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The Western Nevada Community College women’s soccer team is usually playing in front of family, friends, and some of their supporters from the community. Last week, their audience was a little different -- some squirrels, deer, birds, or even a bull or two. That’s because the team kicked off their season with a three-day, 26-mile backpacking trip to Wolf Creek, near Markleeville, Calif., and the east fork of the Carson River.

“The trip allowed us to get away from the soccer field a bit and work on some team building in a different environment,” Head Coach Hillary Arthur said. “It’s a nice break from our two-a-days.”

The team has been practicing two times a day for five or six days in a row. Players then get a day off and hit the field again for another five or six days. Practices, as well as regular season games, are at the Edmonds Sports Complex.

For the last couple days, the challenge was a bit different. Players were split into groups with each team being responsible for a particular meal. “One day you might be fixing breakfast; the next day dinner,” Arthur says. “Every year, I look forward to eating dehydrated, pinto bean burritos.”

Arthur is also looking forward to building on last season’s success. The inaugural team went 6-6-3 and competed in the post-season tournament of the Scenic West Athletic Conference. “I’m very optimistic about the upcoming season,” she said. We’ve had a positive beginning, and our overall fitness and level of skills have increased.”

The Wildcats open their season on the road against Feather River College in Quincy, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 27. Their first home games is against Cochise College on September 1 at 3 p.m.

Press Release: August 15, 2006

The WNCC soccer team rests after climbing to the top of 10,000-foot Noble Peak near Markleeville. Calif.