The Allen Community College Red Devils’ exhibition opener may not count in the scorebook, but it gave the Red Devils a bit of momentum to start the 2025 season.
The Red Devils made a strong first impression on Jayhawk Conference foe the Coffeyville Lady Ravens.
Despite winning 4-2 Friday night, they will have to wait until the postseason before they meet again.
“We’re looking to build every day and try to get better,” Allen coach Jeremy McGinnis said. “We were working on a lot of combinations, and we saw some stuff really come out there at the end. It was delayed a little, and I was hoping to get something going right away.”
The Red Devils got on the scoreboard at the 19-minute mark after freshman wing Leila Burford found paydirt from just outside the keeper’s box to give Allen a 1-0 advantage. Coffeyville evened the score moments later but for Allen it was the first of many more goals to come.
“It felt like a relief. We were constantly going back and forth,” Burford said. “We were tiring, and they were tiring. It slid through. I had the shot and I didn’t think it was going to go in.”
Following a successful campaign in 2024, sophomore striker Jillian Muelhberger set the tone for 2025 with a score at the 32-minute mark. Coffeyville responded with a score to once again even the game but at the midway point of the second period Muelhberger found the back of the next again for the final lead change of the evening. 
“It was just a cross from the other side,” Muelhberger said. “We talked about it during our water breaks and during halftime. We talked about crossing it in. I made a run and they found me. It gave the whole team confidence. Those goals rejuvenated us and kept us going.”
As the Ravens looked for another rally late in the second period, the Red Devils slammed the door shut with a score from sophomore striker Charlotte Gatehouse with 8 minutes left in regulation.
The Red Devils were scheduled for another exhibition against Hutchinson but game officials announced it was postponed. 
Allen heads to Texas Sunday for another friendly against the Dallas College Ducks Sunday.
“It’s a process. It will take some time, but as long as the girls buy in it will come together,” McGinnis said.
