Laura Kane, a four-year starter for the West Virginia Mountaineers, is entering her second season as a Boilermaker assistant coach in 2007.
Kane[apos]s knowledge of the collegiate offense was of immense help to Purdue during the 2006 season as it outscored the opposition 29-17. The Boilermakers tallied 87 points on 29 goals and 29 assists as they set a team record for shots taken in one season with 385, and tied program marks with 14 wins and a .674 winning percentage. Purdue also set a new standard with 10 home victories, surpassing the previous record of nine set in 2004.
The success of Purdue[apos]s offense was in its ability to spread the ball around the field. A total of 14 Boilermakers, including defensive backs Christy Riggle, Kristin Hetzel and Kira Bilecky, were able to contribute points whether on goals or assists. Forwards Parrissa Eyorokon, Sylvia Forbes and Jessica Okoraofo tallied a majority of the points, but midfielder Jill Sarbaugh was there to lead the team with six assists and Kalie Grambeau managed two goals and an assist coming off the bench.
As a former forward and sometimes midfielder, Kane played a major role in developing an untested front line. Okoroafo was coming off a 22-point freshman season, but Forbes had redshirted in 2005 and Eyorokon was looking for more permanence as she was tried out at defensive back, midfield and forward in her first two years.
With Kane as their mentor, Okoroafo and Eyorokon each scored eight goals and combined for 39 points, while Forbes netted four goals and four assists in her first full season - playing in all 23 games. Kane instructed the attackers in on-the-ball composure, staying focused and beating the opposition.
Kane possesses a strong work ethic, plays with great intensity, and is very confident in her skills as a player and coach. However, she also can be very laid back in her approach, which helps keep players focused on their tasks at practice or on game day.
Kane's style of play reminds student-athletes that soccer is more than just scoring goals and assists, it[apos]s about working hard at all times when you[apos]re on the field of play. She also believes it's the responsibility of the veteran players to serve as role models to incoming recruits so they learn to play the right way and can continue Purdue[apos]s streak of success at the national level.
Since making the leap to college and West Virginia in 2001, Kane has never experienced a losing season. Her first Mountaineer team finished 15-5-1, and then proceeded to repeat that level of success three more times as WVU posted win-loss records of 18-3-1, 17-4-2 and 15-6-0.
Kane's teams advanced to four-straight NCAA Tournaments and, in 2002, won the Big East Mid-Atlantic Division Championship. With Kane, West Virginia went as far as the Sweet 16 of the 2003 NCAA Tournament after beating Ohio State in the second round 3-0.
During Kane's four-year career from 2001 to 2004, she started 85 of 86 matches, scored 31 goals and provided 23 assists for 85 points. She graduated in third place on West Virginia's all-time goals, assists and points lists.
Kane's collegiate honors include a pair of all-Big East first team and NSCAA Scholar All-America selections, which were earned in 2003 and 2004. Kane also was named to the 2004 NSCAA All-America third team after scoring 25 points on eight goals and nine assists.