Heather Schnepf
Assistant Coach
What are the odds?
I had the privilege to represent the University of Iowa for five years, 2003-2008. Four of those years were spent putting on the Hawkeye uniform, while my fifth year I was on the sideline as a student assistant coach. It is a place that I hold near and dear to my heart. The years I spent putting on that black and gold uniform are why I am a coach today.
After graduating from the University of Iowa, I accepted the position as graduate assistant coach at Drexel University. It is where I got my start in collegiate coaching and earned my masters degree.
What are the odds that both programs come to Kent State on the same weekend? Pretty good I guess. We play the Drexel Dragons Thursday at 1pm. Three days later, Sunday at 12pm, we play the Iowa Hawkeyes.
For our program, this weekend is a great test. We are 4-2 and want to keep the momentum we gained this past weekend going. On top of that, we welcome two programs that are nationally known with great reputations.
In 2012, Drexel earned their first ever-automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. This season they are picked to finish first in their conference, the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dragons are a quality team that is looking to keep their recent success going.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are currently ranked in the top 10 in the country. They are a premier team in the Big Ten Conference. They are coming off a year in which they were selected to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row. The Hawkeyes have made the NCAA tournament 6 times out of the last 9 years. The tradition the Hawkeyes have is tremendous.
For me, I am thrilled to welcome Drexel and Iowa to Ohio. We have not faced Drexel while I have been here so it is a new test. It is always fun, and highly competitive, when coaching against the Hawkeye coaches, Tracey and Lisa. Both Tracey and Lisa have had a positive impact on my life, on and off the pitch.
More importantly, this weekend is about Kent State taking on two strong programs and making a name for themselves. For us, it is an opportunity to ATTACK. We are physically and mentally prepared for the opponents we are facing. We will show up, enjoy the moment and SING THE FIGHT SONG! GO FLASHES!
