TORRINGTON  – The Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) soccer teams opened practice over the weekend with plenty of talent on the men’s and women’s programs.

The Cougar men return 13 players from a year ago and welcome another 14 freshmen to the roster. The Cougar men went 8-5-3 a year ago and fell in the Region IX semifinals to Otero College.

“The team is actually talented, but talent is nothing without work,” sophomore Paul Denz of Laufenburg, Germany, said. “We, as a team, have to lock in for the next months and win every game.”

Both the men and women have only had a few practices so far as they get ready for their first competition of the season on Saturday, August 10, when they have their annual alumni game-scrimmage with the women’s game at 1 p.m. and the men’s game at 3 p.m.

“Practices have been going good so far,” Denz said. “We got to help the new players to perform well in the new environment. If everyone brings in every single session his best, we as a team are going to be successful.”

The women’s team also have a lot of returners as nine ladies return from a year ago along with a freshmen class that has 10 players coming into the fold.

Valentina Cueva, a freshman center midfielder from Lima, Peru, said they have had two friendly games over the weekend and will hit the ground running in practices this week.

“Practices have been going well,” she said. “We had two friendly games and that way we could know more about each other.”

 The Cougar women went 4-7-2 a year ago and lost in the first-round of the Region IX playoffs to Laramie County Community College.

The goal this year, according to Cueva, is to bring the Region IX title back to WNCC. The last time the women won regionals was 2008.

The women return seven players that saw a lot of action a year ago with the Villagomez cousins and sisters leading the way. Emily Villagomez is a goalkeeper from Aurora, Colorado, while her cousins – Ashley and Maria Villagomez – are sisters from Compeche, Mexico. The women also have Lizbeth Barrera of Aurora, Colorado, Ariel Veliz of Wellington, Colorado, Alejandra Rodriquez of Quitor, Ecuador, along with Cueva.

Yasmin Urbina played a few matches a year ago before injuring her knee and was sidelined. Jade Brothwell is ready to go after redshirting a year ago. Brothwell is from Goshen County.

The women also have 10 freshmen including Scottsbluff’s Mariah Russel.

After the alumni game on Saturday, the Cougars will open the regular season on Thursday August 22 when they host Utah State Eastern with the women going at 10 a.m. and the men facing Utah State Eastern at 12 p.m.