Fallon Vipers conclude competitive summer soccer season

There’s a reason the Greenwave girls soccer program has seen a resurgence over the last couple of seasons.

Fallon, which competes in the 3A, had one of its best falls in a decade, winning a playoff game and coming one win short of reaching state for the first time in school history.

Since 2018, the Sierra Nevada FC-Fallon Vipers soccer team has been giving local athletes an opportunity to improve their game in the offseason, competing against teams from surrounding states over the summer. Since its inception with three players, it has grown to 28, the Vipers have placed or won eight tournaments, including winning the Carson City Shootout and a semifinalist performance in California this year.

“Our mission is to foster the growth of our players not only as athletes but also as individuals, emphasizing the development of character, competence and cognitive skills,” Vipers coach Miguel Orduna said. “This philosophy has enabled us to cultivate a robust team culture, empowering our players to compete against some of the most formidable teams in California, Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Nevada.”

For this year’s group, which included 19 players from Fallon and eight from Fernley, Elko, Spring Creek, Carson and Reno, the focus continued to be playing against top competition in the region.

“The synergy among our players has led to impressive performances, including several championships against top U.S. club soccer teams in our region,” Orduna said. “As we continue to expand our roster, we remain focused on nurturing the next generation of talent, with a younger team poised to come together and contribute to our ongoing success.”

Besides the championships, one of the highlights from this season was when Fallon defeated Truckee River FC at the CUFA tournament at Lake Tahoe. Truckee, which has historically been a state contender in high school competition, gave Fallon one of its biggest challenges this summer with the Vipers coming out on top, 2-1.

Outside of the matches, though, Orduna and coach Lance Lattin encountered challenges with the players’ schedules but they prioritized tournament participation over practices, which worked in their favor. Orduna said Lattin, who has been involved with girls soccer in Fallon for decades, has been invaluable with his mentorship and leadership that have contributed to success both with the Vipers and Greenwave.

“Our athletes demonstrated remarkable resilience and commitment, competing at a high level even in the absence of full attendance at every practice or tournament,” said Orduna, who stressed that the team remains focused on continuous improvement and development of the players and soccer community. “Looking ahead, we are optimistic about the future of the Churchill County High School soccer program. With our competitive team, the SNFC-Fallon Vipers, continuing to build on their knowledge, skills and the culture we have established, we anticipate a seamless integration with the CCHS soccer program and their leadership. As CCHS competes in the 2A and 3A leagues, we are confident that they will make a significant impact and aim for a top-three finish, positioning them for a strong run at the state level.”

With the high school now in full swing – the first official day of practice for soccer was Saturday – Orduna is excited to see how the transition from his summer program will impact Macy Myers’ Greenwave program this fall. Under the “3 C’s” of a player (character, competence and character), Orduna and Lattin have watched this group of girls improve since they were in elementary school with Orduna saying they focused on the many principles of play that provide a comprehensive framework for their growth.

“The knowledge and skills they have acquired will enable them to seamlessly adapt to any program or coaching style they encounter in high school,” Orduna said. “Furthermore, the strong culture they have built together will serve as a solid foundation, equipping them to integrate what they have learned into their upcoming high school seasons. We have no doubt that the lessons from this season will empower them to excel both on and off the field.”

SIERRA NEVADA FC-FALLON VIPERS ROSTER

Shaylee Orduna

Alexandra Perez

Ambreea Snodgrass

Emma Lewis

Hannah Montalvo

Isabel Linares

Jenna Steffens

Keana Williams

Kaitlin Goings

Karlie Simper

Kylee Simper

Kortnie Simper

Kaylee Craig

Keily Ugalde

LeAnne Wallace

Elizabeth Bergman

Payton Ocegura

Taylor Perry

Yasmine Lacente

Allison Peachay (Carson)

Claire Billings (Carson)

Elena Melgarejo (Carson)

Janelle Garcia (Elko)

Jacey linguist (Spring Creek)

Jillian Gonzales (Fernley)

Paige McCallum (Fernley)

Lola Castillo (Reno)

Bryani Ono (Douglas)