BC's DeRaedt chooses Missouri Southern State

Burlington Central standout goalkeeper Kim DeRaedt has committed to play soccer at NCAA Division II Missouri Southern State University following her senior campaign with the Rockets this spring. DeRaedt will attend Missouri Southern State on a full academic scholarship into the honors program.

The future Lion has been the full-time Rockets keeper since her sophomore season, when she allowed just 9 goals, while recording 13 shutouts and 131 saves.

"Without a doubt, Kim is the most technically sound goalkeeper I've ever laid eyes on as a player, a spectator and as a coach," said BC coach Michael Gecan.

As the Daily Herald All-Area goalkeeper in 2007, and the lone unanimous Big Northern East All-Conference selection from Burlington, DeRaedt recorded 12 more shutouts while racking up 194 saves.

"Kim does not set up to be average," said Gecan. "She reaches for it all.

"She comes off the line with fierce determination to win the ball, she is a great team player, she works extremely hard and she is just one of those players every coach is lucky to have."

Previously giving considerations to both Minnesota State and Truman State, DeRaedt hand-selected Missouri Southern State after a visit to the campus.

"I was accepted into their honors program, and their soccer team is very good," said DeRaedt. "I am really excited to play there.

"The campus is great. It is nice and small, but near a big town. Everybody was really nice."

DeRaedt will study math at Missouri and looks to extend her already very successful stint as goalkeeper. A soccer player since the age of 4, and a goalkeeper since she was 12, it is admittedly her favorite position on the field.

Currently, the Missouri Southern State University women's soccer team is 8-3-2 and 4-3-1 in Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association action.

DeRaedt will play under head coach Trevor Wachsman, who is currently in his fifth season as head coach. Formerly a two-year assistant at the University of Northern Colorado, Wachsman was named the second coach in the history of Lions soccer on April 30, 2003.

In 2006, Wachsman led the Lions to their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth and to the program's highest MIAA finish at 9-2-3 which was good enough for second place honors.