The Western Nebraska Community College men's soccer team won the Region IX title a year ago and this year first-year head coach Eseah Ingram is hoping for nothing less as the Cougar men opened pre-season practice this weekend.
"Goals for the year are simple, win the Region IX & District and compete for a National Championship. Anything less is a failure," Ingram said. "As much pressure as that may bring, it's the reality of our program and our standard. We, as a program, are working hard to establish culture. Last year was great but it's in the past. This year we strive to do it all again, but even better."
The Cougars welcomed 26 players in this weekend as they started two-a-days on Saturday. The team will have a Navy and Gold scrimmage on Saturday and a scrimmage at Garden City Community College on August 13.
Ingram said practice have not been bad and he is seeing a lot of talent on the team this year.
"So far I think we have learned that we have a lot of talent and the ability to play our futbol at a high level," he said. "But there's always room for improvement and I believe my players and the coaching staff understand and are striving for that everyday so I'm excited to continue to grow and develop with this team."
The Cougar men have 10 players back from a year ago and have a roster of 16 newcomers.
The returners include goalkeepers Tomas Guzman of Buenos Aires, Brazil, and Owen Henderson of Greeley, Colorado; Yediel Hernandez of Moca, Puerto Rico; Bonheur Kitongo of Erie, Pennsylvania; Anthony Lemus of Houston, Texas; Brady Smallwood of Greeley, Colorado; Mederique Eboucle of Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Jafeth Ortega of Houston, Texas; and Jeff Laguerre of Haines City, Florida.
The newcomers on the team include Randall Jacques and David Nigolo from Montreal; Jean Wil Standly-Lord from Terrebonne, Quebec; Sean Kim from Orlando, Florida; Ever Zubia from Denver; Robert Connolly; Aurele Cuenot; Christ Aaron Kadja; Tomoaki Kamiya; Nicollas Liemira de Souza; Juan Macias; Oscar Molina; Pau Vera Montoya; Giani Nguili; Cohen Rowe; and Nicolas Selvaggio.
Ingram said the talent on the team is proper.
"Have some quality players here with solid backgrounds and it's showing in the early days consistently," he said. "The players that stayed and that have been brought in are the right players for this team."
The early season matches will be tough as they open the season August 21 and 23 in Ephriam, Utah, when they face Salt Lake Community College and Show College. The team's first home match is slated for September 19 against Otero College.
"The training sessions are intense of course, but that's the nature of preseason," Ingram said. "New year, new team, new opportunities and minutes to earn. Not a lot of time to be messing about, so the intensity at a proper and consistent basis is important in these early days."