WNCC women shutout Pratt 10-0

   The Western Nebraska Community College women's soccer team scored seven second-half goals and posted its second consecutive shut out by dropping Pratt Community College 10-0 Saturday afternoon at the Landers Soccer Complex.
               Ashley Gleason, Bridget Stanton and Celia Carmona each had two goals each in the Cougars second win of the season.
               Stanton, who also had an assist in the contest, said they did well.
               "We played pretty well. I think we are starting to pick it up compared to when we played against Mines," the freshman from Longmont, Colo., said. "We are starting to see where we are at. We are also coming together as a team."
               It didn't take long for WNCC to get on the scoreboard. Just two minutes into the contest, Ashley Gleason took a pass from Ashley Baker and put the ball firmly in the back of the net. The score stayed that way for the next 14 minutes when Breanna Smith scored off a pass from Laura James and floated a shot from the corner into the far corner of the net.
               Gleason recorded her second score with just a minute left in the half taking a perfect pass from Fernanda Acorinte for a 3-0 lead at intermission. WNCC outshot Pratt 18-3 in the first half.
               WNCC expanded on the lead in the second half, scoring seven times as they Cougars peppered the goal constantly during the 45-minute half. Stanton said they did what coach Todd Rasnic told them to do and it paid off.
               "He just told us that we need to come out strong and find feet. That was our biggest thing," she said. "He also said that when we cross we needed to get the ball to the 18s so we would get more opportunities."
               Stanton started the second-half scoring by netting back-to-back goals. The first came with 38 minutes left when she scored on an unassisted goal. Stanton scored her second goal just three minutes later as Kristi Blicharz gave Stanton a perfect pass for the 5--0 lead.
               Acorinte scored the sixth goal as the sophomore took a pass from Stanton, made a turn to the goal and beat the goalie for the easy score. The seventh goal came as Acorinte game an assist to Ariana Herrera for the 7-0 lead.
               Carmona came back with back-to-back goals. The first came with 19 minutes to play off an assist from Gleason while the second goal came with 13 minutes to play. Blicharz got an unassisted goal with 11 minutes left to close out the scoring.
               Stanton said they played solid in the second half.
               "The second half was finding open players and making good passes to feet," she said. "That was the main thing. Also, the defense was doing good."
               WNCC 's second half defense didn't allow on shot on goal by the Beavers. The Cougars outshot Pratt 34-3 as they peppered the net for 16 shots in the second half.
               WNCC, 2-0, will next be in action Wednesday when they face Northwest (Wyo.) College at 10 a.m. in a Region IX contest at the Landers Soccer Complex.