A Homecoming for Kia McNeill

BC Grad Returns to Boston with Saint Louis Athletica

By Mark Goodman

April 11, 2009

Less than halfway through her senior season at Boston College, Kia McNeill made as big a change as you can make in soccer, moving from striker to central defender.

The Avon, Conn. native had a successful career up front for the Eagles, scoring 23 goals and dishing out 12 assists in her first three years with the program.

Kia McNeill

Kia McNeill played all 90 minutes in Saint Louis Athletica's season opener last Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Athletica)

In 2007, however, injuries to BC’s back line meant someone had to step in. Having played defender a little bit for the U19 national team a few years prior, McNeill had the most experience among the non-defenders on the team, so back she went.

And it’s a change she says she’s glad she made.

On Jan. 16, Saint Louis Athletica made McNeill the ninth overall selection in the WPS Draft. Last Saturday, the 22-year old played the full 90 minutes in Athletica’s inaugural match, a 1-0 loss to the Chicago Red Stars.

Tonight, McNeill will be playing in front of plenty of friends, family and former teammates as Athletica take on the Breakers at 7 at Harvard Stadium.

While she may make it look like she’s been playing the position for years, McNeill says she’s going through an ongoing adjustment.

“Having that background in the position helped a little bit, but even to this day I feel like I’m learning things, day in and day out,” McNeill said. “Playing in front of Hope Solo and behind the great midfield we have at Athletica, I’m still learning.”

McNeill came into the WPS season with professional experience, having played in 2008 for Kristianstad DFF of Sweden’s Damallsvenskan, the country’s top division women’s soccer and widely considered the best league in the world prior to WPS’s inception. McNeill went up against the likes of Marta, Frida Ostberg (now of the WPS’s Chicago Red Stars) and current Athletica teammate and Brazilian international Daniela Alves.

Kristianstad had just been promoted to Damallsvenskan, and thanks in part to McNeill’s steady play in the back, finished eighth out of 12 teams to stay in the top division.

“It was a huge thing for our club,” McNeill said. “We were a small club, so to achieve that was a huge milestone.”

That’s not the only recent international experience on McNeill’s resume, as earlier this year she played in a pair of games for the U.S. U23 team in Spain. She started and played 58 minutes against Norway and came on as a substitute against England - both U.S. victories.

McNeill said those experiences helped her develop a deeper understanding for the tactical side of the game.

“For most of my life I relied on my athleticism, my speed and my strength, but that will only take you so far,” McNeill said. “I think toward the end of my college career, playing in Sweden, playing with the national team, you need to develop the mental side of your game where you have to really, really understand the game of soccer.

“As a center back you’re kind of directing your entire team, so you have to have a solid understanding of what’s going on on the field.”

At Boston College, McNeill earned her share of individual plaudits: Big East Rookie of the Year and All-Big East first team in 2004, All-ACC Academic team in 2006, NSCAA All-Northeast Regional second team honors and Soccer Buzz All-America third team honors in 2007.

But it’s the overall growth of the program during her four years there that McNeill says she remembers best.

“When I first came to Boston College, it was still an up-and-coming program,” McNeill said. “I think just establishing a name for ourselves, consistently staying in the top-25 and then, toward the end of my career, the top-15, and making it to the Sweet 16 three out of the four years I was there was a huge feat for us.

“Just seeing the program steadily get better and better every year is something I’m happy to have been a part of.”

During McNeill’s college career, there were plenty of rumors regarding the re-launch of a women’s professional league after WUSA folded in 2003. Once those rumors became reality, she set her sights immediately.

“As soon as I knew things were moving in the right direction, I said, ‘If there was a league coming back, I’m definitely going to try and be a part of it,’” McNeill said. “That played a huge role in me deciding to go to Sweden, knowing that would help develop me as a player.”

While plenty of eyes will be on McNeill tonight - not to mention national team stars Hope Solo, Lori Chalupny and Tina Ellertson - she said to keep an eye out for holding midfielder Lisa Stoia.

“She’s not a real flashy player and she doesn’t have a huge name out there in terms of national team experience, but she really gets the job done,” McNeill said. “She does the dirty work to make it easier on our defensive line.”