The Western Nebraska Community College men's soccer team started their home campaign with a defensive contest and had a strong first half when Otero College came to Landers Soccer Complex Friday.

                WNCC held a 1-0 halftime lead but their strong first-half defense couldn't hold on as the Rattlers scored twice in the second half to claim a 2-1 conference win.

                WNCC will look to get back on track Saturday when they host Trinidad State College in another conference game beginning at 4 p.m. at Landers. Admission to all Cougar soccer matches are free.

                Friday's contest was one where goals were hard to come by as well as shots as both defenses were playing well.

                WNCC had a chance to take an early lead just three minutes into the contest when Alvaro Abeal had a nice shot toward goal that just missed by inches. The game stayed scoreless until the 8:16 mark when freshman Tomoaki Kamiya took a pass from Anthony Lemus and put the ball in the back of the net.

                That is where the game stood at intermission with WNCC up 1-0.

                The second half was a half the Cougars probably want to forget. Otero tied the game with 38 minutes left when Otero's Michael Florian fumbled the ball and then went around WNCC's goalkeeper and dribbled the ball to inches in front of the net and hammered the ball into the net for the tying score.

                Otero took the lead 10 minutes later when Manuel Ronaldo scored to make it 2-1.      

                WNCC tried desperately to get a tying score, but their attempts were just wide or high to go into the net.

                Neither team had a lot of shots in the contest. Both teams had just six shots through the entire game.

                WNCC's goalkeeper Owen Henderson had two saves in net while Otero's keeper had one save.