Kendra was the offense and Diggs was the defense. Offense creates statistics and Kendra has piled those up. She has scored a total of 97 goals in her three seasons so far in official games, while adding another 17 goals in scrimmage games. She has scored five goals in a game five times with the most important being the first playoff game in 2009 against Lawton Mac. That was in a class 5A playoff game!
Kendra really started fast for the Lady Lions in her freshman year, (2009), as she scored 11 goals in her first four games as a freshman and led the Lady Lions to a championship in the Rose Rock Tournament.
In just her sophomore year, Kendra surpassed LeShay Morris, who wound up playing for East Central, for most career goals for the Lady Lions as she scored 38 goals, 45% of the team’s 80 goals in the 15 game season. She also led the team in her sophomore year with 10 assists.
As a junior, Kendra had her best game of her career against arch rival Ada when she scored five goals in the first half to lead the Lady Lions to a 9-1 romp and played very little in the second half. She scored four of those goals in the first 14 minutes of the game. Her most remarkable goal probably came in her sophomore year when she looped a bicycle kick from about 20 yards out right over the goalie into the back of the net.
But all of that is in the past. She is hoping for a good senior year with the Lady Lions and is hoping to be named all-state. Kendra is looking forward to her career at OSU. The OSU coach, Colin Carmichael, was named the NCAA Central Region coach of the year this past year as he guided the Cowgirls into national recognition with a #5 ranking at the end of the season. He had this to say about Kendra, “Kendra is one of the most prolific high school goal scorers in the state of Oklahoma. She is a very direct, aggressive player with an eye for goal. She has recently joined Abbey Akin on the OFC 93 team, and this will improve her overall grasp of the game. If Kendra can translate her success in front of goal from the high school ranks to the Big 12, then it will be a huge plus for our program.”
“The coach told me to work on making faster paced decisions,” said Kendra. “It is a much faster paced game, playing on the club team and in college,” said Kendra. “Most of the girls have played together for a few years and they know what to expect others to do.”
Kendra is following her father’s (Harry) footsteps going to OSU. Harry wrestled for OSU from 1974-1976 in the tough Big 8 conference. Kendra will be majoring in Physical Therapy and Nutrition. Her career goal is to be a physical therapist.
“Dad is really excited about me going to play at OSU,” said Kendra. “He knows that not many people get this chance. He loves the school. It has been my dream for a long time.”
Kendra has been playing soccer since she was six years old. Her first coach was well known Durant soccer enthusiast, Ben Cacho. Lee Watkins coached her along with sister Katie as she got older. Then Kendra progressed to play in the Plano and McKinney leagues under Kurt Stange and Tim O’Roarke respectively. Most college recruiting is done watching players on club teams at showcase tournaments rather than watching high school games. So, it is somewhat remarkable that Kendra was able to get a scholarship offer from OSU since she has not played on a club team until she committed to OSU. It is an indication of her skill and determination when she is on the field.
Kendra is expecting to play forward for OSU. Her sister, Katie Boydstun, who is two years older, plays forward for the Oklahoma Christian University soccer team.
Kendra feels some pressure in going to OSU and playing on a nationally recognized team under a very good coach.
“I need to focus on soccer and academics at the same time, it will be more difficult,” Kendra replied when asked what she felt was her biggest challenge would be at OSU.
It sounds like she understands the big picture.
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