By ALAN HOSKINS
If numbers are an indicator, Kansas City Kansas Community College soccer coach Ruben Rodriguez is delighted with the prospects for the College’s first women’s soccer team.
“We have 22 women signed up which is a very good turnout for a first year team,” said Rodriguez, who will be head coach of both the men’s and women’s teams. Assistant Tait Einerson will be in charge of many of the responsibilities of the women’s team.
Rodriguez said that room remains for additional new players.
“We’re excited. Our expectations from the high schools has been fantastic,” said Rodriguez, who can be contacted at 913-288-7255 or rrodriguez@kckcc.edu.
The pre-season will begin Aug. 1 with the first game Thursday, Aug. 23, against the Blue River campus of Metropolitan Community Colleges in Kansas City, Mo.
In their first meeting with the Lady Blue Devil squad, Rodriguez and Einerson encouraged prospects to take part in conditioning camps or other physical activities in order to be in top condition when the pre-season workouts.
Most of the players attending the opening meeting are from area high schools including seven from J.C. Harmon, Danielle Alvarado, Blanca Bueno, Mayra Castaneda, Karen Gaytan, Alyssa Trammel, Claudia Rivera and Vanessa Walters. Others from Wyandotte County high schools include Tanya Estrada and Heidi Chavez, Bishop Ward; Araceli Rodriguez, Wyandotte; Alyssa Martinez, Turner; and Stephanie Long and Natalie McGinnis, Piper.
Others include Nancy Martinez, SM North; Ericka Marquez, SM Northwest; Alma Rodriguez, Alta Vista Charter; and Emily Angerstein of Lake Stevens. Jasmine Hamilton of F.L. Schlagle and Phuong Huynh of Overland Christian School, have also signed up but were not available for the initial meeting.
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PHOTO: Off-season conditioning will be a priority for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s first women’s soccer team coached by women’s assistant Tait Einerson (left) and men and women’s head coach Ruben Rodriguez. The pre-season will begin Aug. 1 and room remains for additional players. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)
