UMKC Takes Aim at WAC Tournament Crown
11/6/2014 12:18:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Date: Nov. 7-9, 2014
Site: Seattle, Wash. / Championship Field
Live Stats: WACSports.com
Live Video: WAC Digital Network
Twitter: @UMKCwSoccer
The Games
After clinching a share of the first WAC regular season title in school history, the Kangaroos (12-4-3, 8-1-1) will look to add to a season of firsts with the program's first conference tournament title this weekend. The 'Roos are the No. 2 seed and will receive a first round bye as such. They will await the winner of Utah Valley/Texas-Pan American in the semifinals.
The Coach
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.
In 2014, UMKC set a program record for regular season wins (12) and matched the mark for conference victories (eight), while earning the first regular season WAC title of any sport in school history.
Cissell has compiled a record of 38-30-12– marked success for a program that won just two games in two seasons prior to his arrival.
Elver Picks Up WAC Player of the Week Honors
UMKC midfielder Alyssa Elver has been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week for Oct. 27 through Nov. 2.
Elver, a senior from Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West HS), had an outstanding weekend for the Kangaroos, tallying four goals and an assists in a pair of big wins over Chicago State. After picking up an assist in Friday's 8-0 win in Chicago, Ill., Elver came alive on Sunday, scoring four goals in a 13-0 win over the Cougars. She had a hat trick by the 17 minute mark as her boot was responsible for the first three goals of the game.
Elver led the team in points (20) and tied for the team-lead in goals (8) during the regular season.
Four 'Roos Named to All-WAC Squad
UMKC placed a program-best four players on the 2014 All-WAC team as voted on by league coaches. The 'Roos are represented on the first team by Emily Herndon, Sarah Todd, and Nina Tzianos, and on the second team by two-time All-WAC performer Kaely Tott.
The all-league selection is the first for Herndon, a sophomore midfielder from Overland Park, Kan., who has five goals while primarily playing midfield and defender this season, running her career tally to 11.
It is also the first all-conference selection for Tzianos, the 'Roos junior goalkeeper from St. Louis, Mo., who has rewritten the UMKC record books over the course of her career. Tzianos extended her school record for shutouts, posting her 19th of the season on Sunday. She led the WAC in save percentage (.882) and goals against average (0.65) this season.
Todd claims All-WAC honors two years after earning All-Summit League recognition as a sophomore, while Tott was named to the All-WAC second team for the second consecutive season. The senior defenders helped to anchor a defensive backfield that ranked atop the league in goals allowed (14) and goals against average (0.70).
Road to the Championship
The 2014 WAC Women's Soccer Championship will begin without the 'Roos on Thursday, as UMKC earned a first round bye with a share of the conference regular season title.
The Kangaroos will play the winner of Utah Valley/UTPA on Friday at 9:30 (CST). The Wolverines handed UMKC its lone conference loss of the season when the teams met in Orem, Utah, on Oct. 26.
