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Grand Canyon, Bakersfield Next in Line for ?Roos
10/16/2014 4:58:00 PM | Women's Soccer
UMKC 'ROOS (8-3-2) at GRAND CANYON 'LOPES (3-8-1)
Date: Oct. 17, 2014Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Durwood Stadium
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Live Video: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @UMKCwSoccer
Series: UMKC leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Alyssa Elver's ninth-minute goal proved decisive as Nina Tzianos led the 'Roos to a 1-0 road victory to sweep the season series vs. GCU.
Cissell vs. Opponent: 2-0
UMKC 'ROOS (8-3-2) at BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS (1-12-1)
Date: Oct. 19, 2014Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Durwood Stadium
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Live Video: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @UMKCwSoccer
Series: UMKC leads 2-0.
Last Meeting: Emily Herndon scored the game's only goal as Tzianos secured yet another shutout, clinching a postseason berth for the 'Roos.
Cissell vs. Opponent: 2-0
The Games
The 'Roos return home after a weekend on the road to continue conference play with a pair of familiar WAC foes. UMKC went 4-0 against Bakersfield and Grand Canyon in 2013, outscoring the 'Runner and 'Lopes by an aggregate of 11-2.
The Coaches
Entering his fourth year at the helm, UMKC head coach Chris Cissell is looking to build on the most successful season in program history in 2013. Under Cissell's leadership, the 'Roos set program marks for virtually every win-related category, including overall wins (12) and conference victories (eight), en route to the team's first appearance in the conference title game.
Cissell has compiled a record of 34-29-11– marked success for a program that won just two games in two seasons prior to his arrival.
Stevie Gill was named head coach of the Grand Canyon University women's soccer program in March of 2008 after serving as an assistant coach for six years, two of them with the men's program at GCU.
Gill guided the Lopes through uncharted territory in 2013, as his sixth year at the helm of the women's soccer program was the first for GCU at the Division I level. Under Gill's leadership, the squad finished Western Athletic Conference play with a 4-7-1.
Gary Curneen was named the fourth head coach of Bakersfield Roadrunners women's soccer program on March 4, 2014.
Curneen served as an assistant coach and camp coordinator for the Bearcats women's soccer program for the last year after spending the previous 11 seasons at his alma mater Wingate, serving for two seasons as an assistant with the men's program before taking over as head coach of the women's team where he led the Bulldogs to a 95-48-8 record in nine seasons at the helm.
The Series
The 'Roos met both opposing squads for the first time in 2013 and have yet to lose in two matches apiece.
Scouting the Competition
After stumbling out of the blocks to a 1-8-1 start, Grand Canyon appears to have righted the ship after going on the road to knock off a pair of WAC tournament teams from a season ago, Seattle and Utah Valley, to split the season series with both teams.
The 'Lopes have been paced offensively by sophomore Maria Monterroso, who scored the game-winner with 2:14 remaining to knock off Seattle on Friday night. Monterroso has six goals on the season.
Goalkeeper Blakely Fraasch had a monster weekened, as well, shutting out SU and UVU en route to being named the NSCCA Women's Division I National Player of the Week.
Bakersfield has seen no such resurgence, losing five straight and eight of nine after beginning the season 0-4-1.
The lone bright spot for the Roadrunners has been the continued success of 2013 WAC Freshman of the Year and All-WAC second teamer Hedda Regefalk, who leads the team with five goals.
