The Allen Community College women’s soccer team will be locked in on securing top-20 NJCAA DII rankings in its 11th season under head coach Jeremy McGinnis.
Allen is currently ranked No. 17 in the NJCAA DII preseason ranking. The Lady Devils have been ranked in the top 20 the last four years.
“Bringing a real program to ACC means a lot to me,” McGinnis said. “Any program you take over you want to leave it in a better place. It’s important to have something that you do well.”
McGinnis hopes to continue the team’s success with a number of returning starters ready to make a difference.
The returning starters include Brianna Alexander, Katherine Hammond, Blair Clark, Tanika Rother, Mollie Roberts, Rebecca Lord, Lizeth Suarez and Peitra Camboim. Lord and Suarez are the only two offensive players of the bunch. 
Last year’s season-ending 2-0 loss at Pratt Community College still leaves a sour taste. Allen had won eight-of-nine heading into the playoff loss.
“I think we saw how close we were. We split with Pratt during the season and if we had won one more game after that one we would have gone to nationals,” said McGinnis. “In 2019, we went to Georgia and they know about that. They want to add to that history now and be a part of it.”
Clark was a starter in seven games for Allen last year on defense and took two shots. Emma Hicklin started in two games and also took a pair of shots on goal as a center midfielder. The pair will look to take another step and lead on both sides of the ball.
“We both bring a lot of energy to the team, just motivating people and getting spirits high during matches or training,” Hicklin said. “I think both of us (Clark) are very reliable on the pitch and talkative in getting others to communicate to get in line.”
McGinnis currently sits at 91 total wins heading into this fall. His coaching milestones have included reaching the national tournament in 2019 and securing a season-best mark of 15-4-1 in 2021-22.
Last season, Allen went 6-2 at home and averaged 2.71 goals per game, along with scoring 46 goals total. The average number of goals scored against Allen was only 0.98.
“There is a recipe for success and there is a reason we do things the way we do them, because it works and it helps us win and be successful,” McGinnis said. “I don’t think there’s one specific way to do things but I keep in mind whether we are improving our players on and off the field and whether we are helping develop them for the next level.”
The team camaraderie within Allen’s women’s soccer program is at a high heading into the season. Both Hicklin and Clark are eyeing even bigger roles on the squad this year as sophomores. Their leadership will be counted on throughout the fall.
“I feel like we’re very close this year. We all have each other’s backs on and off the field so I can’t wait for us to play together as a team,” Hicklin said.
“Everyone has an important role,” Clark added. “Everybody is wanting to win and do our best.”
Allen kicks off their season against Anoka-Ramsey Community College on Thursday, Aug. 17.
