Shocker soccer coming soon?!

[Kung Wu]

If I had a mil lying around we would have a Women’s Soccer team in 24’

I'd be on a beach in Hawaii.

[WuDrWu]

Earning........20%

[SubGod22]

Kansas Rush also won the U16 title. The U17 team has a wonderful and sad story surrounding them. if you haven't read it... Eagle - Wichita girls soccer team wins 'fairy tale' national championship in honor of teammate

They were desperate to fulfill what they believed to be their destiny, to “do it for Kilar,” which had become the team’s lodestar in the two years since their former teammate, Kilar Gillispie, had died at the age of 15.

“This was way bigger than just a game for us,” Rush goalkeeper Avery Mason said. “Since Kilar passed, every single game has meant so much to us.”

Every player on the team wore black “KG7” armbands during games, and “Do it for Kilar” flags waved up and down the sideline of the team’s games.

But the most touching tribute came from Hunter, who was best friends and soccer teammates with Gillispie since the age of 4. After the tragedy, Hunter made the heavy decision to start wearing Gillispie’s No. 7 jersey to carry on her legacy.

It’s not uncommon for Hunter, a scoring dynamo at Circle High School, to find the back of the net, but it wasn’t hard to see why those on Kansas Rush Wichita felt like Tuesday’s championship game was straight out of Hollywood when Hunter, wearing the No. 7 jersey, scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Rebel Elite FC from St. George, Utah.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Kilar was with us on the field today,” Hunter said. “To be able to score that goal, wearing her jersey, it’s literally crazy. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. That’s once-in-a-lifetime stuff.”
.....
Around the same time as the U-17 Rush team won their title, the U-16 Rush girls soccer team captured their own national championship at Scheels Stryker Sports Complex.

The 2007 Kansas Rush Wichita team survived a scoreless 110 minutes in the championship game against Allegheny (Penn.) Force FC, then prevailed in the fifth round of a shootout when goalkeeper Parker Clark (Maize) made a save and Ashlynn Stipp (Circle) converted the game-winner from the spot.

Just like in the other final, a father coached his daughter’s team and watched as his daughter scored the title-clinching goal.

It's beautiful and sad. It's cool that the Gillespie's are still so involved and close to the team.

I think this also further shows how much local talent we have and we need to start the program sooner rather than later.

[Kung Wu]

Kansas Rush also won the U16 title. The U17 team has a wonderful and sad story surrounding them. if you haven't read it... Eagle - Wichita girls soccer team wins 'fairy tale' national championship in honor of teammate

It's beautiful and sad. It's cool that the Gillespie's are still so involved and close to the team.

I think this also further shows how much local talent we have and we need to start the program sooner rather than later.

Outstanding story! Thanks for sharing it!

[SubGod22]

I just want to make Kung Wu mad by posting about soccer even though there's nothing to currently post about and tagging him so he just has to come see it.

You're welcome!

[Kung Wu]

I'm the guy in blue, you're on the ball.

[SubGod22]

I'm the guy in blue, you're on the ball.

[shoxlax]

The regular season attendance record for a NCAA women’s soccer game is 11,925, which sounds quite breakable.

[SubGod22]

I've often talked about, here or elsewhere, about the amount of talent in the area and Kansas as a whole.

Eagle - Wichita native Maycee Bell enjoying budding women's soccer stardom in NWSL for Gotham FC

In a neglected field in south Wichita is where arguably the most talented women’s soccer player from the city learned how to play.

The untamed grass was up to her ankles and she almost always had to pick stickers out of her socks after practice, but Maycee Bell always appreciated her humble beginnings with her first youth soccer team, an independent club named the Cheetahs.

Nearly two decades later, the Wichita native just concluded a standout college career at North Carolina and is currently a promising rookie on Gotham FC, the defending champions of the National Women’s Soccer League, with realistic dreams of someday representing the United States women’s national team.

“Anytime somebody would ask me when I was young, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ It was always a soccer player,” Bell said. “This has been a dream come true so far.

“I hope this shows all of the little girls in Wichita that they can make it. When people ask me where I’m from, I’m proud to say I’m from Wichita, Kansas. They might not know exactly where that is, but I’m happy to put it on the map.”

I'm not sure if we could have kept her home if we had a soccer team, but there's always a chance. And again, there's a lot of D1 talent that has come from this area.

The sooner this happens, the better.

[SubGod22]

Saw an article in the sunflower from a couple of months ago that mentioned women's soccer could begin as soon as 2026. I believe that summer would be the final stages of the renovations at Cessna/University Stadium.

Could Saal announce something in the next six months about adding women's soccer? That would allow time to hire a coach/staff and begin recruiting. Could potentially sign some people willing to redshirt and develop during 2025 in order to be ready to go in 2026. I'm not sure how many would be willing to do that, but there might be some borderline locals that would be willing to do it to be a part of stating the Wichita State program and allow them to get a year of college under their belt with less stress. Maybe find a borderline academic individual who needs the year? I don't think women's soccer is generally made up of struggling academics but just thinking out loud.

[shoxlax]

I’ve heard Fall of 26 too.

[Kung Wu]

I've often talked about, here or elsewhere, about the amount of talent in the area and Kansas as ....

I'm not sure if we could have kept her home if we had a soccer team, but there's always a chance. And again, there's a lot of D1 talent that has come from this area.

I know this post was from back in May, but I'm besties with the coach of the Cheetah's. I even guest coached 'em for a video once. Fun squad!

There is a ton of talent in Wichita fo sho.

[Kung Wu]

There is a special keeper in Kansas attending K-State. Madison Wingler. Injured last year so maybe three or possibly four years of elegibility if she redshirted her first year.

She is from the Wichita metro and was invited to the U.S. Development Academy back in the day. Pro level prospect.

She would be a monster get for the first coach of WSU.

[SubGod22]

I'd really love to hear an announcement sooner rather than later. I could/would get really excited for this and the longer the news of a program is out there the more potential interest and time there would be to build relationships with the locals. Probably not keeping a young lady from a squad like North Carolina, but there could be some pull to keep them from going to some solid squads to be a part of history.

I really like the potential we would have here. Let's announce already and go find ourselves a coach!

Does BCC still have a strong soccer program? That could be a way to find a few older and experienced individuals especially early on. I know they at least had a pretty good run a few years back.

[Kung Wu]

Does BCC still have a strong soccer program? That could be a way to find a few older and experienced individuals especially early on. I know they at least had a pretty good run a few years back.

Yup, still strong.