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Soccer spark renewed for SAU's Lyphout
Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2009, 7:39 pm
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By Daniel Makarewicz, danmak@qconline.com
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Kari Lyphout thought her future was in basketball. With the goal of playing collegiate basketball, Lyphout decided to end her soccer career after her sophomore season at United Township. Four years later, Lyphout had an epiphany. "I went to Italy over winter break last year (to study abroad)," said Lyphout, a St. Ambrose junior. "Over there, soccer is pretty big. A lot of the guys we went with talked about soccer. ... I started thinking about it and fell in love again." When she returned to the Quad-Cities for the spring semester, Lyphout met with SAU women's soccer coach Jon Mannall, hoping to join the team. "He said it was cool," Lyphout said of her discussion with Mannall. "He was receptive and open." Lyphout started her journey back to soccer in February and played in a couple spring tournaments. Her initial goal "was just to dress varsity." Yet, Lyphout has surpassed her own expectations, scoring a team-leading 13 goals and tallying three assists for the Queen Bees. Needless to say, Lyphout has exceeded expectations in her first collegiate season. "My goal was to score a goal this year," said Lyphout, who earlier this season was the Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of the Week. "I scored a few more and kept the ball rolling." Lyphout, who played basketball one season at SAU, hadn't picked up a soccer ball in four years and only "played recreation intramurals" before joining the team this fall. Getting adjusted to the collegiate game was initially tough, but Mannall made the transition easier. "He has done an awesome job," Lyphout said. "He does a good job of breaking down the game, and that's helped a ton." Lyphout adjusted quickly and earned a starting spot in the preseason. "I was surprised," Lyphout said. "It was exciting." In the Midwest Collegiate Conference, Lyphout ranks in the top five in goals, points, goals per game, points per game and game-winning goals. Her 13 goals is the 31st-most total in the NAIA. "I started to learn to rely on my teammates," Lyphout said. "A lot of times, I'm in the right place at the right time." With a strong start to her collegiate soccer career, Lyphout said she will play two more years. "I've already looked toward the future," Lyphout said. "I'm actually going to PT (physical therapy) school, and I still have a few more years of eligibility so I'll still get to play." Repass garners Region 24 honors: Parkland College freshman defender Camille Repass (Geneseo) was All-Region 24 honorable mention this season in soccer. Repass helped the Cobras to an 8-3-1 record this fall. Matzen has big day: Monmouth junior tight end Kramer Matzen (Orion) had a pair of touchdown receptions on Saturday in the Scots' 51-14 football win at Lake Forest. Matzen, who had five grabs for 44 yards, had touchdown catches of 7 and 15 yards. Betzle, Firth strong in season debut: Former United Township and current Illinois Wesleyan swimmers Chris Betzle and Mike Firth combined for seven first-place finishes Saturday, helping the Titans to the team title at the IWU Halloween Invitational. Firth, a sophomore, won the 200-yard backstroke title and was three relays -- 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 300 backstroke -- the finish first. Betzle, a senior, earned titles in the 300 medley relay, 300 butterfly relay and 300 breaststroke relay. Both were All-CCIW swimmers last year. Widdop earns second conference award: Monmouth freshman volleyball player Chelsey Widdop (Rockridge) was last week's Midwest Conference Player of the Week. Widdop leads the team with 237 kills and is second with 385 digs. Know a student-athlete who should be mentioned in the Q-C College Connection? Please send them to sportswriter Daniel Makarewicz at danmak@qconline.com 
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