. For the fourth consecutive year the Graceland women’s soccer team has won the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship. In doing so, the Yellowjackets’ two seniors, Meghan Dunagan and Nicole Cummins, became the first players in Graceland soccer history to win the HAAC championship all four years of their career. Head Coach Fred Wagenaar (Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007) and assistants Whitney Danner and Calea Bourne gave all the credit to the fire and determination of the players. “They are truly the “heart” in the Heart of America Conference”, Coach Danner was quoted as saying.

The Yellowjackets sealed the deal last Saturday when they traveled from Lamoni, Iowa to Baldwin City, Kansas where they defeated Baker University in a tough battle into overtime. This was not an easy feat for the young squad, as their last three games of the regular season were against top teams in the conference, including undefeated William Jewell, ranked seventh in the national poll at the time.

Although the Jackets’ squad consists of only two seniors and four juniors, they were unshaken in their goal to win the HAAC. The team relied on the leadership of the upper classmen but equally important were the eight sophomores and nine freshmen able to step up and fulfill their roles for the team.

Not only is the team four time HAAC champs, but in 2004, 2006, and 2007 the Yellowjackets went undefeated in conference with a 9-0 record. In 2005, the team’s record of 7-0-2 confirms that in the last four years, the ladies have not lost one single conference game at home or on the road.

The team’s success does not end in conference play. For the last three years, the team has qualified for post season play by making it to the region V tournament. The team has made it to the championship game multiple times but has never been able to come out on top. Despite this, the team has high hopes for winning it in 2007, as they have qualified once again for post season play by securing the number one seed in the region V tournament.

The team’s history goes beyond region play as well, to two national tournament appearances. In 2004, in the team’s first appearance at nationals, the squad made it to the final four before losing in penalty kicks to the number one seed of the tournament, Lindsey Wilson. In 2005, the ladies lost in the round of elite eight against Lee University in the final minutes of the game.

This year’s squad hopes to repeat that success at the national level but for now, has their goal set on a first time region V championship.