Western Nevada women's soccer dominating

The Western Nevada College women's soccer team completed an opening dominant weekend by routing Shasta Community College 9-0 on Saturday to win the Shasta Tournament in Redding, Calif.

Western Nevada (2-0) was coming off a 6-0 win over Butte Community College on Friday.

Douglas High graduate Rachel VanRoy scored one of the goals for Western Nevada. Cassie Romeo and Ashley Winter each scored twice, while Virginia Loyola, Alexia Balmaseda, Kim Duke and Devon Wellington all scored for the Wildcats.

Kalah Minter posted the shutout in goal.

"We just did a really good job of keeping the ball away from Shasta," Wildcats coach Hillary Arthur said. "Shasta didn't really have any offensive threats. We really maintained control of the game.

"The midfield definitely tightened up and won the 50-50 balls, pretty much dictating the pace of the game. We passed the ball so well. They got pretty frustrated."

Arthur said her team should receive a much tougher test this weekend when it travels to Southern California to play in the Victor Valley College Cup. Western Nevada will play Antelope Valley Community College and Grossmont Community College this Friday.

"Next weekend will be more of a challenge," Arthur said. "This was a good weekend for us but we've got to go back to work and prepare for next weekend."

FRIDAY

Western Nevada opened with an impressive 6-0 win over Butte Community College.

"Our midfield definitely improved their game from last week," said Wildcats coach Hillary Arthur, comparing her team's effort to a 3-0 loss in a scrimmage last Saturday against American River Community College.

Arthur said Marina Tharin and Duke were especially dominant at center midfield. "They owned the center midfield area," Arthur said. "Marina Tharin and Kim Duke had an awesome game."

Arthur also praised the play of Van Roy, Loyola, Nicole Garn and Wellington in the midfield.

"We had a really good, solid 90-minute effort," Arthur said. "We really did a good job of winning the 50-50 balls."

Garn, Duke, Balmaseda, Romeo, Jordan Forman and Douglas product Jessi Chitwood all scored for Western Nevada. Goalie Allie Otto posted the shutout as the Wildcats outshot Butte 30-5.

Arthur said it was a physical game, but the Wildcats were able to control the tempo, which frustrated Butte.