Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Wildcat's Coutney Lenhart fights against Salt Lake Community College defender Mandy Jensen during Friday afternoon's game at Edmonds Sports Complex. WNCC won 3-2.
Even when the Western Nevada Community College women's soccer team trailed 2-0, it had no doubt what the outcome would be.
WNCC controlled the game throughout and despite falling behind 2-0, came roaring back for a 4-2 win over Salt Lake on Friday at Edmonds Park. Thanks to the sharp shooting of Courtney Lenhart, Melissa Goldfin and Hannah Lee, the Wildcats were able to pick up a huge win in the Scenic West Athletic Conference race, which figures to be a three-team affair between WNCC, Salt Lake and North Idaho.
The Wildcats (4-5-2, 2-10) have lost at North Idaho 2-0 while Salt Lake and North Idaho played to a 2-2 tie. WNCC will next play at Butte on Tuesday and before a huge showdown this Friday against North Idaho at Edmonds Park.
"Anyone who was watching this game could tell we controlled the game from the beginning and through all game," WNCC coach Hillary Arthur said. "I just coudn't sit on the side and think it would end 2-0.
"No matter how unlucky you are, you can always fight against it and the team believed it. This is an excellent outcome for us. to come back from behind 2-0 that's a lot of credit to the girls."
WNCC fell behind 1-0 when Mandy Jensen crossed a ball to Jessie Solorzano to set up a one-on-one situation with goalie Allie Otto. Solarzano beat Otto for the goal.
Otto had come out to stop another possible breakaway and also came out to punch a corner kick away, but later misjudged a ball that bounced over her hand when she came out again. Christina Bradshaw headed the ball away, but not far enough and Allie Woodward scored on the rebound to make it 2-0.
It looked like it would be 2-0 at halftime, but with two minutes left, Lenhart sent one of her sharp shots from about 25 yards into the net to make it 2-1.
Early in the second half, Bradshaw hit the left post with a shot. But with 19 minutes left, Goldfin scored ona shot from about 25 yards. Moments later, Lenhart scored on her second shot from about 25 yards to make it 3-2.
Lenhart assisted on WNCC's final goal, passing to Lee just outside the box, who was able to bend her shot perfectly into the right corner of the net.
"This win today is lifting our spirits," Lenhart said. "It was really good. It's hard to come back like that but we did a great job."
Arthur said four days of practice made a difference in her team's play. "What a difference four days of practice makes," Arthur said. "We were finally able to have four days of solid practice."
Others who took shots for WNCC included Jessica Maule, Phalon Mauntel, Virginia Loyola and Savannah Gray.
WNCC played again without defender Dominique Gloude, who was out with a knee injury. Arthur said she hopes Gloude will be able to return for North Idaho.
Arthur continued to praise the play of Meghan Olsen who has filled in for Gloude. "Meghan was solid defensively," Arthur said. "She did a great job."
•Contact Charles Whisnand at cwhisnand@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1214