From Sept. 19, 2012

                The Western Nebraska Community College men’s soccer team had a quick offensive start to its match with Laramie County Community College on Wednesday at the Lander Soccer Complex.

                Unfortunately, Kyle Gonzales two early goals wasn’t enough as the Golden Eagles scored four straight goals to get by the Cougars 5-3 in Region IX soccer action.

                Gonzales said the start was what they team needed, but for some reasons, they always falter down the stretch.

                “We always come out strong and then it seems the second half is our weak point,” the sophomore from Windsor, Colo., said. “I don’t know if it is conditioning or if people don’t want to go out there and fight the whole 90 minutes. We definitely need to change something. But I think today was a step in the right direction because we played a lot better than we have.”

                Laramie County drew first blood, netting the first goal just 45 minutes into the game on a Peterson Neri goal. After that, the Cougar offense kicked it into high gear.

                Gonzales tied the contest just six minutes into the contest when he took a pass from Adhemar Lino. Gonzales scored his second just two minutes later. Lino took a shot on goal and the LCCC goalkeeper deflected a touch and Gonzales was right there to put a high kick on the ball and send it into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead.

                The Cougars took a 3-1 lead in the 27^th minutes when Daniel Agnew slid and kicked the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs as he was just ready to make the save. The kick went straight into the net as Edwin Contreres picked up the assist.

                The lead didn’t last long as the Golden Eagles scored two goals in the final 20 minutes to tie the game at halftime 3-3. LCCC’s first goal came on a penalty kick by Neri with 20:19 to play. The tying goal was sent in by Dino Soto.

                LCCC took the lead with 28:42 to go in the second half as Dewey Rodgers scored off an assist from Neri. The Golden Eagles added an insurance goal with 6:38 to play on a goal by Jesse Molina.

                The big difference in the contest was after WNCC got those early goals, their offensive output went south. The Golden Eagles outshot the Cougars 20-8 and WNCC only had two good scoring opportunities the rest of the game.

                Joey Rasnic was saddled with the loss in net, making seven saves and giving up five goals.

                The Cougars will look to get back on the winning track when they head to Sterling, Colo., to face Northeastern Junior College before returning home to face Lamar Community College on Sunday.

                Gonzales said that they need to just one win and build from there.

                “It starts with the first one and it builds off that,” he said. “It starts Friday and hopefully we will carry it to Sunday and keep carrying it on from then.”