The
Western Nebraska Community College men's and women's soccer teams opened up
practice Thursday at the Landers Soccer Complex. And after just one day of
practice, the players can see plenty of potential in this year's teams.
Sophomore
goalkeeper Bailey Wenz said the women's team came back in better shape than
last season and they are ready for the long three-a-day practices.
"We
are all pretty tired right know [after the afternoon session] but we are in
better shape than last year," she said. "Henri (Coach Prieels; made a
comment this morning that our tests were 20 times better than last year so we
are in better shape."
Wenz
also has noticed that there is plenty of talent on this year's team which will
the women's team should have plenty of depth.
"The
talent is looking pretty good. It doesn't look like anyone is above each other;
we are all at the same level," she said. "We are really deep
defensively so I think our defense will be really strong. But we have the
forwards that will go out and just do the work."
The
women return six players from a year ago in Wenz, Laura James, Ari Herrera,
Kelsey Newby, Ashly Baker and Breanna Smith. The women's team also have
sophomore transfer Kortney MItchell, who transferred from McPherson College in
Kansas.
With
six returners and a sophomore transfer, Wenz said the team is well-rounded with
a good mix of talented freshmen, including four area newcomers in Scottsbluff's
Megan Patrick, Gering's Chanice Blanco and Dani Copsey, and Torrington's
Caitlyn Cummings.
With
the good mix of players, Wenz said the first day went well and they are looking
towards a better season than last year, where they fell one game short of a
regional title.
"The
first day was good," the Gillette, Wyo., product said. "We are
clicking as a team better than last year and everyone is working hard. We
really haven't set a goal, but the goal for us as a team is to just go out and
play our game and just be one team."
The
Cougar men are in the same boat as the women, deep and talented. The men return
just seven players form a year ago and returner Matt "Tiki" Lee said
this team has plenty of talent.
"I
think there is a lot of new freshmen and a lot of good returning sophomores. We
will have a great team," the Windsor, Colo., sophomore said. "So far
we are looking pretty good. It will take some time to get used to everybody's
touch on the game, but I think if we work hard enough, we will co-exist."
Lee
said that the goal of this year's team is to go further than a year ago. Last
season they team fell in the first round of regionals to Otero on penalty
kicks. Lee doesn't want to see a repeat of that and he doesn't foresee that
happening.
"I
am hoping to go farther than last year. I am hoping our goal is to get as far
as we can," he said. "I would like to get past where we got last year
and advance further on in the tournament."
This
year's team has just seven returners from a year ago. Besides Lee, they include
Gering graduates Joey Rasnic, Cody Thompson and Mason Nab, Jacon Santos, Mark
Hubbard, and Adhimar Lino.
Lee
thinks this team is really balanced after the opening practices and can go a
long ways.
"I
think this team is balanced and we should have have a strong defense," he
said. "There are a few international kids from England and Ireland that is
looking pretty good on defense. W have a lot of returning talent on offense, so
i think it is balanced."
Both
teams will go through three-a-days until classes begin AUg. 15. The two teams
have five scrimmages before opening the season the first weekend in September
against Pratt Community College and Barton Community College in Great Bend,
Kan. The first scrimmage is at home Aug. 11 where the men will scrimmage the
Chadron Job Corp while the women will have a Blue/Gold Scrimmage.
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