Kansas City Heads West for WAC Play
9/26/2013 1:02:00 PM | Women's Soccer
KANSAS CITY 'ROOS (4-5-1, 1-1-0) at SEATTLE U REDHAWKS (4-2-2, 1-0-0)
Date / Time: Sept. 27, 2013 - 6:00 p.m. (CST)
Site: Seattle, Wash. / Champions Field
Webcast: GoSeattleU.com
Live Stats: GoSeattleU.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos
Series: First meeting.
Cissell vs. Opponent: 0-0
IDAHO VANDALS (1-7-0, 1-0-0) at KANSAS CITY 'ROOS (4-5-1, 1-1-0)
Date / Time: Sept. 29, 2013 - 2:00 p.m. (CST)
Site: Moscow, Idaho / Guy Wicks Field
Webcast: GoVandals.com
Live Stats: GoVandals.com
Twitter: @TheUMKCRoos
Series: First meeting.
Cissell vs. Opponent: 0-0
The Games
The 'Roos will head to Seattle, Wash., on Friday as they continue their first run through the Western Athletic Conference slate. It is the program's first trip to the state of Washington, as well as its first meeting with the Redhawks.
Two days later, the Vandals will host Kansas City in Moscow, Idaho, in an afternoon tilt in yet another series of firsts for the 'Roos.
The Coaches
In his third year at helm, head coach Chris Cissell is looking to bounce back from a 6-9-4 campaign in 2012. In two seasons, Cissell compiled a record of 14-17-8; marked success for a program that managed just two victories in its first two seasons.
Cissell, who spent a combined 20 seasons at William Jewell as the head coach for the men's and women's soccer programs, compiled a successful record of 282-106-22.
The dean of coaches at Seattle University, Julie Woodward has earned the respect of her peers with her style of coaching, which has led to 14 winning seasons.
She enters her 16th season at the helm of the Redhawk women's soccer program in 2012, where she has established herself as the winningest coach in SU women's soccer history with a 206-79-26 overall record and a .662 winning percentage.
Starting his ninth season in charge of Vandal women's soccer, Peter Showler is the longest-tenured coach in program history.
In 2012 he led one of the nation's most experienced teams into action. The 2012 Vandal senior class became the most successful four-year group in school history, totaling 37 wins from 2009-2012 under his direction.
His 2010 Vandals qualified for the program's first conference tournament after tying for third in the WAC with a 5-3 record, then followed it up in 2011 with a second-consecutive WAC Tournament berth and the program's first postseason victory to advance to the WAC semifinal round.
Scouting the Competition
After winning their first Western Athletic Conference match vs. Grand Canyon, 3-1, on Sept. 20, and shutting out Cal Poly in their final non-conference match of the season on Sept. 22, Seattle University women's soccer (4-2-2, 1-0-0) sits atop the early WAC standings.
Junior forward Stephanie Verdoia was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Week after recording a goal and three assists over the weekend.
Idaho has scuffled to a 1-7 mark through the team's first eight games, but the Vandals were able to hold off Grand Canyon last weekend for the team's first win of the season.
Road Swing
The 'Roos are amid an extensive slate of road trips that will require Kansas City to play five of its next six matches away from Durwood Stadium. The team will return next weekend to host Grand Canyon before departing for three consecutive games -- covering three weeks of scheduling -- on opponents' turf.
Up Next
The 'Roos will welcome the Antelopes of Grand Canyon University on Friday, Oct. 4 to cap Founders Week at UMKC.
GCU has struggled to date, dropping seven of eight contests. The 'Lopes prevailed in a 1-0 victory over Colorado State on Sept. 6 on the strength of a goal by sophomore forward Cassie Beckwith.
