Women's Soccer

Freshman named NCCAA women’s soccer “Student-Athlete of the Week”

Kayla Kliphardt, freshman forward for Trinity’s Lady Eagles soccer team, has been named Student-Athlete of the Week by the National Christian College Athletic Association for Division I women’s soccer programs. Kayla scored her first collegiate goal, as well as the first goal in program history, against Evergreen State College on August 17. The team went on to win the match 2-0. The following week, Kayla scored three goals against Olympic College.

Women’s soccer team soars in home opener

The fall 2010 season is underway for Trinity’s men’s and women’s soccer teams. The Lady Eagles made a historic start to Trinity Soccer’s inaugural year last week with a 2-0 victory over The Evergreen State College.

Despite a numbers disadvantage, the women’s team jumped ahead in the first half off a brilliant breakaway goal from freshman forward Kayla Kliphardt (Kent, WA). In the second half, Shey Thommasen (Seattle, WA) broke through Evergreen’s defense to collect the Lady Eagles’ second goal. Trinity goalkeeper Savannah Wood (Covington, WA), awed the crowd with some spectacular saves to preserve the shutout.

Head Coach Daniel Hicker was very pleased by the team effort: “Overall, I think this is a historic afternoon that illuminates our character as a side and sets a standard that we will continue to build within each player involved in our program. We played this game as a team and with the discipline to carry through each second of the match as a unit. I am very proud of our players.”

The Lady Eagles will take on Olympic College at 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28, at Bremerton Memorial Stadium.

Q & A with Tanya Tarabochia of Trinity Women's Soccer

How do you feel about being offered a position on the Trinity women's team? What do you look forward to?
I am honored to have been offered a position on the women's soccer team at Trinity. It is a great opportunity to be a part of a brand new team. I look forward to meeting the whole team and becoming a family with them. I think we will have a lot of potential and I am very excited to see how we play.

How do you feel about the current players that have signed onto the team?
I am very excited to know that we are getting commitments from great players. I feel that each individual player will have a huge impact on the team and that's what we will need to get this team going. I can't wait to meet everyone. I am also excited to know that I will be playing with a few girls that I already know. I think having played with these players for the last 6 years will really add some initial chemistry to the team.

Why will Trinity be a good college for you? What do you like about it?
I think Trinity will be a great college for me for many reasons. Academically, the classes have a great student to instructor ratio and I feel I will get the attention I need to succeed the best way possible. I really like that the college is right in the middle of everything. There is a great community surrounding the college!

How do you want to see the women's soccer program build during your time at Trinity? What do you feel will be needed to help this happen?
I want the women's soccer program to accomplish as much as we can while I am here. I think we will have great team accomplishments from the very start. I believe that the community will come support us and give us the encouragement we need to succeed. It would be amazing to have national recognition as a new developing program. I think that if we set team goals we will really be able to accomplish them one by one over the next few years. To help this happen we will need to have a lot of people step up on the team. We have to work together to get as far as we can!

Meet Daniel Hicker, Head Women’s Soccer Coach

Daniel Hicker has over 10 years combined coaching and management experience in semi-professional, collegiate, club, and youth development. Having a strong passion for the game, Hicker is known for the positive influence and leadership given to his players at every level.  He is consistently recognized for his comprehensive effort to help with the preparation and advancement of his players to higher levels of achievement on and off the field.

As former head men’s soccer coach at Pierce College, he led the program to earn an impressive list of achievements including three consecutive post season appearances, a first ever league MVP selection, three all-star team selections, five all-academic team selections, and the highest ever recorded cumulative team GPA in program history. He also stimulated the development of a women’s club team, the first full effort to begin the formulation of a women’s soccer program at the college. Hicker’s other past coaching terms involve his mark with the South Hill Revolution Soccer Club, WFC Rangers, and as head fitness coach of the former Seattle Wolves FC. He is currently the head coach of the girls under 14 and boy’s under 16 teams, Tournament Director, and Director of Physical Development at Highline Premier Football Club. Hicker has recently been recognized as an up-and-coming authority in player development by Speed Trainers USA.

“I am thrilled to accept the position as Head Women’s Soccer Coach. Trinity offers a great opportunity for our student-athletes to develop on and off the field with all the disciplines to nurture life skills and personal character. During this time of growth for the college and the beautiful game of soccer itself, the inclusion of athletics to the student life at Trinity will be a real treat.”
– Daniel Hicker, Head Women’s Soccer Coach

Hicker began playing college at Pierce College of the NWAACC before moving forward to play at Colorado State University-Pueblo of the NCAA. While in Colorado he played for the Premier Development League of the United Soccer Leagues and was selected to participate in 2006 USL player combine. Returning to Washington, Hicker has played for the Premier Arena Soccer League and the Seattle Wolves FC. He holds his Masters of Exercise Science, Rehabilitation from California University of Pennsylvania and advanced credentials in Performance Enhancement and Corrective Exercise from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.