The Allen Community College women’s soccer program has been on the rise the past three seasons after qualifying for the postseason each year. Those three trips marked the first time in school history that the program advanced to three-straight postseason trips and Coach Jeremy McGinnis doesn’t plan on having that streak end.
“Instead of having it be a streak, now it needs to become a tradition,” McGinnis said. “We feel we have a great opportunity to get into the ‘Final Four’ in the region.”
Last season, the Red Devils went 9-10 after going 13-4-2 — the best record in school history — in 2014. If the team hopes to improve on that mark, it will rely heavily on improved forward play.
“Three forwards have come to us and they show the potential of being big-time players in this conference,” McGinnis said. “Bringing all three of them together should be special and we expect a lot of goals.”
The midfield is led by one of the Red Devils’ top returning with Sadie Harper. Harper started all 12 games she played in last season and is a very good defensive presence for Allen.
“Harper has been a great leader by example,” McGinnis said. “She has also come in and shown a great work rate and a great leadership mentality.”
Harper will be joined in the middle by Shekinah Flores who McGinnis has high expectations for this year.
“We call her the ‘busy bee,’ because she just buzzes around all over the place,” McGinnis said. “She is here, she is there, she does the dirty work and she can also get into the attack for us.”
The biggest question mark for Allen comes in goal where they must replace Emilee Mitchell, who transferred to Missouri Western State University after a very strong sophomore campaign for McGinnis’ squad. To fill Mitchell’s shoes, McGinnis will look to a pair of newcomers in goal.
“We have two players battling and it will be a good competition to see who can step in between the pipes,” McGinnis said. “They have big shoes to fill… It will be quite interesting, to be honest.”
Whoever takes over as the Red Devil goalkeeper will have the benefit of a strong defense to play behind.
“We have Chloe West on our back line and she has been a great leader for us,” McGinnis said. “She is very consistent for us. She wins balls in the air and is a great one v. one defender.”
The season begins on August 17 with an exhibition game in Topeka against Washburn. The Red Devils’ first home game is August 26 against Metropolitan Community College-Blue River.
NEW COACH
The Red Devils will add to their coaching staff this season with Nicole Randall serving as McGinnis’ assistant this season.
