Wildcats teach lessons on soccer and life

The Western Nevada College girls' soccer team hosted a day of soccer clinics and community outreach at the Edmonds Sports Complex. Amidst the Beckham replica jerseys and orange slice smiles stood 18 members of the squad teaching five- to 17-year-olds drills and skills - real-time role models for Carson youth.

"I like the soccer players teaching us here," said Carson's Elijah Taylor, 10. "It's cool to see a (college) team play in person. I want to try to play through high school and into college - like them."

Coach Hillary Arthur, on the cusp of her third season at the helm of the lady Wildcats' program, said leading a team of a two-year school is a departure of sorts from her last position - an assistant at Chico State.

"We want to make sure these girls are getting what they need in the classroom and that helps translate to the field," she said. "As a two-year-school, it's nice to see some people go on and play at the next level, but we're really setting them up to succeed by going on and finishing their degree."

As testimony to that philosophy, the Wildcats lost 15 returners - all of whom moved on to finish their upper division classes at four-year institutions.

"I think a day like this where the girls see how they can make a difference in the community really helps," Arthur said.

During drills the lady Wildcats showed more than 100 Carson youth soccer players that their claim of having already gelled as a team were not unfounded.

"I really like all these girls so much already - we've come together pretty quickly, like a family," said Alexis Balmaseda, 18, a freshman forward from Las Vegas. "My club team told me about this school - and it's nice being up here.

"Vegas is kind of a busy 24-hour town where nothing ever closes. Here, there's a really good sense of community and it feels like there's a lot of closeness."

Balmaseda, who wants to be a physical therapist or an architect, would like to return home for her final two years of eligibility and play for UNLV.

Carson resident Allie Otto, one of three returners from last year's team, said this is her last season of playing soccer - regardless.

She credits the team for helping her balance her busy schedule, which includes taking EMT classes. She eventually wants to become a paramedic.

"I had a chance to come here after high school," the 19-year-old goal keeper said. "I thought about it and I didn't want my soccer career to be over quite yet. I mean, I got the chance to play soccer in college and get an education; not many people can say that."

Parents watching from the sidelines showered praise on the girls for committing themselves to a Sunday for the community. One said he'd heard the team was practicing twice a day during the week and marveled at the level of commitment.

"You can tell they work hard - both the kids out here and the (WNC) athletes," said Gardnerville parent Fritz Schweigert. "It's good to see that we have a local team here too. It lets my kids know about the possibilities and where they can go and what they can do with soccer."

Where the Wildcats will go this season is anyone's guess, but coach Arthur predicts results similar to the last two seasons - winners on and off the field.

"We won the SWAC region last year, and were tied for fifth in the nation with overall GPA," she said. "Getting a four-year degree is important. We're here to prepare these players academically and athletically.

"Sometimes people are surprised we have a team, but I think we've got some great young women, and it's starting to get noticed.

• Andrew Pridgen can be reached at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com.

See the Wildcats play

Catch the Wildcats' home opener at 4 p.m. Sept. 14 against Lassen College at the Edmonds Sports Complex.