Wildcats fall to fourth-ranked Laramie

Wildcats fall to fourth-ranked Laramie

Appeal Staff Report

The Western Nevada College soccer team's 6-1 loss to fourth-ranked Laramie (Wyo.) could be compared with a nasty flu bug.

"I'm kind of glad we got that out of our system," Wildcats coach Hillary Arthur said. "We can turn the page and go on to the next thing."

Even though Laramie led only 12-9 in shots at neutral-site Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City, Utah, it was a matter of quality - and a little bit of spin - and not so much quantity in Sunday's game.

"It wasn't like we got blown out," Arthur said. "The score wasn't a reflection of how well we competed with them. We came out a little flat. We're a young team. It was just that their goals went in and our didn't."

The Wildcats, already without midfielder Ashley Winter, who was out with an ankle injury, and defender Samantha Peri, who was out sick, also ended up playing short-handed after midfielder Marina Therin was given two yellow cards and ejected in the second half.

Laramie led 2-0 at the half and had added a goal before Wildcats freshman forward Alexia Balmaseda got her team on the board to cut the lead to 3-1. Then Therin was given the hook, leaving WNC with 10 players on the field.

"(Laramie) was able to capitalize on that," Arthur said. "It was rough missing (Therin). With Sam Peri out sick, it was a rough weekend for us. We were missing some key players this weekend."

Kalah Minter was the goalkeeper for the Wildcats, who fell to 8-4 on the season and are 0-2-1 in Scenic West Athletic Conference play.

"They scored three goals off of corner kicks," Arthur said. Laramie had about eight players in our box and rushed the corner kicks. "

Arthur said it was just one of those days for the Wildcats. She said Jessi Chitwood kicked a ball that bounced along the inside of the crossbar, but the apparent goal was not called.

"One thing about our team was that our girls never gave up - even with Marina out," Arthur said. "I'm really proud of our team. It's a young team with no experience under their belts like Laramie (has). It would've been easy to throw in the towel. I'm very happy with them."

In their next game the Wildcats will travel to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to meet SWAC rival North Idaho College Friday at 4 p.m.

WNC played to a 1-1 draw with SLCC in its last league match.