WNCC women's soccer opens up against Pratt on Saturday

               The Western Nebraska Community College women's soccer team return just six players from last year's squad while they welcome a dozen newcomers as the Cougars prepare for their season opener on Saturday against Pratt Community College in Great Bend, Kan.

               What the Cougars lack in experience, they make up in talent. The problem is, however, they are battling the injury bug. Still WNCC women's coach Todd Rasnic sees some bright things going their way as they venture their season.

               "We have struggled the early season  with nagging injuries and some of those players are key players," Rasnic said. "We are hoping we can hit the ground running this weekend and we certainly are making strides to make sure that happens. We have some work to do to make sure we are performing at the level that is expected out of our region, but I think we can get there. The women's team has turned a corner and they are ready to put their nose in a grindstone and get to work."

               Rasnic still believes that this women's team can make a run to a regional title if everything falls into place.

               "This year we have a a good group of players for a well-rounded team," he said. "The biggest issue we have is not the play of the talented players, but the health of the players. Most of the good that we had in pre-season is a result of just playing good team soccer. I think all the ladies have stepped in and gone into some difficult situations. I don't have a 30-goal forward and I don't have anyone just standing out above the crowd, but I do have a lot of hard-working and team oriented individuals.

               The Cougars' six returners include Ashley Baker and Kelsey Newby of Centennial, Colo.; Ariana Herrera of Grand Junction, Colo.; Bailey Wenz of Gillette, Wyo.; Breanna Smith of Longmont, Colo.; and Laura James of Castle Rock, Colo.

               The Cougars also have a sophomore transfer in Kortney Mitchell of Still, Colo. Another transfer is Chanice Blanco of Gering, who transferred from Nebraska-Kearney.

               The freshmen class have plenty of soccer skills. Leading off the newcomers are three local players in Caitlyn Cummings of Torrington, Wyo.; Dani Copsey of Gering; and Megan Patrick of Scottsbluff.

               The other freshmen include Anna Rinaldi of Lafayette, Colo.; Yoanna Arellano and Raquel Flores of Aurora, Colo.; Clara Heimich of Germany; Brianna Baumann of Spearfish, S.D.; Patty Sylvester and Katie Peterson of Loveland, Colo.

               The Cougars will face a rigorous schedule this season, loaded with plenty of back-to-back contests on weekends. After Saturday's season opener, the Cougars will battle Barton Community College on Sunday before returning home to host Northwest Kansas Technical College on Sept. 8.

               "Both squads that we play this weekend always improve during the season," Rasnic said. "The Barton team has been in contention for the Region 6 title every year and have been nationally ranked many times. They will be a very formidable foe. We will really have to play well to compete in that match to come back with a victory. I have no doubts they can do it. We have a team that when we are all healthy enough on the field, the sky's the limit for their capabilities."