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Casper College’s Court Gonsalez passes the ball to a teammate during the T-Birds’ game against Northwest College on Sept. 27 at Murane Field.
Casper College’a Macy Sickler (right) battles for control of the ball during the T-Birds’ match against Northwest College on Sept. 27 at Murane Field.
The Casper College soccer teams open Region IX Tournament play at home today. And that should be good news for the Thunderbirds.
The 17th-ranked women’s team (10-2-3, 8-0-1) kicks off the day at 11 a.m. against Laramie County Community College. The T-Birds, who earned the No. 1 seed out of Region IX, are 6-0-2 at Murane Field this season.
The men’s team (11-4-1, 6-2-1) has been just as impressive at Murane, going 7-0-1 on its home pitch. The No. 2 seeded T-Birds host Otero College at 2 p.m.
Both Casper College teams got to spend last week practicing and healing any minor injuries while he LCCC women and Otero men had to play first-round games.
“It was great to get a week off to recover,” Casper College sophomore midfielder Court Gonsalez said, “but it’s even better to get a game here in the semifinals.”
Gonsalez is one of six sophomores who helped last year’s team win the Region IX championship. The T-Birds defeated Otero in the title game to advance to the NJCAA Championships for the first time.
The T-Birds opened Region IX play with a shutout of the Rattlers behind two goals from Justin Godbout-Garon and single goals from Hedy Bechar and Akim Soulemana back on Sept. 6.
“That game was so long ago,” Casper College head coach Ben McArthur said. “We beat them 4-0, but the shots were 10-10 so it was an even game. The difference is that we finished and they didn’t, and (goalkeeper) Iori (Tanaka) made a couple of big saves. We know Otero is a dangerous team and we expect nothing but a battle.”
The T-Birds lost three of four — all on the road — during a tough stretch last month, but finished the regular season 4-0-1 with a 26-8 goal differential. They have a 52-26 goal differential.
“Scoring goals hasn’t been a problem for us,” McArthur admitted.
Godbout-Garon and Bechar lead the T-Birds with nine goals apiece; sophomore Linus Musielak has chipped in seven; and Gonsalez, who won four state titles at Worland, and freshman Francesco Panetta have each scored six.
The T-Birds are hoping to score a few more today as they eye a return to the Region IX championship game against the winner of today’s Western Nebraska Community College-LCCC game.
“Tournament play is a lot different from Region IX play because everyone is fighting for their season,” Gonsalez said. “If we lose, we know we’re done, so we have to fight with everything that we have.”
McArthur knows his team will do just that.
“I have no doubt these guys are ready to go,” he said.
The Casper College women’s team is trying to get back to the NJCAA Championships for the second time in three years.
Since starting the season 1-2-2, the T-Birds have been on a roll. They opened Region IX play with a 5-1 victory over Otero and enter today’s game with a 9-0-1 record and a 39-4 goal differential in their last 10 games.
Sophomore goalkeeper Emmy Finlinson has six shutouts during that stretch and the T-Birds haven’t allowed more than one goal in a game since a 3-1 loss to No. 7 Salt Lake Community College back on Aug. 31.
The current streak includes a 2-0 road shutout of LCCC (9-4-3).
Sophomore Macy Sickler has a team-best nine goals to lead a well-balanced attack. Michelle Cave has netted five goals and six assists, Jessa Lynn (Cody) and Amberlyn Hill (Kelly Walsh) have each found the back of the net four times and Tyniah White and Taylor Miller have three goals each.
If the T-Birds win they would host the winner of today’s Northwest College at Western Wyoming Community College game next week for the Region IX championship.
Casper College’s Jessie Murray dribbles up the pitch against Gillette College during Saturday’s 4-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Olivia Myntti battles for control of the soccer ball against Gillette College during Saturday’s 4-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Macy Sickler scores the first goal of the game in the T-Birds’ 4-1 victory over Gillette College on Oct. 5 at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Michelle Cave dribbles the ball up the pitch during Saturday’s game against Gillette College at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Michelle Cave battles for control of the soccer ball against Gillette College during Saturday’s 4-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Members of the Casper College soccer team celebrate a goal during Saturday’s 4-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Kris Martial maneuvers past a Gillette College defender during Saturday’s 8-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Yumeki Matsumoto avoids a sliding tackle by a Gillette College defender during Saturday’s 8-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Francesco Panetta slides a shot under the Gillette College goalkeeper for a goal during the T-Birds’ 8-1 victory on Oct. 5 at Murane Field.
Casper College’s Chance Franks maneuvers past a pair a Gillette College defender during Saturday’s 8-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Kouki Ikushima maneuvers past a pair of Gillette College defenders during Saturday’s 8-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Hedy Bechar dribbles the ball up the field in the T-Birds’ game against Gillette College on Saturday at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Haley Seaich passes soccer ball to a teammate against Gillette College during Saturday’s 4-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
The Casper College soccer teams wrapped up its home schedule with a sweep of Gillette College on Saturday, Oct. 5.
Casper College’s Jessie Murray dribbles up the pitch against Gillette College during Saturday’s 4-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Olivia Myntti battles for control of the soccer ball against Gillette College during Saturday’s 4-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Macy Sickler scores the first goal of the game in the T-Birds’ 4-1 victory over Gillette College on Oct. 5 at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Michelle Cave dribbles the ball up the pitch during Saturday’s game against Gillette College at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Michelle Cave battles for control of the soccer ball against Gillette College during Saturday’s 4-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Members of the Casper College soccer team celebrate a goal during Saturday’s 4-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Kris Martial maneuvers past a Gillette College defender during Saturday’s 8-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Yumeki Matsumoto avoids a sliding tackle by a Gillette College defender during Saturday’s 8-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Francesco Panetta slides a shot under the Gillette College goalkeeper for a goal during the T-Birds’ 8-1 victory on Oct. 5 at Murane Field.
Casper College’s Chance Franks maneuvers past a pair a Gillette College defender during Saturday’s 8-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Kouki Ikushima maneuvers past a pair of Gillette College defenders during Saturday’s 8-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Hedy Bechar dribbles the ball up the field in the T-Birds’ game against Gillette College on Saturday at Murane Field in Casper.
Casper College’s Haley Seaich passes soccer ball to a teammate against Gillette College during Saturday’s 4-1 win at Murane Field in Casper.
Follow sports editor Jack Nowlin on Twitter @wyovarsity
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The T-Birds’ 19th-ranked women’s team finished the regular season as the No. 1 seed while the men’s team earned the No. 2 seed.
Casper College’s Court Gonsalez passes the ball to a teammate during the T-Birds’ game against Northwest College on Sept. 27 at Murane Field.
Casper College’a Macy Sickler (right) battles for control of the ball during the T-Birds’ match against Northwest College on Sept. 27 at Murane Field.
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