Preview: Women's Soccer Opens WAC Play at Home

Kansas City Weekly Notes

The Kansas City Women's Soccer (8-1-2) team begins its seventh season of Western Athletic Conference (WAC) action as the Roos host UT Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) (6-3-1) and Seattle U (4-6-1) this weekend at Durwood Soccer Stadium. Kansas City and UTRGV tangle at 7 p.m. Friday while the Redhawks and Roos meet up Sunday at 1 p.m.
Since joining the WAC in 2013, Kansas City is a perfect 6-0 in conference openers, including a 3-0 victory last year against UTRGV. The Roos have out-scored opponents 21-3.
Kansas City and UT Rio Grande Valley are two of the top defensive teams in the conference, both with the most shutouts at six. However, the Roos have dominated the overall series to the tune of a 9-0-0 all-time record against the Vaqueros. The Roos, who claim a 25-4 scoring advantage in the series, own five shutouts including last year's 3-0 blanking in Edinburg, Texas.
Sunday's match-up with the Roos and Seattle U is a rematch of the 2018 WAC tournament championship played in Orem, Utah, won by Seattle U by a 1-0 score. Overall, Seattle is 9-1-2 against the Roos all-time, with Kansas City's lone win coming Oct. 8, 2017 (3-0) at home. The Redhawks have won three-straight against the Roos.
Of 338 Division I women's soccer programs, the Roos are one of only 27 programs that have one-or-zero losses on the year. The Roos are sitting on a school-best start at 8-1-2.
The Roos' defense has allowed just six goals in 11 games (.545 gapg), which ranks in the Top 50 in the NCAA stat rankings. The unit has allowed one-or-fewer goals in 10-of-11 games.
The Roos are off to a school-record start at 8-1-2. They were undefeated through seven games, prior to its first loss in game eight on Sept. 17 against Creighton.
With six shutouts on the year, the Roos have now compiled 16 shutouts through 32 games (50%) dating back to last year. The two shutouts in the first two games this year is a first in the 11-year history of the women's soccer program.
With a 8-1-2 non-conference mark this year, the Roos end with the best non-league slate in the 11-year history of the program. Since 2008, Kansas City stands 16-4-2 in non-conference contests (not including WAC postseason tournament).
Kansas City is nearing a program milestone. Through Oct. 1, the Roos sit at 99 all-time wins since the program started in 2009. Overall, the program is 99-92-23.
Sophomore forward Rylan Childers presently ranks among the top-50 in the NCAA in six different major offensive categories. She is among the nation's best in total goals (7), game-winning goals (3), assists per game (0.55), total assists (6), total points (20) and points per game (1.82).

NCAA RPI Rankings

Kansas City continues to set benchmarks of success in the Western Athletic Conference as the Roos are the highest rated conference team in the latest NCAA RPI list, published on Sept. 29. The Roos check in at No. 77 on the rankings, which is ahead of the next highest rated WAC team, California Baptist, who is at No. 158.

Record Watch

Heading into the weekend, sophomore Rylan Childers needs two more assists to tie her older sister, Reighan, for the career assists mark. Two more helpers would give Rylan 22 in her career.
Head coach Chris Cissell is nearing 100 career wins at Kansas City. He holds 97 heading into the Friday game against UT Rio Grande Valley. In 21 collegiate women's soccer seasons, Cissell stands with 265 victories.
As a program, Kansas City stands with 99 all-time victories playing in its 11 all-time season.
Two other Roos -- sophomore Afton Fennewald and senior Erin Roth -- find themselves climbing the Kansas City Women's Soccer Record Book. See page four for details.

Scouting UT Rio Grande Valley

The Vaqueros finished up their non-conference schedule with a 6-3-1 mark after a 4-1 victory over Southern Illinois last Sunday.
With a two-goal, one assist performance last week, freshman Anna Torslov was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Week.
Emily Zapata and Sarah Bonney lead the club with nine points and four goals apiece.
Goalkeeper Kinga Szemik has earned the most minutes in goal (695) and holds a 5-3-1 mark with 30 saves and a 1.42 goals against average.

Scouting Seattle U

The defending tournament champions have opened the season with a 4-6-1 record. The Redhawks enter the weekend on a three-game skid. are trying to keep a streak of nine-straight seasons with a .500-or-better record.
The Redhawks fell to 2-3-1 on the road with a recent 2-1 OT loss at Cal Poly on Sept. 29.
Prior to Sunday's game with Kansas City, Seattle U faces Chicago State on Friday.
Jessie Ray leads the program in points (10), goals (3) and assists (4). Bailey Hall and Leahi Manthei chip in a pair of goals on the offensive attack. Defensively, Madison Waguespack has played in the net in the majority of the minutes and has a 1.69 goals against average.