Kansas soccer loses senior captain

As soon as Pardis Brown felt the headache coming on three weeks ago, heartache immediately set in.

The Kansas University soccer captain knew the sensation in her body would never allow her to play another game in the sport she’s loved since she was 4.

The two-time All-Big 12 second-team defender will not play her senior season this fall after suffering her seventh concussion during a summer game with the Kansas City Mystics.

“There wasn’t any contact, it started with tingling in my hands and I ended up losing my memory,” said a disappointed Brown, who was making her first appearance with her team this season Tuesday afternoon.

“Because of how severe the symptoms were, my doctor said no more. I’m not allowed to play in contact sports ever again.”

While it wasn’t contact that forced Brown to retire, just running could prompt the concussions.

Brown has endured several during the last two years, but what made this one so severe was the short-term memory loss.

However Brown  a co-captain on Kansas’ 13-7 squad last year, which set a school record for wins and qualified for the NCAA tournament  initially stayed in the game before realizing the extent of the injury.

“I think I went through the couple of weeks of feeling for me,” said the Salt Lake City native. “I shed a tear. But now I’m just excited to be a part of the team and play a different role.”

It’s a leadership position KU coach Mark Francis greatly welcomes, especially for a team already dealing with the graduation last season of the Jayhawks’ all-time points scorer and goal scorer in Hilla Rantala and Natalie Hoogveld, respectively.

“When I first found out, I talked with Pardis and told her I wanted her to still be involved because she’s an important part of the group,” Francis said.

“I think initially she felt it was going to be hard (to be around team and not play), but the more she thought about it, the more she realized she needed to be around the girls as much as she could.”

Senior Nikki Wahle has taken Brown’s spot as a captain and joins senior co-captains Brianna Valento and Lindsay Hunting.

Francis will expect a strong sophomore class of Monica Brothers, Amy Geha, Rachel Gilfillan, Stacey Leeper, Meghan Miller, Gabby Quiggle and Lauren Williams to step up. A talented bunch of freshmen  Kim Karfonta, Holly Ryder, Caroline Smith and Jessica Smith  also will need to produce immediately.

The Jayhawks will travel to Springfield, Mo., Friday to play Southwest Missouri State in an exhibition before opening the regular season at home Aug. 30 against UNLV.

Francis will have the sideline scout to help out as Brown intends to pursue coaching soccer, like her father.

While Brown’s dad is an Olympic development coach, her husband, Chris, plays for the Kansas City Wizards.

“It’s in my blood,” Brown said. “I’ve got to stick with it.”

But unfortunately for Brown, one more game in action wasn’t.

“I definitely had more time in me, it just wasn’t for me,” Brown said with a slight smile.