  The
William Jewell College women’s soccer team has
a reason to celebrate this season.The women’s
team tied for third in the nation at the Final Four
tournament held in Santa Barbara, California, in November.
The women finished 21-1-1 overall, ranking first in
the Heart of America Athletic Conference, first in Region
V and 5th in the National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics. The men finished 16-3 overall, ranking second
in the HAAC, third in Region V and 21st in the NAIA.
Head coach Chris Cissell ’94 was voted Soccer
Coach of the Year for both men’s and women’s
teams in the HAAC, and women’s soccer coach of
the year in the NAIA Region V.
Twenty-two members of the women’s team made the
trip to Santa Barbara. Jewell players felt at home on
the playing surface at the University of Santa Barbara,
which was similar to their home turf at Greene Stadium.However,
the beautiful ocean backdrop added a new dimension to
the experience.
Jewell’s Kristin Neher scored her 100th goal
vs. Bellevue University on October 29, 2003. She attained
this momentous mark in three years–the only men’s
or women’s soccer player in NCAA or NAIA history
to do so.
It wasn’t all work and no play at the tournament.The
women visited the local zoo, the beautiful beaches,
and—to their parents dismay—many of the
local shops. In the midst of hunting down a national
title, the team also found time to give back to the
community of Santa Barbara at a local kid’s soccer
clinic.  |
