Kennedy Lawes and the rest of the WNCC sophomores remembered last season when Trinidad State Junior College ended the Cougars season in the regional tournament play-in game.
Saturday, Lawes and the rest of the Cougars laid down the law in posting a deceive 4-0 win over the Trojans in the first-round regional tournament contest at Landers Soccer Complex.
Saturday's win moves WNCC into the regional tournament next Friday when they take on top-seeded Otero Junior College in Denver. WNCC is 1-0-1 against Otero this season. The other contest in the regional tournament will pit Laramie County Community College against Utah State-Eastern.
Enough about what is coming up for the Cougars, it was the determination the Cougar ladies put on the field Saturday afternoon that was outstanding. In fact, it was the third straight contest the Cougars have scored four goals.
Lawes said the team wanted the win and they were ready.
"I thought we came out really hard and proved that we wanted to win and that we wanted it more," she said. "This win feels awesome because last year we lost 4-0 and to beat them this year 4-0 was unreal."
WNCC really dominated play even though Trinidad had the wind advantage in the first half. WNCC had 25 shots compared to just seven for the Trojans.
Even in the first half, with the Cougars shooting into a stiff win that was coming out of the west, they had plenty of scoring chances early as Eden Washington had a good shot with 29 minutes left in the opening half but missed. A minute later, Lawes had a one-on-one shot that went wide.
WNCC finally connected with the back of the net as Lawes delivered a precision pass to Janie McAmis, who found the back of the net with 20:58 left in the opening half. That is where it stayed heading into halftime.
Lawes said they knew what they had to do in the first half going against a gusty wind in the first half. And, she added, they didn't let the win dictate their play.
"We knew we were in trouble when we were going against the wind at first," she said. "We knew they could come out and get the upper hand, but once we took away that first one it was great to get that first goal."
The second half, when the Cougars had the wind, they continued their dominating offensive play. Rhiannon Castle pushed the Cougars lead to 2-0 with an individual effort that saw plenty of jukes, finally putting the ball in the back of the net just 12 minutes into the half.
WNCC's third and fourth goals came three minutes apart. Lawes made it 3-0 as Castle delivered a perfect pass to her for the goal with 15:41 left.
Lawes connected on her second goal of the match and this time it was an ESPN highlight-reel shot. Aiyanna Grubac dished the ball back to Lawes who fired a 25-foot shot that hit the bullseye – the back of the net like a seasoned marksman for the 4-0 lead.
Lawes said the key to the win was how they possessed the ball.
"Possession and playing the direct balls was key," she said. "We also were outrunning their back line and we were finishing our shots."
While they only made four goals out of their 25 shots, just knowing that they were getting those chances did help.
"Even if we are missing shots it still shows that we do have a chance because of all the opportunities," she said.
Now, the Cougars will head to the Region IX tournament with hopes of bring back the program's third Region IX title. WNCC last won the regional title in 2008 when they defeated LCCC at Rock Springs, Wyoming. The Cougars first title was in 2003. Right know the team has found some momentum, having scored 12 goals in their last three matches.
"We found our momentum," she said. "And once we got it, we are putting it away."
They hope to continue that momentum next week. Lawes said they have to come out with the same attitude as today's match.
"We have to come out head strong and play front foot," she said. "We have to show them who is the better team and who wants it more."