WNCC men fall to Otero 3-1 in rainy conditions

               The Western Nebraska Community College and Otero Junior College men's soccer teams braved the rainy and cold conditions at the Landers Soccer Complex Saturday afternoon, but it was the Rattlers that excelled the most in posting a 3-1 conference victory.

               WNCC coach Todd Rasnic didn't blame the weather conditions on the team's performance considering both teams had to endure the elements.

               "The weather conditions don't matter because both teams are under the same weather conditions," he said. "The other team performed technically well on the field, and finished two goals out of the air. Quite honestly, it is not acceptable of the way we played today."

               The contest, which started 90 minutes later because of a late arriving Otero team, saw both teams trying to figure out the elements in the first half.

               The first 45 minutes turned out to be a defensive battle as each team was fighting the cold rain and wind. The Rattlers, however, snuck a goal in with under 30 seconds to play as Cantu Palombo scored off an assist from Noe Rios for the 1-0 lead.

               The Rattlers went up 2-0 just 11 minutes into the second half as Carlos Rea scored after going one-on-one with Cougar goalkeeper Jesus Alvarado. Otero made it 3-0 with another goal in the 30th minute as Palombo scored his second goal.

               The Cougars had a number of chances in between the Rattlers' goals, but misfired on a number of chances. WNCC finally got on the scoreboard in the 86th minute as Erwin Sanchez scored after taking a pass from Mason Nab.

               Finishing was a big key for the Cougars. Both teams, despite the horizontal rain, combined for 42 shots. Otero finished with 22 shots compared to 20 for the Cougars. The difference was Otero made their shots.

               Rasnic said that the game came down to his team not finishing their opportunities.

               "We played well enough to win the game, but we just didn't finish our opportunities and we gave up two goals that should have never been in the back of our net," he said. "The team has the ability to come together completely by playoffs and finish strong for the season, but we just need to put things together in all areas of the field. We just can't have the defense have a good game, the midfield have a good game, or the forwards. They will have to put it together at the same time. The season is running out."

               Joey Rasnic and Jesus Alvarado shared time in net, each collecting eight saves. Rasnic gave up one goal, while Alvarado gave up two goals.

               The loss drops the Cougars to 2-7 in conference play and 6-8-1 overall. Otero moves to 6-1-1 in conference and 10-2-2 overall. WNCC will look to get back on the winning track on Saturday when they host Western Wyoming Community College at 2 p.m. in the team's final regular season contest. The Cougar women will also host Western Wyoming beginning at 11 a.m.

WNCC volleyball tops Otero for 26th win of season

               LA JUNTA, Colo. -- THe Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team keeps rolling along after picking up their 18th straight sweep with a 25-16, 25-17, 25-15 win over Otero Junior College on Friday night.

               The top-ranked Cougars pushed their record to 26-0 overall and 3-0 in the sub-region with the win and they did it with a another balanced offensive attack.

               Debora Araujo and Danika Youngblood each had double-doubles in the match. Araujo finished with 14 kills, 10 digs and two blocks, while Youngblood had 12 kills, 10 digs and two blocks.

               WNCC also received standout performances from Lais Soares with nine kills, Dani Grace with nine digs, Alex Rivera with 18 digs, Tasha Meyer with four aces and four digs, and Fernanda Goncalves with 39 set assists.

               The Cougars will finish off the southern Colorado sub-region swing with a 2 p.m. contest at Lamar Community College on Saturday before facing Eastern Wyoming Wyoming College on Tuesday in Torrington, Wyo.

WNCC picks up 25th win of season over Trinidad State

                 TRINIDAD, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team received a 16-kill performance from Danika Youngblood and the Cougars rolled to their 25^th win of the season with a 25-13, 25-10, 25-21 sweep over Trinidad State Junior College.

                The sweep extends the top-ranked Cougars game winning streak to 52 sets. The Cougars will continue its southern Colorado south-sub-region road swing with a contest at Otero Junior College Friday night before taking on Lamar Community College on Saturday.

                It took awhile to the Cougars to get going in each of the three sets, but once they did, they performed well.

                In the opening set, Trinidad trailed 7-5 and 10-8 before the Cougars opened up the offense in grabbing an 18-11 lead and led by 23-13 before Youngblood served the final two points of the set.

                WNCC dominated the second set rolling to 20-7 lead behind some big kills from freshman Alyssa Ostrander. Youngblood came back with two big kills to put WNCC up 23-9 before Taylor VanderWerff closed out the win with a smashing kill.

                The Cougars dominated the third set early on, rolling to a 17-10 lead behind seven straight points from Alyssa Olson. After two Megan Johnson kills to push the lead t0 19-12, the Trojans started to make a move, cutting the deficit to 22-19. WNCC came back as Abbey Wade had a backrow kill to help the Cougars to their 25^th straight win.

                A number of Cougars stood out. Youngblood finished with a double-double with 12 digs and 16 kills, while Ostrander finished with eight kills and three blocks. Also standing out for the Cougars was Johnson with 10 kills; Debora Araujo with 11 digs and six kills; Alex Rivera with eight digs; Fernanda Goncalves with seven digs, 25 set assists and three blocks; and Olson with 20 set assists.

                The two matches this weekend can be watched on the Internet at sports.wncc.edu or at www.ihigh.com/bigtimesmalltown.

WNCC men get offensive, blow past NJC 7-1

                STERLING, Colo. – Jose Netto and Baboucarr Sarr each scored two goals and the Western Nebraska Community College picked up a 7-1 Region IX win over Northeastern Junior College in a contest where 25 mph winds played a role in the decision.

                The win, however, was huge for the Cougars as they are still alive for a possible first-round home playoff contest as they move to 2-6 on the season, just two games behind Northwest Wyoming and Western Wyoming Community College, who each have four wins in conference play.

                The Cougars have just two regional contests left, beginning Saturday against defending Region IX champion Otero Junior College at noon followed by the team’s final regular season contest on Oct. 15. Both are home contests at the Landers Soccer Complex.

                WNCC coach Todd Rasnic said this was a much needed win for his squad.

                “We played pretty good. We didn’t score a lot in the first half while we were against the wind,” Rasnic said. “So, we made some adjustments at halftime where I put five midfielders in. We started playing more on the ground, getting behind their defenders.”

                WNCC wasted little time in taking control as Seedy Ali-Sarr opened the scoring in the third minute as he took a corner kick from Manolo Garcia-Oronez and put the ball in the back of the net. The Cougars went up 2-0 in the 22^nd minute as Jose Netto scored off an assist from Baboucarr Sarr.

                NJC’s goal in the 38^th minute was an own goal for a 2-1 halftime lead.

                The Cougars opened the scoring in the second half with five goals. Netto got things started just two minutes into the contest, netting his second goal off an assist from Adhemar Lino. Baboucarr Sarr scored back-to-back goals to put the Cougars up 5-1. His first goal came in the 10^th minute off an assist from Christian Coronado, while his second goal game in the 67^th minute.

                Erwin Sanchez scored the team’s seventh goal off an assist from Netto and Kyle Gonzalez, while the final goal came from the foot of Jacob Santos off an assist from Gonzalez.

                WNCC outshot the Plainsmen 19-4, including 12 shots on frame. Joey Rasnic started in goal for the Cougars, while Jesus Alvarado was in net the second half. Each goalkeeper had one save.

                Rasnic said that everyone played in the match, which helped save the teams’ legs for the big regional contest on Saturday.

                “What was important today is that every single player got into the game and played at least 20 minutes,” he said. “That helped us a lot. Saturday’s contest will be a tough game.”

                Also on Saturday, AYSO players that wear their uniforms can get into the contest for free.

WNCC volleyball team wins Ozfest Invite

LIBERAL, Kan. – Western Nebraska Community College’s Danika Youngblood earned MVP honors and the Cougar volleyball team captured the championship of the Ozfest Invitational Saturday in Liberal, Kan.

The top-ranked Cougars captured two more sweeps in going to 24-0 on the season. The Cougars opened the day with a 25-20, 25-13, 25-15 win over No. 17 Missouri State-West Plains. They then faced Seward County Community for the championship, dropping the host team 25-15, 26-24, 25-15.

In the championship match, the Cougars trailed 22-16 in the second set and came back to win the set 26-24. Seward had set point but couldn’t get the deciding point. WNCC has now won 49 straight sets. The last time they have dropped a set was against College of Southern Idaho back on Sept. 3.

Against MSU-West Plains, Debora Araujo ahd 16 digs, 13 kills and two aces, while Youngblood had nine kills. Also for the Cougars, Megan Johnson had seven kills and two aces; Fernanda Goncalves had nine digs, three blocks, three aces and 31 set assists; and Alex Rivera had 15 digs.

In the championship match, Youngblood had 13 kills and 10 digs; Araujo had 15 kills, 11 digs and two aces; Lais Soares had seven kills; Johnson had five kills, two blocks and two aces; Jodi Huddleston had four kills; Dani Grace had 10 digs; Goncalves had 43 set assists and two blocks; and Rivera had 15 digs and three aces.

Besides Youngblood being named the tourney MVP, Araujo and Goncalves each made the all-tournament team.

WNCC women top Cloud County 4-3

               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."

WNCC men fall to Cloud County 2-0

The Western Nebraska Community College men's soccer team couldn't get their offense untracked against a talented Cloud County Community College team in falling to the Thunderbirds 2-0 in action Tuesday at the Landers Soccer Complex.
               The Cougar men were outshot 13-6 in the contest and had just two shots in the second half in falling to the Concordia, Kan., team.
               "I thought we played OK. We really, through the middle and the final third of the field, didn't get a lot going today," WNCC coach Todd Rasnic said. "We didn't adjust to the style of defense they were playing so we found ourselves in a bad situation trying to get behind their backs.
               "We made some adjustments at halftime and thought we might get some more success using a different style of attack, but unfortunately we weren't able to get some goals in. It is a 1-0 game really because we gave them the second goal."
               Cloud County's Luke Huggett scored both goals for the Thunderbirds. the first came with 25 minutes left in the first half as Huggett took a pass from Pedro Miranda for the first half goal. The Cougars held their own the rest of the way, trailing 1-0 at intermission.
               WNCC had a prime scoring opportunity in the second half as the Cougars had their first shot of the half with 21 minutes off a free kick, but it went high. The Cougars, however, kept Cloud County in check, giving them a chance to tie the contest. That was all erased with 8:55 to play when Huggett scored his second goal to put the Thunderbirds up 2-0.
               "Overall I thought the guys played with more intensity and heart today and that is what I was looking for," Rasnic said. "I thought they showed determination today and at moments they showed quite a bit of skill. We are still in a process of putting it all together. We have a couple more games to put it all together and hopefully we will get to a point where we can play with these teams. Cloud County is a solid team. They are ranked nationally."
               Joey Rasnic started in net for the Cougars, giving up a goal and making three saves. Jesus Alvarado went the second half in goal, allowing a goal and making five saves.
               WNCC will be back in action Wednesday when they travel to Sterling, Colo., to face Northeastern Junior College in a Region IX contest at 2 p.m. The contest can be heard live on the Internet at www.ihigh.com/bigtimesmalltown or at sports.wncc.net.