WNCC women's soccer team brings new attitude to this season

Last year when the Western Nebraska Community College women’s soccer team opened pre-season practice they didn’t even have enough players to field a full team. This season is a total different story as the Cougar women opened practices for the coming year with 17 players and a much improved attitude over last year at this time.

“It is a big difference between years,” sophomore Nancy Boyack said. “We can do most of our workouts because we can do more with more players. Practices are going a lot better then it did last year. We are a lot farther a long.”

The Cougar women, along with the men’s team, are enduring three-a-day workouts in preparation for the season opener Aug. 25 in Great Bend, Kan. And, by the intense look of all the women players, they are excited for the season.

“I am ready for the season. I have been waiting for this day ever since I got the news I was going to be on the team,” freshman Tamika Smith of Greeley, Colo., said. “We have a lot of talent, but like with every team, there is room to improve. There are a lot of girls out here that have the heart and talent.”

Thursday’s three-a-day practices started with conditioning at 6 a.m. Then, the team went through some technical drills in the afternoon, which concluded with a one-on-one firing drill on freshman goalkeeper Terri Hunnington, who sparkled in net.

The first day concluded with a technical session with more ball work and drills.

Boyack, who was a three-sport star at Gering High School, this year’s team is laden with talent, making practices intense.

“We have a lot of talent and a lot of girls with great skills,” she said. “Last year we had talent about six or seven players, and then filled in with other players. This year we are surrounded with a lot of talent.”

WNCC returns just six players back, including Boyack, from last year’s team, including the all-time season goal leader Bre Perkes from Plain City, Utah. Last season Perkes had finished with 26 goals in her first season. Also returning for the Cougars are Stacy Agnew of Leicester, England; Paige Achatz of Great Bend, Kan.; Krystin Wingert of South Jordan, Utah; and Amanda Arrant of Hooper, Utah.

Perkes and Smith, though, are currently rehabbing ACL knee injuries. For Smith, it is like four-a-day workouts.

“I am ready to play even though I am currently nursing my ACL,” she said. “I am rehabbing and getting ready to play, but I am not nervous yet. In high school we did two-a-days., so three a days is definitely something new.”

Smith, who was all-conference for Northridge High, said college soccer is different in then high school, especially the running aspect.

“We run a lot more here and we didn’t run as much in high school,” she said. “There is a lot of heart and effort you need to put into it. But, I am ready for the season to start.”

So is Boyack as the team prepares for a scrimmage Aug. 11 against Colorado State University-Pueblo on the road.

“We are really excited for that scrimmage,” she said. “We might be a little bit out of shape, but that game will be good experience for us. I am excited for the season. We have a lot of good players coming in this year and we will do a lot better.”