Coach Allen builds strong soccer team

CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - With an 8-0 record in Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference play, and a team record 17 wins, the Davenport University women's soccer team cruised to its first-ever regular season conference championship.

The Lady Panthers also won the WHAC tournament after beating Indiana Tech in a shootout Friday night.

Davenport is now headed to the NAIA national championship tournament for the first time.

"Our team chemistry this year, it's been the best it's ever been," Davenport head coach Chris Allen told 24 Hour News 8.

Winning has not always been the norm at Davenport. In 2009 when Allen became head coach, the Panthers were coming off a four-win season.

Part of the Panthers' recent success has been triggered by coach Allen's international eye for talent.

"The fact that I've got roots there is huge for me as a coach," Allen said.

A triple threat of British forwards steered the Panthers to a school record 57 goals during the regular season. Paige Eli has found the back of the net 12 times, Lizzie Paul has chipped in with 11 strikes, and Letesha Cannonier with nine.

Eli and Cannonier played for the under-17 English national team before coming to Davenport.

"Definitely got a competitive advantage over a lot of people," Allen said.

Allen's British connections led him to Paige Eli, who is from Huddersfield, the same town as her college coach.

"Coach Allen came over to Huddersfield. We were playing a game, he got called up, he came and watched me and another player and it just started from there, and it just went really well," says Eli.

Allen, who also played at Davenport, sees success on the pitch as only part of the equation.

"Obviously, I prioritize soccer as the number one thing a lot of the time, but being that it gives the opportunity to somebody that I got myself, is very, very special," says Allen.