On Friday, a very warm late September day, in La Junta CO the Otero Junior College Rattlers hosted the Mustangs from Western Wyoming Community College. Otero Junior College are the defending Region IX Champions. The Mustangs started off strong and nearly scored in the opening minutes off of a OJC mistake with the ball being sent back to their keeper. The Mustangs opening minutes paid off in the 11th minute when Andrew Newbold sent a nicely paced through ball that Riley Gibson placed into the net for a WWCC lead of 1 - 0. Just minutes later in the 14th minute a beautiful build up and play happened for the Mustangs. The Mustangs put several one touch passes together ending with Brock Mosier sending a give and go to Chandler Young who hit a nicely hit shot into the net from 18 yards out. The Mustangs lead was 2 - 0 and it is a lead that they kept until the half.
The second half was better played by the Rattlers who had a lot of possession but lack a lot of chances. However, in the 66th minute a shot from an OJC player ricocheted into the back of the net. The WWCC lead was cut to 2 - 1. Both the Mustangs and the Rattlers had many chances in the final thirty plus minutes. The best chances for the Rattlers came in the last seconds but the Mustang back line (Carson Broadhead, Colton Cottrell, Taylor Flitton and Devin Moore) and keeper (Austin Pinter) stopped the attack and block their shots at the goal line.
Mustang Man of the Match - Chandler Young - Chandler scored the game winner and played well to control the match and the middle of the field.
Match Facts - Shots - WWCC 10, OJC 22; Assists - WWCC 2, OJC 0; Saves - WWCC 14, OJC 5; Corner Kicks - WWCC 2, OJC 7; Free Kicks - WWCC 17, OJC 6; Cards - WWCC 0, OJC 3.
Up Next for the Mustangs - Saturday 9/20 versus #17 Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad CO at 3:00pm.
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