Thursday night saw four more Western Nebraska Community College women’s soccer players ink to continue playing at the next level, bring the total to seven women’s soccer players that will continue playing.

                Thursday night saw Scottsbluff’s Cali Wright ink with Northwestern College in Iowa, Vicky Granda sign with Dordt University, Yasmin Rojas sign with Doane University, and Hazel Cardenas ink with Wayland Baptist in Texas.

                The other three players that signed in December or March included Andrea Jimenez, Vanessa Vazquez, and Yoseline Hernandez. The seven players that signed is the most in the last 10 years. The record is eight players when on to play and that was the 2004 team.

                Wright, who was a 3-sport athlete at Scottsbluff in her high school days, spent the last two seasons at WNCC. Wright is excited to continue her soccer playing at the 4-year level.

                “I think it really exciting and I am excited to go to the next level and be challenged a little bit more,” Wright said. “I am excited to go to a four-year college and see what that is about. I am super excited.”

                Wright picked Northwestern after her visit to the NAIA college and she said it felt like the right fit.

                “When I went and visited, I really liked the team and the girls and the coach. They seemed really welcoming,” Wright said. “It was a little town like I was used to, so I think when I went there I saw where I could fit in pretty well.”

                Wright, who is majoring in physical therapy, came to WNCC with her sister Izzy and the two have been an instrumental part of WNCC activities. Wright said her experience at WNCC has been an overwhelming success.

                “I think it was a good experience going to a little college close to my town and to be close to my family, which I enjoyed and I was able to definitely grow as a player and a person,” Wright said. “It was a good experience at WNCC.”

                Rojas, who is from Commerce City, Colorado, is also excited to be continuing her soccer playing.

                “I first want to thank God for the opportunity he gave me to be here and it is honor to continue,” she said. “Why Doane? To be honest I liked the community that they gave me. I loved the the girls and I know it is a good community. That is why I choose Doane.”

                Rojas said she has grown as a player at WNCC the last two years and is ready for the 4-year level.

                “I feel like my confidence isn’t there to be more competitive and coming to JUCO has made me realize that I can compete at that program,” Rojas, who is majoring in exercise science for physical therapy, said. “Of course I am ready. Always.”

                For Granda and Cardenas, they have been a part of the Cougar program for three years and both will be heading to the next level.

                Granda, who came to WNCC from Ecuador, is excited to be continuing her playing days at Dordt University and to play for another two years in the Midwest.

                “It is super exciting that I get to keep playing. I love soccer and I have played for almost all my life,” she said. “It is an opportunity to continue playing and to continue my studies which I am grateful for God and my teammates and coaches, and my family who have always supported me.”

                Granda, who plans to major in biomedical engineering, said she picked Dordt because of academics and soccer.

                “I really liked the community there and the soccer program as well,” she said. “After I played here, I thought it was the right place to take. I think it will help me a lot in my studies.”

Granda earned the right to continue on playing after her time at WNCC.

                “When I came, I didn’t know where I was coming to, but I really liked it. I really like the people who are really supportive. They made me feel welcome and at home, so that is something I liked,” she said. “I just want to thank everyone here for their support and being family for us. Getting to know all these people is something I will always remember.”

                Cardenas is also excited to be continuing onto the next level and she will be going a little further to Wayland Baptist, which is in Plainview, Texas. Cardenas said she is excited to be continuing her soccer playing career.

                “I am thankful that God gave me the opportunity to keep playing,” she said. “I didn’t think I would be playing in college so going to the next level and to a four-year school makes me really happy. I am going to Texas, too, so I am happy for that.”

                Cardenas picked Wayland Baptist because it is close to her home in Denver. Plainview, Texas is located between Amarillo and Lubbock in the Texas Panhandle.

                “For starters it is in Texas and when I talked to the coach, he seemed really excited about me and one of the biggest things that I think need is a person to believe in me like coach Rasnic did,” she said. “I really liked the girls on the team and it is real diverse team and I like that as well.”

                She, too, has grown a lot in soccer in her three years at WNCC.

                “A lot of the girls are from Colorado so coming from Colorado to here, we brought the relationship here,” Cardenas said. “A lot of the girls are in FCA and have their own bible study so I got to meet them through that and I am going to a Christian-type of school, which is really cool.”