As good as the Hardin-Simmons women’s soccer program has been for the past 15 years, its 2010 national championship was its only trip to the Final Four. The 2017 Cowgirls changed that.
This past year, the Cowgirls won 23 consecutive games before falling 1-0 to eventual champion Williams in the NCAA Division III national semifinals in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The trip to North Carolina was not an easy one, though. The Cowgirls had to score twice in the final nine minutes in the second round against Trinity to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 victory. Evan Pipkin scored the game-winner in the final minute.
Then, HSU had to travel to New York to battle Carnegie Mellon, Ohio Northern and the elements. In the third round, Morgan McAdams scored in the 77th minute and in the quarterfinals it was Sarah Krisa in the 63rd minute to win both games 1-0.
Early in the season, the Cowgirls' leading scorer from 2016, Kami Jones, suffered an injury, and Kenne Kessler took over. Kessler led the nation with 37 goals and added 10 assists. Josey Meyer led the country with 24 assists on the year.
Kessler and senior defender Kirstin Parrish were named first-team All-Americans by the United Soccer Coaches. Jones won the Elite 90 Award for NCAA Division III women’s soccer.
Though the Cowgirls lost in the semifinals, it was still a special season with a special group for HSU head coach Marcus Wood.
“This is one of the best teams I’ve ever been a part of,” Wood said. “Junior and senior-led, just outstanding leadership on the team. What is special about our team is the character of the people. Every one of us just feels very blessed to be around the group of people we’re around every single day.
"(Kami Jones and Kirsten Parrish) and their senior class have been a huge blessing in my life and will continue to be.”