BASINGSTOKE’S Mikaela Howell has enjoyed great success in her first season as assistant/coach of the Monroe College women’s football team.

The 24-year-old, a former student at Queen Mary’s College, was part of the coaching team that guided the Monroe Mustangs to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division One Soccer Championships.

The side, who had an impressive season, winning 17 out of their 19 games, won their opening game in the finals tournament, held in Melbourne, Florida, as they came back from a goal down to beat Lake County 2-1.

This booked them a place in the quarter-finals, where they faced the number one seeds and eventual winners Iowa Western, losing by a single goal scored five minutes from time.

Howell, who played in Britain for Fulham, Chelsea, Birmingham, Reading and Watford, first went to New York-based Monroe College in 2011 after being offered a scholarship.

In her first season, she scored 23 goals and helped the team to the national championship finals.

Her outstanding talent and work ethic was evidenced in her second season as she scored 30 goals and also had 24 assists, but the team only reached the district finals.

Howell enjoyed her Monroe experience so much that, upon graduation, she decided to stay and take on a role as assistant/ coach.

It’s a role in which she has continued to shine, most recently being presented with an award by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America for her exceptional work as a coach.