Allen soccer duo sign with D-II school

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Sports

February 4, 2016 - 12:00 AM

Allen Community College women’s soccer sent a pair of standout performers to the next level Wednesday afternoon.
Emilee Mitchell and Jamie Cronister each signed to continue their collegiate playing careers with Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo.
“It is a great feeling, especially (to commit) to a top program like Missouri Western,” Allen coach Jeremy McGinnis said. “These girls have been working hard for the last couple years and really bought into what we do here at Allen.”
Mitchell, a native of Platte City, Mo., is able to move closer to home with the change in schools. Being that close to home is a benefit she is eagerly anticipating.
“It was a pretty easy decision to decide to go to a school that is that close to home,” Mitchell said. “I can be home and have some meals at home.”
Mitchell earned an honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference nod this season for her work in goal for the Red Devils. The sophomore made 99 saves this season and only allowed 20 goals in 16 games.
Cronister joined Mitchell with honorable mention all-conference honors this season.
The defensive-minded midfielder tallied a goal this season against Neosho County, but her main contribution was of the defensive end of the field for the Red Devils.
The sophomore started all 17 games she played in for Allen this year.
“When I did go to (Missouri Western), I got along really well with the girls and the coaches,” Cronister said. “They were really nice and easy to get along with but at the same time, they seemed like they can be hard on you and make you a better player.”
Facilities were a key factor if each players decision to attend Missouri Western. The university is completely a remodel of its football and soccer stadium, which will be completed before the season begins.
The school also hosts the Kansas City Chiefs training camp and is home to an indoor practice facility with the Missouri Western student-athletes use while the Chiefs are not in St. Joseph.
McGinnis says the relationship he has developed with Missouri Western coach Chad Edwards over their years of coaching soccer gives him the confidence that he is sending his players into a great situation.
“”Its very important to me that I’m not just sending them on to go somewhere,” McGinnis said. “I’m sending them somewhere… to be with someone that is going to take good care of them and make sure they are coached the right way and doing it the right way.
“Unfortunately not everyone is. So you got to make sure they’re in the right hands and these ladies definitely are with Chad.”
For Edwards, he is just excited to add a pair of talented players to his roster as the Griffons have improved their record each of the past three seasons under his watch.
“We were looking to bolster our roster up with some college playing experience and it was a perfect match,” Edwards said.

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