ACC women’s soccer team has high aspirations for the upcoming season. Last season was Allen’s best season ever, finishing 9-9 with a loss to 17th ranked Barton in the first round of the Region VI playoffs. This year’s squad will be returning key offensive and defensive contributors.
“We brought back 13 sophomores,” coach Jeremy McGinnis said. “We also brought in 11 freshmen to make it a nice, even trade-off. We’ve got a lot of experience and a lot of girls coming in to keep things fresh for us.”
ACC made the playoffs for the first time in eight years. McGinnis said that he wants to keep momentum going and possibly make it to the Final Four of the Region VI playoffs this season.
“We did a lot of things last year that we’ve never done in the history of the program like winning a game 8-0,” McGinnis said. “We had 20 girls, which is the most the program has ever had. We had a girl score 20 goals last year.”
Lexi Godlove scored those 20 goals. She will be returning this season, along with Kyleigh Rowe, who assisted on 13 of those goals.
“I call them PB & J, they just kind of go together,” McGinnis said. “They work well together.”
Also returning will be Kristen Tainatongo.
“She’s going to be the captain for us,” McGinnis said. “She will play attacking center-mid or possibly target. She’s a great leader.”
McGinnis said that Carleigh Konrade is coming back as well. He said she is probably the fittest player and best backfield defender on the team.
“We have high expectations in moving on and stepping it up a notch,” McGinnis said. “Making the Final Four is something that hasn’t been done in the history of the program. That would be something special to do and something these girls are already focusing on and chatting about. We have all the tools to do that.”
A couple of newcomers have already left a good impression on McGinnis. Jessica Pancoast is slotted in as the starting goaltender. She comes from Topeka and has already worked with McGinnis at summer camps.
“She’s just an all around great kid,” McGinnis said. “She’s probably the best goalkeeper that ACC has ever had.”
Madison Evans will be a freshman this season. She is an attacking center-midfielder who comes from Olathe East High School, one of the top programs in the state according to McGinnis.
“She’s a very fit player and sees the game very well,” McGinnis said. “She goes for the balls through the channels.”
ACC will host a scrimmage against Southwestern Christian at 3 p.m. Saturday.
“We’ll be subbing and mixing up a lot of things,” McGinnis said. “We’re looking to see who can fit where and who wants to step up to play a big role.”
The team’s first official game of the season is 5 p.m., Aug. 22, at home against Blue River.
ACC soccer sets big goals
