture the victory.
Monroe coach Nelson Cupello said he was pleased with how his young team withstood the 98 degree temperature to post the win.
" The heat was definitely a factor so we subbed quite a few guys. All 19 players got to play so it was a total team win," the Rochester, N.Y. head coach said. "We started eight freshmen and for them not knowing how the college game is played, and showed that we had the jitters by giving up two goals. We settled down in the second half and came back strong. I thought we played strong and we kept them down at their end the whole time and got the result that we wanted."
WNCC coach Todd Rasnic was pleased with his team's play in the first half as they controlled the tempo of the game.
"We did start off well and did some really good things offensively, working the ball well in building up the final third before we were executing on goal shooting," he said. "Unfortunately, in the second half, we played a bit more like freshmen. We had a little bit more pressure on us from our opponent and we didn't build up the field as well as they did the first half. Consequently, that opened up the middle and gave them an opportunity to attack quickly and gave them some quick shots on goal and they put them away."
WNCC wasted little time as sophomore Marcel Sales connected on a penalty kick 14 minutes into the match. FIve minutes later, Sales took a pass from Kurt Wilson and planted the ball firmly into net for a 2-0 lead.
Monroe sliced the lead in half before halftime as Sami Yorulmzlar scored at the 16 minute mark. Salas nearly had the hat trick to put WNCC up 3-1 as his shot hit the side pole and bounced away with 30 seconds left in the half.
The second half was all Monroe as the Tribunes tied the score on a goal by Michael Collis with 25 minutes left to play. Eight minutes later, Yorulmzlar took a pass from Irandy Byron to put Monroe up 3-2. The Tribunes added an insurance goal as Collis recorded his second goal off an assist from Steven Maunnaret.
Both teams had 11 shots in the game and each and each goal keeper had four saves. Vinnie Cainth was in net for Monroe, while Jesus Alvarado was in net for the Cougars.
Both men's teams will be in action Sunday. The Cougars will host Hesston College at noon while Monroe travels to Cheyenne, Wyo., to face Laramie County Community College. Saturday's action at the Landers complex as the Cougar women facing Hesston at 11 a.m. followed by the LCCC men taking on Hesston at 1 p.m.
Rasnic said they have some work to do, but Friday's season opener was a promising start.
"We saw that we have the potential to be a good goal-scoring team and play against teams that are nationally recognized," he said. "That game could have gone either way. I think the guys will get there. hopefully we can build off this game and continue to be better the next time we come out."
Cupello said he also saw promise from his team.
"We have a lot more to grow, but I am happy of how we came back. We showed a little bit of character," he said. "I would love to get these guys [WNCC] to come out east next year. Maybe the community will help raise some money because we would love to have these guys play us at our place."
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