PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles’ Kyrsten McGuffey is no stranger to achievement.
In high school, the former Roughrider soccer player was part of a Port Angeles soccer team that reached the state quarterfinals and has grown into a yearly state contender.
At Peninsula, McGuffey maintained the Pirates’ preexisting standard of excellence on the field, playing a major role as an attacking wing on the 2021 NWAC Championship squad. McGuffey totaled nine goals and two assists in her two official seasons at Peninsula (2019 and 2021) while also playing in seven NWAC games during a COVID-shortened 2021 spring season.
As an incoming graduate transfer for The College of Saint Rose, McGuffey will once again contribute to a powerhouse collegiate soccer program.
McGuffey chose the Golden Knights, a frequent visitor to the NCAA Division II Final Four, after official visits last spring to the New York state capitol, the University of Washington and to Dallas Baptist University, the squad St. Rose defeated to reach the DII championship game last spring. St. Rose fell 3-2 to seven-time champ Grand Valley State in double overtime in the title game.
She has two years of athletic eligibility remaining after earning her bachelor of applied science degree in Applied Management at Peninsula College and will pursue her Masters in Business Administration at St. Rose’s Huether School of Business.
McGuffey chose St. Rose’s because of the opportunity to earn her MBA, the quick connection she established with head coach Laurie Darling Gutheil and her desire to play for another championship-caliber team.
Gutheil has coached St. Rose to one national championship, a runner-up finish, eight Final Fours and numeros Northeast 10 Conference titles.
Touted once again
The Golden Knights are ranked No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll ahead of their Aug. 27 season opener.
Seattle Pacific University will host the 2022 NCAA Division II Final Four in Seattle, and McGuffey is hopeful she’ll get to play a couple of more games back home.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.
Port Angeles High School and Peninsula College alum Kyrsten McGuffey is continuing her college soccer career this fall at The College of Saint Rose, an NCAA Division II powerhouse in Albany, N.Y.
