Iowa City Alliance

Kylie Kuennen

To say Kylie Kuennen has had a good first year of college soccer would be a considerable understatement. At the end of last season, the Simpson College mid-fielder was named Most Valuable Player for her team and First Team All-Conference as a freshman. It's clear that the enthusiasm is mutual.

"I loved playing with Simpson," Kylie says. "I get lots of time to play soccer, but since it's a smaller school, I don't have to eat, sleep, and breathe sports. There's plenty of time to study while still being competitive."

Although she has considered a career in coaching, for the moment Kylie is focusing on earning enough credits for a degree in business or counseling. The 1998 Solon High School alumna says that although she looked at other college soccer programs, she chose Simpson because of the school's women's soccer coach.

"Aziz Haffar," she says, "is someone who earns the respect of players and knows the game well."

Kylie adds that her experience with the Iowa City Alliance Soccer Club and its predecessor soccer association enabled her to play college soccer.

"Alliance is a really good club," she says. "It provides excellent coaching and good opportunities to play and be seen at tournaments. It was an important reason I was able to get where I am on the Simpson team."