Double OT Thriller Goes to Gillette

Photos from Jen Atkinson

On Friday in Green River Wyoming the Mustangs opened the Region IX portion of their 2019 schedule facing the Lady Pronghorns from Gillette College.  Western Wyo faced Gillette three times in 2018 including an overtime victory in Gillette and a one goal victory in the Region IX semifinals.  Expectations were for a very tight match and both teams delivered.

In the first half the Mustangs struck first with a goal coming in the 37th minute of play.  Graisy Greener scored the lone goal in the first half off of a long flip throw-in from Taya Merrell.  The goal energized the Mustangs and helped them carry the 1 - 0 lead into the halftime break.

The second half was good play from both teams and just when Western Wyo started to look at the clock to see how they could preserve their slim 1 to 0 lead, the Lady Pronghorns scored.  The Gillette goal came in the 72nd minute of play.  Neither team would score during the remainder of regulation and the match would head into sudden victory overtime.

In NJCAA if a regular season match is tied two ten-minute overtime periods will be played with the first team scoring wins.  No goals were to be had in the 1st overtime and so the teams buckled up for ten more minutes.  In the 108th minute of play the Gillete team took an opportunity and beat the Mustang defense and keeper Markell Freeman for a goal and escaped with a 2 to 1 victory.  The heartbreaking loss drops the Mustangs record to 3 - 3 - 0 for the season and 0 - 1 - 0 in Region IX play.

Mustang Valuable Player: Graisy Greener - Graisy scored the lone goal and showed determination, heart and hustle on the pitch.

Match Facts: Shots - WWCC 15, GC 21; Assists - WWCC 1, GC 1; Saves - WWCC 11, GC 11; Corner Kicks - WWCC 6, GC 8; Free Kicks - WWCC 11, GC 12; Cards - WWCC 1, GC 1

Up Next for the Mustangs: Saturday September 14th versus Sheridan College (Region IX) at Rock Springs Junior School at 2:30pm