2007 Kansas Wesleyan Soccer Recap
By: Kat Benton, Special to KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan became the first KCAC school to make an appearance in the NAIA Women's Soccer National Tournament

The men’s and women’s soccer teams concluded a monumental year including dual back-to-back KCAC Conference Championships and the women making a first-ever berth to the NAIA National Championship tournament.

After a slow start in preseason, the men had their work cut out in a competitive KCAC line-up. Coming back from an early 2-3 record, the Coyotes proved relentless, winning the next 12 of 15 games including the Regional playoffs.

Finishing undefeated with an 8-0-1 record, the men’s road to the NAIA National Championship was cut short by a talented Park University squad 2-1 in the final of the Region IV tournament.

Award winners for the season were highlighted by NAIA Region IV and All-American selections Juan Mundo and Mario Rodriguez.

On the women’s side, another perfect 9-0 record in KCAC matches to bring home the third consecutive KCAC Championship title was just the start of the Lady Coyotes spectacular season run.

Not only did the women win every home game, but they also set several other school markers including most wins in a season (21), best record in a season (21-2-1), most goals in KCAC play (48), most goals in a season (92), least goals against in a season (8), least goals against in KCAC play (1), first Region IV Championship and first NAIA National Championship berth.

The women outscored their opponents 48-1 in KCAC play and an impressive 92-8 overall.     

The Lady Coyotes also gained national attention as a dark horse entering the National tournament with a NAIA-leading goals against per game average at .330, a NAIA second ranked team with shots on goal per game at just over 17 as well as shots per game at just over 33. 

Highlights from the season include a KCAC Conference and Tournament Championship, a 3-0 victory over regional powerhouse Park University and a 2-0 win of tournament host Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the first round of the National Tournament.

Men’s Honors
All-KCAC First-Team: Juan Mundo and Mario Rodriguez. 
All-KCAC Second-Team: Jose Garay, Rashaun Thompson, and Miguel Wenceslao. 
All-KCAC Honorable Mention: Thomas Umeck. 
KCAC Newcomer of the Year- Mario Rodriguez.
NAIA All-Region IV Team: Mundo and Rodriguez.
NAIA All-Region IV Honorable Mention- Garay, Thompson, Umeck, and Wenceslao.  
NAIA Honorable Mention All-Americans: Mundo and Rodriguez.


Women’s Honors
All-KCAC First-Team: Kathleen Benton, Marisa Brownell, Janna Macy, Heather Muilenburg, and Eliana Parada. 
All-KCAC Second-Team: Kelli Beatty. 
KCAC Offensive Player of the Year- Muilenburg. 
KCAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year- Brownell.
KCAC Newcomer of the Year- Benton.
NAIA All-Region IV Team: Beatty, Benton, Brownell, Macy, Muilenburg, and Parada.
NAIA All-Region IV Player of the Year- Muilenburg.
NAIA Honorable Mention All-Americans: Beatty, Benton, Brownell, Macy, Muilenburg, and Parada.
Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes: Amy Butala and Ashley Trinidad.
NAIA National Tournament Champion of Character Team Award Winner: Holly Ambrecht.