COLUMBUS – The Western Nebraska Community College soccer teams captured wins over Central Community College-Columbus on Friday in Columbus.

                The Cougar women scored three goals in the final 17 minutes to capture a 4-1 over the Raiders for their first victory of the season.

                The Cougar men battled hard and got an own goal with seven minutes left to earn the 2-1 win for their second victory of the young season.

                The women's game saw WNCC take a 1-0 lead at halftime after Izzy Wright was fouled in the box and Raquel Ferreira buried the penalty kick int eh 30^th minute.

                Neither team scored again until the 68^th minute of the second half when Central -Columbus score to knot the score.

                After that, WNCC went on the offensive scoring barrage. Litzi Delarosa scored the go-ahead goal in the 73^rd minute off an assist from Andrea Jimenez. Then, in the 80^th minute, Vanessa Vasquez was fouled in the box and Jimenez took the penalty kick and booted it into the back of the net for the 3-1 lead.

                WNCC capped off the scoring in the 84^th minute when Vazquez scored off an assist from Jimenez.

                WNCC had 16 shots of which 12 were on goal.

                The men's contest was close as the Cougars had to battle from behind. Following a scoreless first half, the Raiders logged the game's first goal when Mark Ackerman scored off the assist of Lorenzo Costa Cardoso. After that, WNCC took control as CCC was issued a red card and with one player down, the Cougars took advantage and scored two unanswered goals for the 2-1 final.

                Playing with a man advantage, the Cougars took control as Tom Pelzer was fouled inside the box and Rodrigo Cercal put the ball into the net for the tying score in the 80^th minute.

                WNCC won the match in the 82^nd minute when Central had an own goal for the go-ahead goal.

                WNCC controlled the shots with 14 shots compared to six for Central-Columbus. Seven of those shots were on goal for the Cougars.

                WNCC will have a scrimmage in Rapid City, South Dakota, on Wednesday and then will be back in action with home contests on September 3 and 4 when they host Northwest College and Central Wyoming College.