by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Despite coming so close to the first winning season in history, a solid foundation was laid to the women’s soccer program at Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2018.
Only a 2-0 loss to Coffeyville in the season finale prevented the Lady Blue Devils from their first .500 record in a 4-6-3 season that saw Jayhawk Conference runnerup Johnson County twice score goals in the final six minutes for 2-2 and 3-3 ties. In addition, the Blue Devils played Cowley to a 0-0 deadlock.
“Those games really helped validate the work we put in,” KCKCC coach Shawn Uhlenhake said. “I thought we really stepped up and focused, especially against our in-town rival (JCCC). Up until this year it had not been a rivalry.”
The Blue Devils will lose six sophomores – forward Itzel Almanza of Harmon, midfielder Madison Plake and defender Carmen Rush of DeSoto, midfielder Trinity Rosberg of Shawnee Mission North and forwards Jessica Hill and Jasmine Blindt of Topeka Shawnee Heights.
“The sophomores really did a good of providing leadership,” Uhlenhake said. “Having a team with a majority of freshmen can be a difficult task and they did a good job of showing the way. It took a while for our 15 freshmen to understand the expectations of what it takes to be a college athlete but they now have become battle-tested and resilient.”
Defensively, the Blue Devils at one time led the conference in the fewest goals allowed but they were last in goals scored.
“Goals were difficult to come by but this is typical of a young team,” Uhlenhake said. “I think Alee Alter definitely made a case for being one of the best goalkeepers in the conference and Madison Plake and Sydney Guerra were very good middle of the field defenders. We had a lot of bright spots among the freshmen. Cristina Alvarez, a newcomer from Seattle, showed the ability to attack the goal.”
Returnees in addition to Alter, Guerra and Alvarez include goalkeeper Marina Glenn, forward Erin Williams, midfielders Catherine Small, Fatima Rebollo and Olivia Lainez, defenders Mable Mayes, Ruth Nunez, Kiersten Bizzel, Alex Schemmel, Karleigh Envart and Arlene Ruiz and redshirts Abby Peterson and Grace Ankrom.
Uhlenhake and assistant Sara Matthews have six commitments in the books for next season.
“We’re farther along than we’ve ever been and I feel like we (are) making a turn as far as the campus and community are concerned,” Uhlenhake said. “There’s a much different environment – more positive talk and feedback.”