Steamers sign Lindsay Kennedy
February 15, 2005 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
St. Louis Steamers News Release
ST. LOUIS, February 15, 2005 - St. Louis Steamers President and CEO Michael Hetelson announced today that the team has signed forward Lindsay Kennedy to an MISL 5-game/15-day player contract, effective Thursday, February 11, 2005. Kennedy, who initially inked a player waiver on Thursday, January 20 allowing her to practice with the Steamers, has now been placed on the Steamers' 20-player active roster and is eligible to compete in an MISL regular-season game, pending proper player registration approval by United States Soccer Federation. She will be looking to make her MISL debut this Saturday night versus Milwaukee. She will become the first female to play in Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) history and would be the fourth-ever on a men's professional indoor soccer team. She will wear number 35.
"A special board meeting was held, to consider and to resolve a divergence of opinion," said Chairman of the Board Wally Smerconish. "We were hesitant to change a winning chemistry, but, ultimately, as a father of two daughters, I am proud to say there will be no glass ceiling in soccer."
"This is a historic day for St. Louis and the MISL," said Steamers' President and CEO Michael Hetelson. "We are a progressive ownership group and we understand that soccer has storied roots in St. Louis. There is no better place for a female to be given the opportunity to play in the MISL. We have been satisfied, not only with the skill, but also the toughness, determination and desire Lindsay possesses on the floor. She is a great competitor and is looking to contribute to the team."
Kennedy, 24, was recruited by several top colleges, including The University of North Carolina, but decided to stay closer to home. She played four seasons (1998-2000, 2002) of collegiate soccer between the University of Kansas and Harris-Stowe State College. In her freshman year (1998) at the University of Kansas, she posted 19 points (seven goals, five assists), was named Big 12 player of the week in the third week of the season and was named to two all-tournament teams.
Kennedy played her next three seasons (1999-2000, 2002) at Harris-Stowe State College in St. Louis. Her 11 assists in the 1999 season marked a school record and her 24 goals and 56 points in 2000 also set school records. The 5-10 midfielder/forward was a red-shirt player in 2001 but played in her final season in 2002, setting another school record by scoring five goals in one game against Avila College on Sept. 25, 2002. Kennedy ended her college career setting Harris-Stowe records in goals (61), assists (22) and points (144).
The Maryville, Ill., native received numerous awards and honors in her three seasons at Harris-Stowe. She was named three times to the American Midwest Conference (AMC) first team (1999, 2000, 2002) along with being named AMC "Player of the Week" twice in 2000. Kennedy was named AMC "Newcomer of the Year" in 1999 and was the AMC "Most Valuable Player" in 2000. She was also named three times to the NAIA Regional V first team (1999, 2000, 2002) and was a three-time NAIA All-American Team Honorable Mention (1999, 2000, 2002).
Kristine Lilly, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and World Cup Champion for the United StatesNational Team, played for the Washington Warthogs of the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) in 1995 and Collette Cunningham played for the same club in 1994. Shannon Presley played four games with the Houston Hotshots in 1994.
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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from February 15, 2005
- President & COO Bob Welch Resigns from the Chicago Storm - Chicago Storm
- KiXX Host Milwaukee in 10th Annual School Day Game - Philadelphia KiXX
- This Week In Force Soccer - Cleveland Force
- Steamers sign Lindsay Kennedy - St. Louis Steamers
- Chicago Storm Faces St. Louis and Milwaukee This Weekend - Chicago Storm
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