CCSN women’s soccer team lands Gorman’s Woodward

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2000 | 10:15 a.m.

Nearly a month before its first game, the Community College of Southern Nevada's women's soccer program scored a key victory on Tuesday, signing Bishop Gorman graduate Amber Woodward.

A former Gatorade State Player of the Year and the 2000 co-MVP of the Sunset Region, Woodward scored more than 45 goals during her final two years as a Gael.

"We're so excited she decided to come here," Coyotes coach Ric Grenell said. "You're always looking for a marquee player. If you can get one in the first year, it just helps your recruiting so much."

Woodward also considered Idaho State, Arizona and Connecticut before choosing the new CCSN program, which will play its first intercollegiate contest Sept. 1 against Utah Valley State in St. George, Utah.

"We have a great team so far," Woodward said. "I think it's going to be really fun. And it was cold in Idaho -- I'd be the only player out there wearing a jacket."

Woodward joins a Coyotes roster that includes former Eldorado goalkeeper Amanda Grange, Valley product Angel Lewis and 1999 Green Valley grad J.B. Calabro, who spent the past year at Utah's Dixie College.

"With the players we have, we're going to be competitive," Woodward said. "Amber will establish the speed of play, and one of her major roles will be to go forward and score."

Added CCSN athletic director Mike Meyer: "I think establishing a brand new program, you need that marquee player so other people will see us as being for real. This is a big message that women's soccer is important at CCSN."