WNCC tops Cloud County 4-3 in soccer

                Oct. 4, 2011 -- Kristi Blicharz tallied two goals and the Western Nebraska Community College women's soccer team recorded a huge victory over Cloud County Community College in topping the Thunderbirds 4-3 in action Tuesday afternoon at the Landers Soccer Complex.

                Ariana Herrera, who netted the Cougars fourth goal, said this was a huge win for the team. It was the team's second to last regular season match.

                "This win is pretty huge because we have been struggling a little bit here and there," the freshman from Grand Junction, Colo., said. "This is a good win for us. It really boosts our confidence."
                What really helped in setting the tempo of the contest was the Cougars quick offensive threat. Herrera said it helped to get on the scoreboard first.

                "it was really important to put up those early goals because it helped us control the game better," Herrera said. "It helped us play our game and not theirs."

                It didn't take long for the Cougars to score. Just five minutes into the contest, Blicharz outraced a Cloud County to the ball and then went one-on-one with the goalkeeper and firmly planted the ball in the back of the net.

                Cloud County came back to knot the score at the 33rd minute as Kelly To sent a shot into the net for a 1-1 tie.

                The contest was tied just briefly as Breanna Smith delivered a nice pass to Bridget Stanton who found the back of the net in the 30th minute for a 2-1 lead. The contest would go into halftime tied at 2-2 after To tied the contest in the 23 minute.

                Herrera said that Coach Todd Rasnic told them to continue playing strong at intermission.

                "He just told us to keep up our work rate," she said. "He told us to be more intense and go to the ball and play our game."
                WNCC came out in the second half and quickly took control of the contest. Blicharz scored her second goal of the match by taking a pass from Leticia Lopes and went one-on-one with the goalkeeper for the score in the 42nd minutes.

                The Cougars made it 4-2 in the 18th minute as Herrera delivered a strike into the net off an assist from Bailey Wenz. That goal proved to be the winner as the Thunderbirds scored another goal in the 14th minute as Rylee Bruhn scored. Cloud County almost tied the game three minutes later after a shot hit both sides of the goal, but bounced out.

                After that, WNCC took control and hung on for the victory. The Cougars outshot the Thunderbirds 16-12. Wenz started in goal for the Cougars and recorded three saves while giving up two goals. Tiffany Snethen was in net in the second half, allowing a goal and getting two saves.

                Herrera said the team played good enough to win on defense.

                "We did ok on defense. We could have played a lot better at times, but we held it together and played as a team," she said. "i am just proud of my team. We kept up with it and never gave up. We fought to the very end."

                WNCC will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 15 when they face Western Wyoming Community College at 11 a.m. at the Landers Soccer Complex in the team's final regular season contest.

                Herrera said they are going to work hard to stay in condition during the long layoff between games.

                "We are going to keep working hard at practice, keep our work rate up," she said. "We are going to work on our touches, the basics, and keep the speed of the game up high."