Soccer
Family Affair
By Staff reports
Apr 23, 2007 - 5:18:00 PM

Katie Allen is keeping up the family tradition. Following in the footsteps of her parents, grandparents and other relatives, Allen made a verbal committment to play soccer at Hardin Simmons University this fall.

"At first I didn't want to go there," the senior soccer sensation said. "I thought about Baylor, but the opportunity presented itself to play soccer at Hardin Simmons and I couldn't turn it down."

The Cowgirls' soccer team was 20-2 last year winning the American Southwest Conference for the third time.

Head girls' soccer coach Coby Bird said he is glad Allen chose to attend Hardin Simmons, his alma mater.

"Coach Marcus "Woody" Wood is a tremendous coach and I think Katie can grow under his guidance," Bird said. "He takes care of his players as people first, then as players."

As a Lady Jacket, Allen made all district all four years of her soccer career. She was named to the All-County team three year in a row and was District co-MVP her sophmore and senior years. This year she set a school record by scoring the most goals in a single season with 19.

Hardin-Simmons is located in Abilene, 150 miles west of Fort Worth. The university was named one of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News and World Report.

Allen said she thanks her future plans will include something in the medical field.

"I'm leaning more towards nursing than being a doctor," she said.

Whatever she persues, her family will be there to support her. That's another family tradition.