Kansas City Women's Soccer 2019 Preview: Going for a Three-Peat
8/16/2019 10:39:00 AM | Women's Soccer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – (Buy Tickets) (2019 Media Guide) (Schedule) The 2019 Kansas City Women's Soccer program enters its 11th season with a shot at history. The Roos are trying to become just the third program in the history (since 1995) of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) to capture three-straight regular-season women's soccer conference championships. That is an opportunity that the Roos have on the table this season, beginning with an exhibition match against South Dakota State on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Durwood Soccer Stadium.
If you can't make it to Saturday's match, the only way to follow along live is the women's soccer Twitter account, at @KCRoosWSoccer.
The Roos, under the leadership of ninth-year head coach Chris Cissell, welcome back eight starters and 16 returners from a school-record 16-5-0 mark a season ago. One of those starters, sophomore midfielder Rylan Childers, is coming off an All-America and WAC Freshman of the Year season. She has already established school records for single-season assists (14) and points (36), and expectations are high. Earlier this week, she was named the WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. So, how can she top her individual performance from last year and help the team continue its unprecedented success?
“Our goal is to win every game,” said Childers. “We have been working hard this pre-season. We have one more year in the WAC (Western Athletic Conference) so we want to end the WAC on top. Individually, I want to be the best teammate I can be on and off the field and whatever accomplishments come with that, come with that.”
After Saturday, the Roos lift off the regular-season by hosting four-straight home matches at Durwood. After a date with Indiana State on Friday, Aug. 23, Kansas City welcomes Illinois State on Aug. 25, a team picked third in the Missouri Valley Conference with 10 starters returning. The home success should worry opposing teams, as the Roos are 14-4-0 (.778) in the last two seasons.
Competing in its final season in the WAC, conference play will begin at home against UTRGV on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. CT. Kansas City will only host four WAC teams during the 2019 campaign which will include UTRGV, Utah Valley, Seattle U and California Baptist. The conference tournament will be hosted by the reigning WAC Tournament champions Seattle U starting Wednesday, Nov. 5 in Seattle, Wash. The 2019 NCAA Tournament bracket will be announced later that week during Nov. 16-17th.
With all of the success of his players and winning three of the past five WAC championships, what has been the recipe to success for coach Cissell?
“I believe our success has been built on culture, atmosphere, family environment, hard work, belief, great ROOcruiting, phenomenal players and assistant coaches. It has been a process to establish these pieces and have everyone associated with the program to believe and execute. I'm excited for my ninth season!”
In addition to Childers, the Roos turn to 2019 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Abby Small and All-WAC performer Halle Hamilton. Both players are the backbone of a defensive line that has been impressive since their emergence as freshmen in 2016. In the past three seasons, the defensive unit has recorded 27 combined shutouts in 63 matches played (42.9% of overall matches).
Their defensive effort, combined with the offensive firepower of Childers gives Cissell a sense of optimism for 2019.
“Our standards and expectations are high. We always strive to be the best program we can be and our objective is to win the 'WAC double' – the regular season and conference tournament championships.”
Season Notables:
- In 10 previous seasons, the Kansas City Women's Soccer program is 91-91-21 (.500) overall with three conference championships won (2014, 2017, 2018).
- Joining Childers, Small and Hamilton as returning starters are Maddi Cipolla, Afton Fennewald, Liz Mann, Amanda Sampson and Emma Wilson.
- Since the advent of the WAC in 1995, Southern Methodist (2000-04) and Seattle U (2013-16) are the only teams to at least three-peat.
- The Roos look to improve upon their 4-5-1 season-opening record when they take on Indiana State on Aug. 23.
- The list below describes a few 2018 team accomplishments:
- Ranked eighth in NCAA Regional (Pacific) rankings, highest in program history
- Four individuals on the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Pacific All-Region Team, which is the highest amount in school history for a single-season
- Five individuals mentioned on the All-WAC First Team, which is an all-time conference record for most individuals
- Four Roo individuals won all four major WAC postseason awards: Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Coach of the Year
- Defeated Power5 programs, such as Kansas State, Iowa State and Creighton
- Team ranked in the Top 15 in following NCAA statistical categories:
- 8th in goals per game (2.43)
- 8th (tied) in total assists (48)
- 9th in points per game (7.14)
- 10th in total points (150)
- 11th (tied) in assists per game (2.29)
- 12th in total goals (51)
