WNC women's premier soccer team welcomes students

Many talented young soccer players give up their sport once they graduate from high school. But with Western Nevada College forming a club program with premier, competitive club and intramural teams, students can now enjoy the sport while working toward a college degree, at whatever level of play fits them.

Coach Ian Hill has been busy developing players for the opening of the fall season schedule that begins in September for the women.

"It's going well," Hill said of putting together the 25-player premier team. "We are getting players from Carson City, Dayton, Reno, Las Vegas and Susanville."

Participation in some level of soccer is encouraged for any WNC student enrolled in at least six units. Students who are interested in playing the sport need to fill out an interest form here.

Among Hill's women's recruits for the premier team are midfielder Alexys Hood, who played at El Camino High School in Oceanside, Calif.; midfielder Mayra Olivares, a four-year Carson High School varsity player and elite club team member who just finished her freshman year at WNC; WNC student Jaquelin Martinez, a striker who played competitively in Northern Nevada for 10 years; and Ana Caren Arellano.

"We're just excited about the young ladies, not only their talent and ability but their leadership," Hill said. "They are going to be strong additions to the campus and the community."

Hood competed on an elite under-18 team after graduating from high school and she participated in Missouri tournaments attended by nationally ranked teams.

"She was told by somebody that she couldn't play and couldn't make it," Hill said. "I said, 'Are you going to let those words stop you?' She said, 'I'm not going to let those words stop me.'"

Given the chance to try out for the Wildcats, Hood made the most of the opportunity.

"She came to the first women's ID camp and she shined, scoring from all over the field, dribbling, attacking, aggressive and a phenomenal teammate."

To now have the chance to play college soccer, Hood is grateful for the program and her teammates.
"It means a great deal because my fortitude as a player and as a person has gotten me the opportunity to play with these wonderful women," Hood said.

Olivares' love of soccer began at an early age.

"I started playing soccer at the age of 8," said Olivares, who eventually became captain of the Carson Senators and fielded offers from NCAA Division II and NAIA programs.

"Hill said. "That dream of being a college soccer player got put on the shelf for about nine months.
"When I first started reaching out in the community, everybody said her name. 'You better go talk to Mayra. Find Mayra.'

"She has a clear understanding of life and a clear understanding of the path she'd like to take."

Olivares' commitment to soccer has only been superseded by her devotion to education.

"Throughout high school I had a 3.5 GPA and I ended my freshman year of college with a 3.0 GPA," said the Associate of Arts student. "This program is great. I have a soccer future and maybe it will spark something great for other people."

Martinez has attended WNC for two years and aspires to become a registered nurse.
"(I've) made it onto the Dean's List by maintaining a 3.5 GPA, juggling all this while working full time and being a mom," she said.

Hill saw Martinez's supreme talent firsthand in a local adult league.

"She's an outstanding player, aggressive and has a phenomenal shot," Hill said. "She came to our ID camp and you could see the ability. She plants and drives the ball with both feet."

Arellano hasn't had the opportunities to play competitive soccer like her teammates, but Hill is excited that she's now part of the team.

"A great player who hasn't had structure, that's a golden nugget," Hill said. "That player that I saw out there running around doing all of those amazing things has never really been coached?"
Given that chance as an adult, Arellano is ready to run with the opportunity.

"Now, I feel I can have a second family," said an emotional Arellano. "This is my first chance. I'm going to take it and prove people wrong."

The women's premier team opens its season against College of Southern Nevada on Sept. 16 in Las Vegas.

WNC's premier team will compete in the Western States Soccer Association, which includes 67 colleges and universities such as Arizona State, Boise State, Fresno State, Oregon State, San Jose State, San Diego State, Stanford, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, USC, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCLA, UTEP and Washington State.

For WNC's premier and competitive teams, Hill plans to arrange home-and-away matches against Stanford, California, Nevada, St Mary's, UC Davis, Sacramento State and Sonoma State. The Wildcats' premier teams will have the opportunity to contend for the National Intercollegiate Recreational Sports Association national championship in November.

WNC Student Life will engage other students on campus in an For more information about any of the programs, contact Hill at 775-350-0276 or at Ian.Hill@wnc.edu.