COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The Western Nebraska Community College women's soccer team opened the season in grand fashion, earning an 1-0 overtime win over No. 3 Iowa Western Community College Friday in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

                Rafaela Passos, the sophomore captain, booted a penalty kick with about four minutes to play in overtime for the game winner.

                WNCC coach Todd Rasnic said it is a big win for the women's soccer team.

                "The win is as big as it gets unless we play No. 2 tomorrow," Rasnic said. "The girls played with heart. They played with talent. They worked harder than the opponent and won the game."

                Rasnic said the key was the play of the defense, especially Laramie Lake, the Cheyenne, Wyoming, native, in net. Lake made six big saves in the first half and then made a save each in the next two periods – the 45-minute second half and the 10-minute overtime period.

                Rasnic said the defense played lights out.

                "We played OK. We were getting dominated in the first half. We made some adjustments in the second half and the girls matched their numbers with what they were doing and we kind of took the game over," he said. "Laramie Lake, in goal, was outstanding. And the back four [kept their offense] from getting around them. They were just solid all the way across. Thais saved our butts five or six times in the game just coming across with her speed and shutting down their strikers."

                The four defenders that was stellar Rasnic mentioned were Passos, Raquel Ferreira, Thais Nayara, and Litzi Delarosa.

                "Lake and Thais were the players of the game," Rasnic said. "It was a good game and I thought it went better than I thought."

                WNCC finished with six shots on net. Destiny Mueller had three shots while Bethany Fuchs had two shots.

                WNCC finished with seven corner kicks in the match compared to four for Iowa Western.

                Lake had nine saves in net.

                WNCC, 1-0, will have less than 24 hours before taking on Barton Community College Saturday morning, a team that had Friday off and received honorable mention votes.

                "The problem is duplicating the passion," Rasnic said. "It is going to be a difficult because Barton is very good as well. Barton is just driving in and we are 24 hours from playing again. Tomorrow could be a tough day. We will see what we can get out of them."

WNCC men fall to Iowa Western

                COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The Western Nebraska Community College men's soccer team couldn't find any offense in dropping a 6-0 contest to Iowa Western Community College Friday afternoon in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

                WNCC head coach Todd Rasnic said the score isn't an indication of how good this team will be.

                "I thought the guys played where I thought we would be right now," he said. "I didn't think we would get six goals put in on us, but I changed some players around after they got a lead on us. I don't think the score is accurate to where we will be later in the season."

                Iowa Western took a 3-0 lead at halftime and added three more late goals for the win.

                WNCC will be back in action Saturday when they face No. 12 Illinois Central College.