Women's Soccer	SIUE Women's Soccer

Last updated August 3, 2007

Lynda Bowers

Head Coach Lynda Bowers           SIUE Coach Lynda Bowers enters her fifth season as the Cougar head coach with a program that has consistently been among the upper echelon of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.           In four seasons, SIUE has posted a 52-24-3 record under Bowers. That includes a 32-12-2 mark in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. SIUE set a school record for GLVC wins in 2005 with 11 triumphs. The 2006 team was No. 12 nationally in attendance.           Last season, Bowers oversaw the play of All-Region and Academic All-District back Padra Bencini. Bowers also welcomes back two All-GLVC players in Elizabeth Valenti and Jenny Kates.           In 2004, Bowers led the Cougars to a No. 2 seed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament and a 9-1 record in league play. SIUE finished 13-6 overall, including a win over nationally-ranked Northern Kentucky to end its streak of 45 consecutive regular season GLVC games without a loss.           In her rookie season in 2003, Bowers' team jumped off to a quick start. The Cougars won seven of its first eight contests and collected a national ranking as high as seventh.           A former player and assistant coach at SIUE, Bowers was named the fourth head coach in SIUE women's soccer history on July 14, 2003. She was the first full-time head coach in the 22-year history of the program.           Bowers, originally from Palmer, Alaska, was a four-year player for the Cougars from 1994-1997. During her playing career, the Cougars played to a record of 48-20-10 and were nationally ranked each year. Bowers was a two-time team captain and was voted team Most Valuable Player in 1997. She also was named to the GLVC All-Conference team twice during her career. In 1996, Bowers helped the Cougars to an NCAA Tournament bid and a national ranking as high as third. Bowers finished her career with 47 points (16 goals, 15 assists), which ranks her 19th on the all-time scoring list.           Following her playing days, she continued to help the SIUE soccer program as an assistant coach from 1998-2001. In 1998, the team won another bid to the NCAA Tournament.           In 2001, Bowers was hired by St. Louis Community College at Forest Park to start the women's soccer program. Bowers decided to come back home to SIUE after two recruiting seasons at Forest Park.           An Academic All-American at SIUE, Bowers graduated with a bachelor of science in English in 1998 and a master's in Exercise Physiology in 2000. Bowers and her husband, Doug, reside in Edwardsville.

Graduate Assistant Coach Kelly Dill           Kelly Dill begins her second season as a coach for the Cougars and spending the last four as one of the Cougars’ team leaders on the field.           Dill completed her senior season as a first team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection. A team captain, she started all 23 games and led the Cougars to an NCAA Tournament appearance.           Dill also was selected as a second team All-GLVC pick in 2004. A midfielder, Dill’s career included four goals and seven assists in 70 games played.           She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications in August 2006 and is pursuing a master’s in kinesiology.