Last season the Western Nebraska Community College women's soccer team started the season slow and finished with a bang in qualifying for the Region IX playoffs.

                This season, the Cougars want to start and finish strong and the season starts this weekend with a pair of Region IX contests when they host Trinidad State Junior College at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and Otero Junior College on Saturday at 2 p.m. The contests will take place at the Landers Soccer Complex.

                The matches won't be easy either. Trinidad State is 2-0 on the season after opening the season last weekend with a 2-0 win over Ranger College and a 4-2 win over Garden City Community College.

                Otero enters with a 0-1-1 record, tying No. 12 Iowa Western Community College 2-2 and falling to No. 16 Johnson County 2-1.

                "We are very excited to get the season started," sophomore Aiyanna Grubac said. "This weekend will be tough because Trinidad and Otero are our biggest competition along with LCCC. They both are really aggressive and strong teams."

                Last season, the Cougars finished with a 5-8-2 mark, but it was their play at the end of the season that got them to the playoffs, where they tied national-ranked Laramie County, capping the year at 2-1-2.

                Grubac said last season is still on their minds, especially since Trinidad State ended the Cougars' season in the first-round of the playoffs.

                "None of us like losing, especially the sophomores," she said. "A lot of us are frustrated because we were losing the pre-season games, so I am hoping that once we win one game that will give us momentum to keep fighting and pushing more."

                The competition they have played in the three scrimmages against four-year schools will definitely help them as they enter Region IX competition against teams that are on the same level of the four-year schools.

                "I think those scrimmages set us up for how aggressive some of the teams are," Grubac said. "The teams we played are four-year and they are aggressive and some of the junior college teams are aggressive too."

                This year's squad has plenty of potential. Along with Grubac, there are seven other returning sophomores on the squad. They include Isabel Hunter and Rhiannon Castle of England, Chelsey Keefer of Sandy, Utah, Sydnee Edwards and Kennedy Lawes of Kaysville, Utah, Hannah Wilke of North Platte, and Marissa Colgrove of Casper, Wyoming.

                Also a sophomore is Haley Bell of Roy, Utah. Bell transfers to WNCC from Iowa Lakes Community College.

                Grubac said there is plenty of skill on this year's team.

                "We do have some potential with what we have been working on," she said. "When we calm down and play we are fine."

                The newcomers are showing plenty of potential. The newcomers include Erin ZIgmont and Ali Green of Casper, Wyoming, Emily Hanshaw and Eden Washington of England, Janie McAmis of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, Karrigan Hansen of West Jordan, Utah, Shelby Neubert of Loveland, Colorado, Jesse Michel of Logan, Utah, and Sierra Benavidez of Sterling, Colo.

                Gruback said this team has plenty of positives going on both offensively and defensively.

                "I think this year we have better strength when we cross the ball in because we have girls that can put and place the ball into the box for the players running in," she said. "I think that is a positive and we also have some girls that are confident with shooting."

                The question will be goalkeeping since WNCC has two freshmen keepers in Zigmont and Benavidez. Grubac said they both are doing well.

                "They are doing alright," she said. "They both still need a little bit of work with their hands and decision making when releasing the ball, but they both have potential."

                Grubac is also impressed by the play of several players.

                "I think Jesse [Michel] in defense at centerback is really stepping up. She is a very strong defender," she said. "Izzy [Isabel Hunter] has made a huge change from last year and is coming in as a really strong player."

                The Cougar women have just six home contests. After this weekend, they will have a weekend off before they travel to Sheridan College and Northwest Wyoming. The Cougars will be back at home Wednesday, Sept. 23 when they host Western Wyoming Community College.