?Roos Look To Claim WAC Regular Season Title This Weekend
10/30/2014 11:38:00 AM | Women's Soccer
UMKC 'ROOS (10-4-3, 6-1-1) at CHICAGO STATE COUGARS (1-13-1, 0-5-1)
Date: Oct. 31, 2014
Site: Chicago, Ill. / Kroc Stadium
Live Stats: N/A
Live Video: N/A
Twitter: @UMKCwSoccer
Series: N/A
Last Meeting: N/A
Cissell vs. Opponent: N/A
CHICAGO STATE COUGARS (1-13-1, 0-5-1) at UMKC 'ROOS (10-4-3, 6-1-1)
Date: Nov. 2, 2014
Site: Kansas City, Mo. / Durwood Stadium
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Live Video: WAC Digital Network
Twitter: @UMKCwSoccer
Series: N/A
Last Meeting: N/A
Cissell vs. Opponent: N/A
The Games
The 'Roos will close out the regular season with a home-and-home series versus WAC-newcomer Chicago State. UMKC trails first-place Seattle by three points and can move into a tie for first place in the conference with a pair of wins over the weekend. That standing would deliver the 'Roos a first round bye in Seattle, Wash. next weekend.
The match on Sunday will also serve as senior day for a deep crop of seniors. will leave UMKC as the winningest class in school history.
The Coaches
Entering his fourth year at the helm, UMKC head coach Chris Cissell continues to build on what was 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 36-30-12– marked success for a program that won just two games in two seasons prior to his arrival.
Tony Tommasi was named Chicago State women's soccer's first ever head coach in July of 2013.
Tommasi came to Chicago State with 12 years of collegiate head coaching experience along with two years as an assistant at NCAA Division I Mississippi State. He owns a career head coaching record of 128-89-12 (.585). Tommasi has won double-digit matches in eight of his seasons as a head coach. He owns a pair of conference coach of the year awards and has set school records at each of his three stops as a head coach.
The Series
The teams have never before played.
Scouting the Competition
Chicago State has had a rough go of it in the program's first season of Western Athletic Conference play. The Cougars have yet to record a WAC victory. The lone bright spot for the club came in the form of a 1-1 tie with Texas-Pan American on Oct. 3.
Road to the Championship
If the season ended today, UMKC would be the third seed in the 2014 WAC Women's Soccer Tournament, but its biggest advantage is getting to play two games, while UVU and Seattle play eachother. With a 2-0 record, UMKC will claim at least a share of the title, and with a Seattle tie or loss to UVU in that scenario, UMKC would claim the title out-right crown. Also with a 2-0 mark, the 'Roos would get a first-round bye in the WAC Tournament.
The tournament will expand from four teams to six this season, with the top two seeds earning a Thursday bye. Those teams will open play against the first round winners on Friday, Nov. 7, at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
