Plainsmen Start Conference 0-2

The second-ranked Laramie Plainsmen lost their second straight 4A East Conference match Saturday to the Gillette Camels by a final of 2-1.

It capped a tough weekend for the Plainsmen, who find themselves at the bottom of the league standings at 0-2.

LHS head coach Andy Pannell said we just had a bad weekend.

"It's fine. We're playing better than we were at the beginning of the year, so I don't really feel too bad about it. I mean, I don't obviously want to be 0-2, but I think we're seeing some improved play from some of our younger guys, and we're seeing just all sorts of things that are, I think, positive going forward."

Gillette (4-2, 2-1) took the lead in the 24th minute of action and led 1-0 at half. They added another goal in the 51st minute for a 2-0 edge.

Laramie (2-2) responded with an unassisted goal from Paul Gonzales in the 60th minute, but failed to get an equalizer.

Pannell felt better about his teams' effort, even though they didn't have many chances against the Camels defense.

"From the team's we've played so far, they're the best team we've played yet. They (Gillette) defended well... To come back and go to 2-1 on a beautiful shot from Paul Gonzales... I jus)t thought the fight from the guys was there all the way to the end of the game."

Laramie will try to bounce back versus Cheyenne South Tuesday at 5 p.m. The match will be at the UW North 40 soccer field.

On another soccer note, the fourth-ranked Laramie Lady Plainsmen (2-1-1, 0-1-1) played to a 2-2 draw at #2 Gillette. They will be in Cheyenne Tuesday to face the Lady Bison at South High School. That match is also set for 5 p.m.