KU Women’s Soccer Looks to Continue Success as the Sport Grows
As recently as 1976, only about 10,000 girls played high school soccer in the United States, which was less than ten percent of the total high school participants in the sport in the country. By 2000, nearly 270,000 girls were playing high school soccer, which brought the overall percentage of female participation in the sport up for 42 percent. According to data from the National Federation of State High School Association, the number of female participants in high school soccer in the United State had risen to 374,564 in 2014.
“I think the growth of the sport in our country is awesome because it might lead to the expansion of the professional soccer league and then one day maybe women could be paid as much as men,” said Tayler Estrada, a sophomore midfielder for the KU women’s soccer team. Since the passing of Title IX in 1972, women’s soccer has experienced much growth and expansion in the United States.
Women in this country have grown up watching players like Mia Hamm and Brianna Scurry, and the success of the women’s national team in the World Cup in the 1990s. In 2011, the U.S. Women’s National Team finished in second place in the World Cup, and a year later, the team won the gold medal in the 2012 summer Olympics in London. The national team now boasts the talents of Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, Abby Wambach, and Megan Rapinoe, all of whom are becoming household names, paving the way for the next wave of young superstars that are soon to come. The talent pool of female soccer players across the country has grown significantly in the last few decades. University of Kansas women’s soccer coach Mark Francis has taken full advantage of the increased talent levels.
Last year, Coach Francis Jayhawks’ had one of their best seasons in program history, winning 15 games while only surrendering six losses. The Jayhawks nearly won the Big 12, but fell to the Oklahoma University Sooners in the Big 12 championship.
KU also unveiled their new stadium at Rock Chalk Park last season. The brand new stadium gave the team a boost in morale and gave home games a special atmosphere. “It’s amazing, you don’t get a stadium like that every time you go play. The athletic department knew that would help us, and when we got to start playing on it, it just clicked for us. It was part of the reason we had such a successful season,” said Morgan Williams, a sophomore defender from Carollton, Texas. The Jayhawks won ten games at home while only losing two, not counting a loss to the University of Missouri in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Coach Francis’ team lost six seniors from last year’s team including starting goaltender Kaitlyn Stroud and forward Ali Kimura, who scored three goals and had seven assists last year. Among returning players are leading goal scorer Liana Salazar, who netted 13 goals last season, and well as Estrada and Williams. Coach Francis has signed seven recruits to help replace the seniors who graduated this year.
The creation of the NWSL in 2013 has also helped the sport gain popularity. Currently, the NSWL has nine teams, including one in nearby Kansas City, and is looking to expand. Recently, the Jayhawks faced FC Kansas City to test their skills against professionals. “It was a lot of fun, being able to play against the pros and see how you measure up against the best in the country,” Estrada said. The Jayhawks lost the game 2-0 but gained experience against some of the best players in the country.
The Jayhawks will be looking to continue their recent success next season as the United States continues to profit from an expanding reach of soccer into America’s youth.
“I think the growth of the sport in our country is awesome because it might lead to the expansion of the professional soccer league and then one day maybe women could be paid as much as men,” said Tayler Estrada, a sophomore midfielder for the KU women’s soccer team. Since the passing of Title IX in 1972, women’s soccer has experienced much growth and expansion in the United States.
Women in this country have grown up watching players like Mia Hamm and Brianna Scurry, and the success of the women’s national team in the World Cup in the 1990s. In 2011, the U.S. Women’s National Team finished in second place in the World Cup, and a year later, the team won the gold medal in the 2012 summer Olympics in London. The national team now boasts the talents of Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, Abby Wambach, and Megan Rapinoe, all of whom are becoming household names, paving the way for the next wave of young superstars that are soon to come. The talent pool of female soccer players across the country has grown significantly in the last few decades. University of Kansas women’s soccer coach Mark Francis has taken full advantage of the increased talent levels.
Last year, Coach Francis Jayhawks’ had one of their best seasons in program history, winning 15 games while only surrendering six losses. The Jayhawks nearly won the Big 12, but fell to the Oklahoma University Sooners in the Big 12 championship.
KU also unveiled their new stadium at Rock Chalk Park last season. The brand new stadium gave the team a boost in morale and gave home games a special atmosphere. “It’s amazing, you don’t get a stadium like that every time you go play. The athletic department knew that would help us, and when we got to start playing on it, it just clicked for us. It was part of the reason we had such a successful season,” said Morgan Williams, a sophomore defender from Carollton, Texas. The Jayhawks won ten games at home while only losing two, not counting a loss to the University of Missouri in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Coach Francis’ team lost six seniors from last year’s team including starting goaltender Kaitlyn Stroud and forward Ali Kimura, who scored three goals and had seven assists last year. Among returning players are leading goal scorer Liana Salazar, who netted 13 goals last season, and well as Estrada and Williams. Coach Francis has signed seven recruits to help replace the seniors who graduated this year.
The creation of the NWSL in 2013 has also helped the sport gain popularity. Currently, the NSWL has nine teams, including one in nearby Kansas City, and is looking to expand. Recently, the Jayhawks faced FC Kansas City to test their skills against professionals. “It was a lot of fun, being able to play against the pros and see how you measure up against the best in the country,” Estrada said. The Jayhawks lost the game 2-0 but gained experience against some of the best players in the country.
The Jayhawks will be looking to continue their recent success next season as the United States continues to profit from an expanding reach of soccer into America’s youth.