The University Daily Kansan
Friday, March 19, 1999
Team thrives on competitiveness
Women's soccer taken seriously at KU, coach says
By Michael T. Rigg sports@kansan.com Kansan writerspirit
After playing soccer in high school, Katie Mariani received offers to play soccer at several Division II schools. Mariani turned them down and enrolled at the University of Kansas instead.
"I wasn't sure if I wanted to play soccer anymore," the Chicago freshman said.
By last fall, however, Mariani was back in the starting lineup for one of the top soccer clubs in the Midwest.
the top soccer clubs What made her change her mind?
The answer: A group of fun-loving, soccer playing KU students who suddenly made
the game fun for her again, otherwise known as the Kansas women's club soccer team, she said.
The team immediately adopted Mariani and she helped them go all the way to the National Tournament last year in Statesboro, Ga.
"This whole experience has been better than anything I could have ever imagined," Mariani said. "It's so nice to play soccer again and have fun at the same time."
thou wast very heavy.
"The other clubs around here don't take it as seriously as we do," Wiens said.
Newly elected club president Lauren Heyward, Leawood junior, knows about the surrounding competition. She played on the club team at Kansas State before transferring to Kansas her
sophomore year.
The team travels in the fall and spring to play other teams in the Midwest such as Kansas State, Wichita State and Nebraska, but former club president Beth Wiens said the local level of competition wasn't very high.
"We are a lot more organized than K-State," Heyward said. "We have more ability, more numbers, and, overall, we're just much more dedicated as a club than they are."
Heyward also credits coach Dave Harris for the team's success. "K-State didn't have a coach, and that makes a big difference." said Heyward.
The numbers that Heyward speaks of are sometimes a problem for the club. At the beginning of the fall season, upwards of 50 women showed up to play. Even though that number dwindled to about 25 by the time the season
rolled around, many of the players knew that their playing times would have to be sacrificed in order for the team to stay competitive.
"We vote at the beginning of the year on whether we want to have a competitive team or have everyone receive good playing time," Wlens said. "Every year, we vote to be competitive."
Because the women's team does not have a "B"队 like its male club counterparts, the desire to win lands many prospective players a spot on the bench.
"The guys team takes all the B players and they play in the local Lawrence league." Wiens said. "The women do not have that advantage, since Lawrence has no women's league."
Because the Jayhawks are much more competitive than their local counterparts, Kansas usually is able to finish in the top three in the region, which earns it a trip to the national tournament.
Last November in the tournament, Kansas was sent packing after losing three straight.
"Even though we didn't win, it was still a great experience." Heyward said.
- Edited by Keith Burner
Top: Michelle McCllelland, Japan senior,
and Kathy Stroupe, Olathe sophomore,
relax between games at the National
Tournament in Statesboro, Ga. The team
finished the tournament 0-3. Above: The
Kansas women's club soccer team gathers
at the Clemson Invitational last October.
The team finished the tournament 1-
1-1. Contributed photos
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