Scottsbluff's Mariah Russel didn't have a hard decision in picking where she wanted to play soccer at the college level.

                After attending Western Nebraska Community College soccer camps since she was little, she had a dream of playing college soccer and now she gets to play for the Cougars for the next two years after attending their camps and working with the coaches.

                Russel signed to be a Cougar earlier this month and is grateful for the opportunity and said it was an easy decision since she had her mind set on WNCC.

                "I went to a lot of camps and the coaches were interested in me and I decided to stay home," she said. "Honestly, (leaving home) is not ready for me yet and I decided to stay here for another two years. It is a good college and I like the campus a lot. I feel comfortable with everything there."

                Russel said she is elated that she gets to play the sport that she loves for another two years after high school.

I am so excited (to play college soccer). I kept thinking that this was my last year and now I am looking forward to more years playing the game that I love," she said. "I am ready to play my last year of soccer. I am so excited for the season but I am not ready to leave here yet."

                The thing that she was attracted to the college is the coaches, the hometown appeal, and the fact that WNCC coach Todd Rasnic said his goal is to make the players better and to find them good scholarships at a four-year university or college.

                "I like that she was well coached. By the time she started playing and coming to camps, she has improved immensely. Some players start the game late and make significant improvements and I think she has done that," Rasnic said. "She has great vision on the field and has great size. She is strong and can take a hit. She plays with a certain amount of composure. I definitely see those qualities in her and in the next couple of years we can improve on that and find her a good place to finish at a university. For us, a lot of times, it is for us to make sure these players are moving on and getting good scholarship offers. That is our goal to bring in a kid, help her improve her game, and help her find another school."

                Scottsbluff coach Chad Larson said Russel was one of those players that stayed on course and continued getting better each year. And, because of her commitment, she earned a college scholarship.

                "Mariah is one of those players when coming in here you could see she needed a little bit of work like all freshmen coming in," he said. "She is persistent and really dedicated. She works really hard and she will be key this season. She is super coachable and she just wants to get better."

                Russel said this year's Scottsbluff could be just as good as previous years even though they lost a lot of key seniors.

                "I think we will have a pretty good team," Russel said. "We connect really well and really grow. I think we have a strong chance of making state."

                Russel will team up with former Bearcat Kate Larson and Torrington High grad Jade Brothwell next year. Both were freshmen on the Cougars this year.

                Russel is planning on majoring in Psychology at WNCC.