Lady Tigers looking to take another step

Coming off the most impressive season in the history of the program, the Cowley College women's soccer team will look to build off that momentum as they enter the 2021 season.

The Lady Tigers finished last season with a record of 14-4. The 14 wins were the most in the history of the program. Cowley also captured its first-ever conference title and won its first-ever playoff game during the 2019 season.

"We want to continue the momentum we built from last season," Cowley head coach Roberto Dos Santos said.

Cowley won 10 more games in the 2019 season than they did the season before. A large part of that success was due to the play of Natalia Lima (18 goals, six assists), who became only the second All-American in the history of the program.

"Her work ethic is what makes her so successful," Dos Santos said. "She is grateful for the opportunity she has here and is a leader for this team."

Along with Lima, other returning all-conference players are, Manuela Oliveira (nine goals, nine assists), Leticia Belloni (four goals), Carla Ruiz (three goals, three assists), Harlie Findley (five assists), and Michaela Seahorn (four goals).

Other returning players are, Francisca Valenzuela (four goals, four assists),  Natalya Rubiano (two goals, two assists), Corbin Goodson, Makayla Farquharson, Jessica Rincon, and Sofia Gil.

"The returning players saw what we accomplished last season and want to do it again," Dos Santos said. "The new players will be well assisted."

With last year's First-Team all-conference starting goalkeeper Lotta Dufva unable to rejoin the team this season due to travel restrictions, Cowley will turn to sophomore Makayla Farquharson in goal. Farquharson started one game in goal as a freshman and gained tremendous experience backing up Dufva.

Dos Santos said there were pros and cons to the extra time off from last season to this one.

"It was hard on the players not knowing when they were finally going to be able to play, but it was also good being able to train and have the players get to know each other better."

Dos Santos and his assistant coach, Tanner Brock, worked hard in the offseason to bring in additional talent.

Elsa Pelicant from France, Florencia Campodonico from Chile, and Teresa Avino, Marta Aranda, Claudia Labajos, and Lucia Fernandez from Spain make up the freshmen on the team.

"We have a very solid group of freshmen that have bought into what we are doing as a program," Dos Santos said. "They are all going to make an impact on the squad."

Cowley will make the move from the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division to the Jayhawk West.

"It will be another challenge going to the West," Dos Santos said. "We are excited, but know we will need to be ready each and every game."

Cowley will open the season Friday, April 2 when they host Kansas City Kansas Community College at 2 p.m.

"Every game will be difficult, there is not one easy game on our schedule," Dos Santos said. "Kansas City will be a huge test for us right off the bat."