The MidAmerica Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) released the 2015 Virtual Media Day and Coaches' Pre-season poll today.
Missouri Southern's head coach Alese Woolard will begin her sixth season at the helm, with 13 returners from last season, as the Lions look to improve on last year's 5-11-2 mark. Coach Woolard returns all three All-MIAA selections from last season in sophomore defender Ronise Miller and honorable mention selections junior Carly Cecil and senior Karly Thomas. Thomas leads the six seniors that return from last season while the Lions added four to the roster, including senior goalkeeper Shawnee Phillips.
Phillips looks to fill the void in the net for Southern as the Lions graduated one of top five keepers in program history last season in Beth Hammons, who finished top five in career shutouts, minutes played, saves, and goals agaisnt average. "Shawnee is tough. She adds a big frame in the net, she has a good reach, and is good in the air," said Coach Woolard. Phillips joins the Lions soccer program following two years as a starting guard on the basketball court.
Joining Phillips as newcomers to the pitch are freshmen Addison Kingrey (Wichita, Kan./Maize HS) and Bailey North (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North HS). "Both Kingrey and North have had extensive post-season experience at the high school level and have come in and transitioned seamlessly into the collegiate game," added Woolard. Bailey is a two time All-Academic selection, while earning second team All-Conference in 2013, and first team honors in 2014. Also in 2014, Bailey earned All-State Honorable Mention and All-St. Louis honors. Addison earned honorable mention AVCTL Division I during her freshman season, while she earned second team AVCTL Division I and second team 6A All-Region honors during her sophomore and junior seasons.
Also joining the Lions is junior college transfer Kelly Sutton (Topeka, Kan./Butler Community College). "Kelly is physical and she hasn't missed a beat in her transition to Southern," said Woolard. During her sophomore season at Butler Sutton played in all 24 matches with 18 starts and tallied four assists and during her freshman season she played in 24 games and started 13 while scoring nine goals and had 12 assists and finishing with 30 points.
The additions do not stop on the pitch for Southern as the Lions add Stephanie Kirvan this season as assistant coach. "Stephanie adds a lot to our program, she's energetic, hard core and the girls knows it and the fitness side of it she loves. Adds a new perspective to our program coming off a two year GA spot at Piedmont College in Georgia. She's from Lake of the Ozarks so she is familiar with the recruiting side," added Woolard.
The Lions were picked to finish 11th this season with 28 total points. Defending MIAA Champion, Central Missouri, was picked to repeat this year as they gathered 11 of the 12 first place votes. Southwest Baptist, under first year coach Megan Link, got the other first place vote and is expected to finish second. Rounding out the top five are Central Oklahoma, Fort Hays State, and Lindenwood. Missouri Western comes in at sixth with 70 points, they are followed by Northeastern State at seventh, Emporia State at eighth, Northwest Missouri at ninth, and Nebraska-Kearney rounds out the top 10. Southern is at 11th and Washburn is picked 12th with 15 points.
The Lions will play their lone exhibition this Sunday, August 23rd as they travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma to take on the University of Tulsa in a match scheduled for 5pm. Live stats and pay-per-view video will be available for that match. Southern will start their regular season Thursday, September 3rd as they travel to Springfield to take on the Drury University Panthers at 5pm from the Cooper Soccer Complex.
2015 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Missouri (11) 121
2. Southwest Baptist (1) 104
3. Central Oklahoma 103
4. Fort Hays State 95
5. Lindenwood 71
6. Missouri Western 70
7. Northeastern State 63
8. Emporia State 56
9. Northwest Missouri 36
10. Nebraska-Kearney 30
11. Missouri Southern 28
12 . Washburn 15
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