WNCC battles to a tie with Cochise

It was survival of the fittest on Friday at Edmonds Park and after 110-plus minutes mots of the players from both teams managed to still be standing.

Western Nevada Community College and Arizona's Cochise battled to a 0-0 tie in a well-played a physical game. Cochise was coming off a 4-0 win over Feather River and WNCC (1-0-1) had beaten Feather River 5-1, so it figured the two teams were evenly matched and the game lived up to expecations.

"I'd say we were evenly matched," WNCC coach Hillary Arthur said. "They've got a very tough squad. I think Cochise did a great job. We did just as well. I thought we played a solid 100 (actually 110) minutes. I can't pinpoint one time where we had a letdown."

Cochise did well to keep the game tied after playing 10-on-11 for the final 20 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime after being given a red card. Helena Appiagyei was able to put several scares into WNCC even when Cochise was a player down.

But the Wildcats still had their share of chances, outshooting Cochise 24-12. "We had some great opportunities, but the ball couldn't find the back of the net," Arthur said. I'm proud of every one of them. They played 110 percent."

WNCC also had to overcome the loss of several of its top players. Virginia Loyola had to come out with an injury, but was able to return to the game.

Melissa Goldfin and Dominique Glude weren't as fortunate. Goldfin missed much of the second half with an ankle injury and Glude hurt her arm making a hard tackle in overtime.

Glude said she felt a pop in her forearm and was taken to Carson-Tahoe Hospital. Arthur said she was hopeful that Glude could at least return for the rematch on Sept. 13 at Cochise.

Despite the length of the game, Cochise being a player down and WNCC going without Glude and Goldfin, the pace picked up considerably in overtime.

At the end of regulation, WNCC survived a scare when Appiagyei's cross sailed past the goal. In the first 10 minute overtime, Appiagyei missed on a shot just wide from the right side.

Allie Otto then had to come out to stop Appiagyei from scoring on a breakaway and Meghan Olsen went on to clear the ball. In the second overtime, Amanda Thielhart headed the ball off the left post off of a corner kick and Otto was able to fall on the ball before Cochise could score on the rebound. Otto finished with nine saves.

"She stepped up big in the net," Arthur said. "I think she got all those freshman jitters out this game."

"She's a dangerous player," Arthur also said about Appiagyei. "We had a hard time handling her."

Savannah Gray, Phalon Mauntel, Jessica Maule, Christina Bradshaw, Loyola, Courtney Lenhart, Courtney Hayes and Goldfin all took shots for WNCC, which next plays on Thursday at Shasta.