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Cardinals Score Three Times in
Victory Over Baldwin-Wallace
Written Oct. 11, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein (9-1-1, 2-1 OAc) defeated
Baldwin-Wallace (5-4-3, 2-1 OAC) by a score of 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in
Westerville.
Otterbein junior/midfielder Carly Dent put the Cardinals
ahea 1-0 when she nailed a shot from the left sideline off a pass from teammate
Cristen Herold at the 14:55 mark of the opening half.
Junior/forward Megan Cooper then extended the Cardinal lead
to 2-0 when she gathered a ball that deflected off of the Baldwin-Wallace goalie
and put it in the back of the net in the 26th minute.
The game would head to intermission with the host Cardinals
holding a 2-0 advantage.
Sophomore/forward Lindsey Rudibaugh added a late goal for
Otterbein when she connected on a shot at the 86:57 mark of the second half. The
goal would cap the scoring for the day as Otterbein earned a 3-0 conference
victory.
The Cards out-shot the Yellow Jackets 20-4 while also
holding an 11-0 edge on corner kicks.
Otterbein sophomore/keeper Tara Carter recorded two saves
while Baldwin-Wallace goalie Becky Miner stopped six shots.
The Cardinals next travel to Alliance, Ohio to play Mount
Union College on Wednesday, October 15. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Cards Get Two Goals from Knox in
Victory Over Marietta
Written Oct. 7, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO –
Otterbein women’s soccer team (8-1-1, 1-1 OAC) defeated Marietta (3-8-1, 0-1-1
OAC) by a score of 40 on Tuesday afternoon at Clements Field in Westerville.
The Cardinals grabbed a
quick 1-0 lead when freshman/forward Sarah Sharbaugh found the back of the net
after taking a long pass from teammate Cristen Herold in the 15th
minute.
Sophomore/defender Jenny
Knox then converted a penalty kick at the 21:32 mark to extend the Cardinal lead
to 2-0. Neither team scored the remainder of the half as the game went to
halftime with Otterbein leading 2-0.
Knox then headed in a cross
from Herold in the 78th minute to put the Cardinals up 3-0, while
sophomore/midfielder Tara Smith added a late goal by nailing a shot from 30
yards out to give the hosts a 4-0 victory.
Otterbein held a 26-4 shot
advantage and attempted thirteen corner kicks compared to only two for the
Pioneers.
Otterbein
sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter stopped two shots while Marietta goalie Helen
Hetzel
recorded ten saves.
The Cardinals next host
Baldwin-Wallace on Saturday. Game time from Clements Field is set for 1 p.m.
#15 Otterbein Upset at Wilmington
Written Oct. 4, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WILMINGTON, OHIO – # 15 Otterbein (7-1-1, 0-1 OAC) falls to
Wilmington by a score of 1-0 on Saturday evening in Wilmington.
The Quakers took an early 1-0 lead when Erica Sayler found
the back of the net just eight minutes into the contest.
Neither team was able to score the remainder of the half as
the game went into halftime with Wilmington leading 1-0.
The Cardinals were not able to capitalize on any scoring
opportunities in the second half as host Wilmington preserved a 1-0 upset.
Otterbein held an 11-9 shot advantage while both teams took
two corner kicks.
Cardinal sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter had five saves
while Wilmington keeper Casey McKinney recorded one save.
Otterbein next returns home to host Marietta on Tuesday.
Game time is set for 4 p.m.
Capelle Earns Second OAC Player
of the Week Award
Written Sep. 29, 2008 by Adam Prescott
 WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein senior/forward Lauren Capelle
(Fairfield/Fairfield H.S) was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the
Week for the second time this season, the conference office announced Monday.
Last week, Capelle scored three goals to help lead Otterbein to a 5-3 victory
over Ohio Wesleyan on Tuesday. She also added an assist to total seven points
for the contest. Capelle did not play in Otterbein’s 2-0 victory over Earlham on
Saturday due to injury.
Otterbein next travels to play Wilmington on Saturday. Game time is set for 7
p.m.
#17 Otterbein Uses Two First Half
Scores to Defeat Earlham
Written Sep. 27, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO –
Otterbein women’s soccer team (7-0-1) defeated Earlham (IN) (8-2) by a score of
2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Clements Field in Westerville.
Otterbein sophomore/defender
Jenny Knox gave the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead when she found the back of the
net off an assist from teammate Megan Cooper at the 36:54 mark of the opening
half. The score came off a corner kick that was taken by Cara Gale.
Senior/midfielder Natalie
Harper then scored her first goal of the season by nailing a shot from 20 yards
out in the 42nd minute to extend the Cardinal lead to 2-0. The game
would go into intermission with Otterbein leading 2-0.
Neither team was able to
score in the second half as the Cardinals earned a 2-0 victory.
Otterbein held a 19-5 shot
advantage while attempting nine corner kicks to only two for the Quakers.
Otterbein
sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter stopped three shots while Earlham goalie Megan
Holthaus recorded eight saves.
The Cardinals next travel to
play Wilmington on Saturday, October 4. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Women's Soccer Uses Combination
of Youth and Experience to Excel
Written Sep. 25, 2008 by Adam Prescott
 |
| Lauren Capelle leads the Cardinals in scoring with 11 points. |
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – It is no secret that head coach Brandon
Koons has built a reputable women’s soccer program at Otterbein College
throughout the last decade. It is also no secret that in order to achieve a high
level of success over a period of time, a program must have quality players. The
young 2008 season has held true to that philosophy thus far, as the Cardinals
have gotten off to a quick 6-0-1 start this fall and have earned a #17 national
ranking.
Just as many other successful teams have done in the past,
this season’s squad walks with their own unique swagger, and according to their
coach, they were well prepared before becoming collegiate athletes.
“We have more players now that have had very high levels of
success in club and high school soccer in the past” said Koons. “Now that our
large sophomore class has more invested, they are combining will with talent and
experience. It’s like we have three years of seniors on the field right now.”
In addition, the incoming freshman class has been able to
make a smooth transition to the college game and become an extra asset to an
already strong core group of returning players.
“The freshmen have contributed in so many ways,” explained
Koons. “Alyssa (Hale) got a chance in the first game that we didn’t necessarily
anticipate, but she stepped up and made the position her own. Sarah Sharbaugh
showed over the course of a number of games that she could be consistent, while
Ashleh Baumann and Adrienne Novak have shown they can play a number of different
roles.”
On top of those four newcomers, Coach Koons is also quick
to recognize the impact the other freshman have had on the team.
“We have other freshmen that would play or even start on
other teams in the conference,” Koons said. “They are so valuable because they
make the team so competitive in training and practices. Overall, we have 26
players that we are very happy with right now.”
However, while this team may have its fair share of
youngsters, it seems to be the upperclassmen that have put this team in position
to be considered special.
“The leadership of our seniors is a large part of our
success this year, said Koons. “Julie (Kathman) is on the field the most, but
Cara Gale, Kate Weale, Lauren Capelle, and Natalie Harper are leaders as well.
Whether it’s been during games, during practices, pre-season or even before
that, our seniors have been like coaches. They all know our system and style so
well. Our young players have learned so much because the five seniors seem to be
on top of it all.”
The experience that the team possesses has allowed them to
channel their emotions and persevere when faced with adversity. Throughout the
past week and a half, the team has either been tied or trailing at halftime in
three games. However, they managed to out-score their opponents 8-1 in the
second half of those contests.
“At halftime against Denison, we took our frustration and
turned it into an appreciation for being challenged,” explained Koons. “We knew
we were learning something and it made it easier to calm down in the second
half. Against Ohio Wesleyan, our coaching staff convinced our players to stop
allowing them to change our style and just focus on doing what we do best.”
Whatever the reason is for the quick start, one constant
characteristic of the team will be their unity.
“This year the team has put a big emphasis on building
chemistry,” Koons said. “They are very close off the field, and it is starting
to become obvious on the field as well.”
You can next catch the Cardinals in action when they host
Earlham (IN) on Saturday. The Quakers come to Westerville with a record of 8-1
and boast two of the top eight scorers in the nation. Game time from Clements
Field is set for 2 pm.
#17 Otterbein Defeats Ohio
Wesleyan Behind Capelle's Hat Trick
Written Sep. 23, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein women’s soccer team (6-0-1)
was victorious over Ohio Wesleyan (4-4-1) by a score of 5-3 on Tuesday afternoon
at Clements Field in Westerville.
The Cardinals, who are ranked #17 in the country by the NSCAA, opened the
scoring when senior/forward Lauren Capelle took a pass from teammate Carly Dent
and found the back of the net just seven minutes into the game to make the score
1-0.
Ohio Wesleyan’s Michelle Corbett then gathered a loose ball that came into the
box and shot it past Otterbein goalie Tara Carter to even the score at 1-1 at
the 17:43 mark of the opening half. Otterbein countered when Capelle converted a
cross from Cara Gale less than one minute later to put the host Cardinals back
on top at 2-1.
The Bishops then used a free kick from 20 yards out by Allie Cozzone at the
24:44 mark to tie the game at 2-2. Minutes later, Ohio Wesleyan took their first
lead when Corbett scored her second goal of the contest off of a corner kick
from Cozzone.
Ohio Wesleyan would take a 3-2 lead into intermission.
Faced with adversity, the Cardinals came out aggressive in the second half and
used a goal from sophomore/forward Lindsey Rudibaugh at the 51:33 mark to draw
even at 3-3. Sophomore/midfielder Tara Smith then put the Cardinals ahead 4-3
after receiving a pass from Capelle in the 61st minute.
Moments later, Capelle took a cross from teammate Rachel Degen and put the ball
over the goalies head for her third goal of the contest, giving Otterbein a 5-3
lead.
Neither team was able to score in the final 27 minutes of action as Otterbein
earned a 5-3 victory.
The Cardinals held a 22-5 shot advantage while attempting 13 corner kicks
compared to only one for the Bishops.
Carter stopped two shots for Otterbein while Ohio Wesleyan keeper Laura VanHoey
recorded ten saves.
Otterbein next hosts Earlham (IN) on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Smith Scores Two Goals as Cards
Defeat Allegheny
Written Sep. 20, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO –
Otterbein women’s soccer team (5-0-1) defeated Allegheny (1-5-1) by a score of
3-0 on Saturday afternoon at Clements Field in Westerville.
Otterbein sophomore/midfielder Tara Smith gave the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead
when she converted a header off a free kick from teammate Rachel Degen at the
11:24 mark of the opening half.
Aggressive play from both sides prohibited any scoring throughout the remainder
of the first half as the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead into intermission. There were
16 total fouls in the first half of action.
Smith then retrieved a loose ball in the box at the 67:15 mark of the second
half and found the back of the net to extend the Cardinal lead to 2-0.
Freshman/midfielder Adrienne Novak then nailed a shot from 30 yards out to push
the Otterbein lead to 3-0 in the 86th minute of play.
Neither team scored the rest of the way as Otterbein earned a 3-0 victory.
Otterbein held a 17-3 shot advantage while attempting nine corner kicks to only
two for the Gators.
Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter stopped three shots while Allegheny
goalies Emily Karr and Becca O’Shurak combined for two.
The Cardinals next host Ohio Wesleyan on Tuesday. First kick from Clements Field
is set for 4:30 p.m.
Cardinals Score Three Goals in
Second Half to Defeat #21 Denison
Written Sep. 17, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO –
Otterbein women’s soccer team (4-0-1) defeated #21 Denison (4-2) by a score of 3-1
on Wednesday evening at Clements Field in Westerville, Ohio.
Neither team was able to score in the first half as the game went into
intermission tied at 0-0.
Otterbein sophomore/midfielder Rachel Degen broke the tie by slipping past a
defender and knocking in a shot from 30 yards out in the 55th minute
to put the Cardinals ahead 1-0. Two minutes later, Otterbein freshman/forward
Sarah Sharbaugh took a long pass from a teammate who was at midfield and found
the back of the net to extend the Cardinal lead to 2-0 at the 56:51 mark.
The Big Red, ranked # 21 in the country by the NSCAA, responded when Anna Rusch took a pass from Laura Kuehn
and scored in the 65th minute to cut the Otterbein lead in half at
2-1. This was only the second goal allowed by the Cardinals all season.
Sophomore/forward Lindsey Rudibaugh added another Otterbein goal at the 68:46
mark when she took a header from Sharbaugh and lofted the ball over the goalies
head, giving her team a 3-1 lead. This was Rudibaugh’s second goal in as many
games.
Neither team scored the rest of the way as the Cardinals earned a 3-1 victory.
Denison held an 8-7 shot advantage while both teams attempted two corner kicks.
Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter tallied one save while Denison
goalies Courtney Cobb and Kerrigan Dopp combined for two.
The Cardinals next host Allegheny (PA) this Saturday in game one of a
men’s/women’s double-header. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
Cards Victorious over Hornets in
Home Season Opener
Written Sep. 13, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO –
Otterbein women’s soccer team (3-0-1) defeated Kalamazoo College (MI) (3-3) by a
score of 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Clements Field in Westerville, Ohio.
Neither team was able to score in the first half as the game went into
intermission locked at 0-0.
Otterbein sophomore/defender Jenny Knox broke the tie by knocking in a loose
ball in the box off a corner kick at the 67:03 mark of the second half to put
the Cardinals ahead 1-0.
Sophomore/forward Lindsey Rudibaugh then found the back off the net less than a
minute later off an assist from teammate Carley Dent to put the host Cardinals
ahead 2-0. Neither team scored the rest of the way as Otterbein preserved a 2-0
victory in their first game in Westerville this fall.
The Cardinals held a 31-3 shot advantage, and also had 18 shots on goal compared
to only two for Kalamazoo. Otterbein attempted nine corner kicks while the
Hornets did not attempt any.
Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter recorded three saves while Kalamazoo
keeper Taylor Comiskey had a season best 16.
The Cardinals next travel to Granville, Ohio to play Denison on Wednesday,
September 17. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Capelle Earns Player of the Week
Honors
Written Sep. 8, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein senior/forward Lauren Capelle
(Fairfield/Fairfield High School) was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the
Week, announced by the conference office on Monday.
This past weekend, Capelle scored the game-winning goal against Haverford (PA)
Saturday in the Cardinals' opening game of the Carnegie Mellon
tournament. The goal was scored at the 16:41 mark of the opening half when she
beat a defender and slipped the ball past the goalie.
Capelle then turned around on Sunday and scored the game-tying goal against
Elizabethtown, who came into the game ranked #18 in the country. The contest
ended in a 1-1 tie.
Otterbein next hosts Kalamazoo (MI) on Saturday. First kick is set for noon.
Otterbein Battles #18
Elizabethtown To Tie
Written Sep. 7, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – The Otterbein women’s soccer team
(2-0-1) played #18 Elizabethtown (2-1-2) to a 1-1 tie on Sunday, September 7 at
the Carnegie Mellon tournament in Pittsburgh, PA.
Elizabethtown, ranked #18 nationally, struck first when Brooke Dotterer had a
shot deflect off an Otterbein defender and find the back of the net in the
game’s fourth minute, making the score 1-0.
Otterbein senior/forward Lauren Capelle then scored less than two minutes later
at the 5:02 mark when she took a rebounded shot off the goal post and shot it
past the goalkeeper to even the score at 1-1.
The game would head into intermission locked at one goal a piece.
Neither team was able to find a way to score in the second half or either
overtime period as the game would end in a 1-1 tie.
The Cards out-shot the Blue Jays 8-4 and also attempted six corner kicks
compared to only three for their opponent.
Both Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter and Elizabethtown goalie Angela
Freeland stopped two shots.
The Cardinals next return home to host Kalamazoo (MI) on Saturday, September.
Game time is scheduled for noon.
Otterbein Defeats Haverford (PA)
In Opening Game Of Carnegie Mellon Tournament
Written Sep. 6, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – The Otterbein women’s soccer team (2-0)
defeated Haverford (1-2) by a score of 3-0 in the opening game of the Carnegie
Mellon (PA) tournament on Saturday, September 6 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The
shutout marked the 100th in the history of the Otterbein women's soccer program.
The Cardinals took control early as senior/forward Lauren Capelle slipped past a
defender after taking a pass from junior/forward Rebecca Bowser and scored to
grab an early 1-0 lead at the 16:41 mark.
Freshman/forward Sarah Sharbaugh then found the back of the net at the 38:19 off
an assist from freshman/midfielder Ashleh Baumann to give Otterbein a 2-0 lead
heading into halftime.
The second half saw sophomore/midfielder Cristen Herold nail a shot from the top
of the box in the 83rd minute to extend the Cardinal lead to 3-0.
Haverford was never able to take advantage of any opportunities the rest of the
way as Otterbein earned a 3-0 victory.
The Cards out-shot the Fords 12-2 while also holding a 9-1 corner kick
advantage.
Haverford goalie Lindsey Festa tallied four saves while Otterbein keeper Tara
Carter had one.
The Cardinals next take on Elizabethtown (PA) tomorrow at noon.
Cards Defeat Lords in Season Opener
Written Aug. 30, 2008 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO
– Otterbein College’s women’s soccer team (1-0)
defeated Kenyon College (0-1) by a score of 1-0 on Saturday, August 30 in
Gambier, Ohio.
Otterbein struck first in the opening half
when junior/forward Megan Cooper beat a defender and scored at the 35:20 mark,
giving her team a 1-0 lead. Neither team was able to score the remainder of the
half as the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead into intermission.
Neither team managed to convert any scoring
opportunities in the second half as Otterbein preserved a 1-0 victory.
The Cardinals held a 17-14 shot advantage and
attempted ten corner kicks compared to only one for the Lords.
Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter
recorded ten saves in goal while Kenyon goalies Kate Powers and Megan Lahr
combined to tally six saves.
The Cardinals next travel to take part in the
Carnegie Melon (PA) Tournament. They will play their opening match against
Haverford (PA) at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 6.
Four Earn Academic All-OAC Honors
Written Nov. 20, 2007 by Ed Syguda
WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Four members of the 2007
Otterbein women’s soccer team were selected to Academic All-Ohio Athletic
Conference (OAC) teams, the OAC released today.
Chanel Smith, a senior from Westerville (Dublin
Scioto High School), was the only Cardinal selected to the first team. The
midfielder/forward, a public relations major, is a three-time Academic All-OAC
selection. Smith, for the second straight year, was also a first team All-OAC
selection this season.
Midfielder Carly Dent, a sophomore from
Pataskala (Watkins Memorial), defender Julie Kathman, a junior from Greenville,
and forward Sara Vasbinder, a senior from Westerville (St. Francis DeSales),
were named to the Academic All-OAC honorable mention team.
Dent, majoring in life sciences, has made the
Otterbein Dean’s List all three quarters. She was also a second team All-OAC
selection this year.
Kathman, a speech communications major, has
appeared on the dean’s list all six quarters. The defender also earned second
team All-OAC honors in 2007.
Vasbinder,
a three-time Academic All-OAC pick, is majoring in public relations. She was
named first team All-OAC this season, an honor she earned in 2006 as well.
Dent Earns Academic All-Region Honors
Written Nov. 1, 2007 by Ed Syguda
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|
Carly Dent in action at the OAC Semifinals. |
WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Carly Dent, a sophomore
from Pataskala (Watkins Memorial High School), was named to the 2007 ESPN The
Magazine Academic All-District IV third team as selected by the College Sports
Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA), released today by CoSIDA.
Dent, who switched from defender to midfielder
over the last half of the season, tallied eight points on one goal and six
assists for the Cardinals, who finished third in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC)
with a 6-2-1 record.
The two-year starter is majoring in Life
Science, with a minor in Spanish. Dent has made the Otterbein Dean’s List all
three quarters.
Academic All-District IV team members are
selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of
sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the
United States and Canada. District IV encompasses the states of Alabama,
Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a
varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.20 on a scale
of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her
current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
Otterbein,
10-5-2 overall, advanced to the semifinals of the OAC Tournament.
Cards Advance in OAC Tournament
Written Oct. 30, 2007 by Don Middleton
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|
Rachel Degen fights off a John Carroll defender in the
first round of the OAC Tournament. |
WESTERVILLE, OHIO―The Otterbein women’s soccer team defeated John
Carroll 5-1 Tuesday at Clements Field to advance to the semifinals of the OAC
Tournament.
The outcome was never in doubt as OC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first
half.
The Cardinals once again employed a balanced attack, using five different
goal scorers and holding the Blue Streaks to only two shots on goal.
Forward Rebecca Bowser, a sophomore from Pickerington (North), put Otterbein
on the scoreboard first, hitting a header past John Carroll goalkeeper Michelle
Zrebiec in the 18th minute. The
Cards scored five minutes later as senior forward Sarah Vasbinder
(Westerville/St. Francis DeSales) scooped up a loose ball and put it in the net.
Junior forward Lauren Capelle (Fairfield) continued the Cardinal
onslaught with a goal in the 42nd minute to give OC a 3-0 lead, which was the
score at the half.
In the second half, Otterbein continued where they left off, with a goal by
freshman midfielder Ashley Payne (Worthington) in the 54th minute to put the
Cards up 4-0.
Otterbein freshman goalkeeper Tara Carter’s (Pickerington/North) hopes of a
shutout were spoiled as JC got on the board with a goal in the 73rd minute.
The Cardinals quickly responded though as freshman midfielder Cristen
Herold (Dublin/Coffman) scored in the 74th minute to give Otterbein a 5-1 lead
and the eventual win.
The Cards have outscored their opponents 16-2 over the last three games and
the team’s confidence seems to be gelling.
“I think the last couple of games were against teams toward the bottom of the
conference and we were able to get some goals and confidence,” said Otterbein
head coach Brandon Koons. “That
helped us today because John Carroll is a good team, but we had players come out
with a lot of confidence.”
Otterbein out-shot John Carroll 19-3. With
the win, the Cardinals have defeated the Blue Streaks seven consecutive times,
outscoring them by a score of 25-4.
The Cards will travel to Capital Thursday to take on the Crusaders.
“It’s not a soccer game anymore,” said Koons.
“It’s us and Capital. It’s
become more of a rivalry over the last couple of years.”
Game
time is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Bernlohr Stadium. Otterbein fell to Capital
earlier this season, 1-0.
Smith Named OAC Player of the Week
Written Oct. 30, 2007 by Ed Syguda
 |
|
Chanel Smith |
WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Chanel Smith, a senior from
Westerville (Dublin Scioto High
School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in
women’s soccer, the OAC released Monday.
The midfielder helped lead Otterbein to a pair
of OAC victories at Heidelberg, 6-1, and at Muskingum, 5-0, last week, notching
three goals and an assist. Smith tallied two goals, including the game-winner,
and an assist in the win over Heidelberg.
Smith now has 12 game-winning goals in her
career, which is an Otterbein school record.
The
Cardinals, 9-6-2 overall, finished regular-season play in third place in the OAC
at 6-2-1 and earned the third seed in the OAC Tournament, which gets underway
today.
Cards Face John Carroll to Open OAC Tournament Play
Written Oct. 29, 2007 by Ed Syguda
WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein heads into the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC)
Tournament—the tournament winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA
Division III Tournament—with a little momentum.
Third-seeded Otterbein hosts 6th-seeded John Carroll, 2 p.m., Tuesday with
the winner advancing to play at 2nd-seeded Capital, 2 p.m., Thursday in the OAC
semifinals.
The Cardinals, 9-6-2 overall, rolled over Heidelberg, 6-1, and Muskingum,
5-0, in the final week of the regular season to finish third in the OAC at 6-2-1
and earn the third seed in the OAC Tournament. John Carroll, 6-9-3 overall,
finished in a three-way tie for sixth place with a 2-4-3 conference mark.
“Things are going well,” said Otterbein head coach Brandon Koons, who is in
his ninth season at his alma mater.
“All season we've created chances but struggled to finish,” Koons
continued. “Now, not only are we finishing, we're getting goals from
everywhere. We’re scoring from the run of play and from set pieces; and from
in close and from distance. I think we can go into tournament play with a
lot of confidence.”
Four different Otterbein players scored goals at Heidelberg, and five
different players tallied a goal each at Muskingum. Midfielder Chanel Smith, a
senior from Westerville (Dublin/Scioto), and midfielder Rachel Degen, a freshman
from Dublin (Scioto), each scored a pair of goals against Heidelberg, finishing
the week with three goals and an assist apiece.
Otterbein
sports a 2-2-1 record against the other five teams in the OAC Tournament, which
expanded from four to six teams this season. The Cardinals defeated John
Carroll, 3-1, at home Oct. 13. Degen scored what proved to be the game-winner in
the 78th minute and added an assist.
Cards Close Out the Regular Season at Muskingum
Written Oct. 25, 2007 by Ed Syguda
WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein, coming off a 6-1 win at Heidelberg, closes out
regular-season play Saturday at Muskingum.
The Cardinals, 8-6-2 overall, hold down fourth place in the Ohio Athletic
Conference (OAC) with a 5-2-1 record and are in line to host a first-round game
of the OAC Tournament, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday. The tournament was
expanded from four to six teams this season, with the top two seeds receiving
first-round byes.
Midfielder Chanel Smith, a senior from Dublin (Scioto High School), scored
two goals at Heidelberg, leading a group of five Cardinals, who scored a goal in
the win. Smith hit what proved to be the game-winner in the 30th minute for her
12th game-winning goal of her career, a new school mark.
“Heidelberg is improving,” said Otterbein head coach Brandon Koons,
“but we were able to finish a few chances and set the tone of the game. It was
a good win. Hopefully, we can add a win this weekend and take care of
ourselves.”
Game
time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Muskingum, who comes into the match with a
6-10-1 overall record and sits ninth in the OAC at 1-7-0.
Cards Falter in Closing Seconds
Written Oct. 9, 2007 by Ed Syguda
WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Most all signs pointed to overtime, but Ohio Northern
managed to score with 43 seconds remaining in regulation to pull out a 3-2 win
in a battle for first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tuesday in
Westerville.
Both teams came into the game sharing first place, each 3-0 in the OAC. The
Cardinals shut out Wilmington, 1-0, last Wednesday at home and Mount Union, 2-0,
Saturday in Alliance to remain unbeaten in league play.
Defender Jenny Knox, a freshman from Gahanna (Bishop Hartley High School),
put Otterbein on the scoreboard first, hitting a penalty kick in the eighth
minute. The Polar Bears countered eight minutes later to tie the score at 1-1,
which held at the half.
Ohio Northern made it 2-1 in the 61st minute and the Cardinals responded
quickly, scoring in the 66th minute on a goal from forward Lindsey Rudibaugh, a
freshman from Dublin (Coffman), off a pass from midfielder Tara Smith, a
freshman from Westerville (South). It was Rudibaugh’s fifth goal of the
season.
Last Saturday in Alliance, midfielder Chanel Smith, a senior from Dublin (Scioto),
made program history, hitting the game-winner at Mount Union for the 11th
game-winning goal of her career, which is a school record.
“I thought we played very well,”
said Otterbein head coach Brandon Koons about the game at Mount Union. “It's
difficult to play on turf especially in 90-degree heat.”
Otterbein,
6-5-1 overall, remains at home Saturday, hosting John Carroll on Homecoming.
Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Cards Score Five Times in OAC Win Over Marietta
Written Sept. 29, 2007 by Don Middleton
WESTERVILLE, OHIO―The Otterbein women’s soccer team (4-4-1, 1-0-0
OAC) defeated Marietta (5-3-1, 0-1-0) by a score of 5-0 Saturday at Clements
Field.
The Cardinals used a balanced attack and had five different goal scorers –
including four freshman.
The team opened up the scoring in the seventh minute with a goal from freshman
Cristen Herold (Dublin/Coffman). Freshman
Lindsey Rudibaugh (Dublin/Coffman) scored the team’s second goal, dribbling
past a defender and scoring from eight yards out in the 22nd minute. Freshman Rachel Degen (Dublin/Scioto) scored from six yards
out in the 40th minute to put Otterbein up 3-0, which was the score at the half.
Senior Chanel Smith (Dublin/Dublin
Scioto) scored her team-leading third goal of the season in the 47th
minute and now has six points on the season.
Freshman Jacque Heuer (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) scored in the 88th
minute, putting the ball past the
goalkeeper after a receiving a header from sophomore Megan Cooper (London/Jonathan
Alder).
The Cardinals out-shot the Pioneers 26-5 and with the win have now won six
consecutive meetings against Marietta dating back to 2001 when the two teams
played to a scoreless tie.
Otterbein
next takes the field Oct. 3 to take on Wilmington (7-3-1, 0-1-0) at Clements
Field. Game time is scheduled for 4
p.m.
3-Time Defending OAC Champs Host Marietta
Written Sept. 27, 2007 by Ed Syguda
WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Three-time defending Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC)
regular-season champion Otterbein opens conference play with Marietta, 12 p.m.,
Saturday at home on Clements Field.
“We have played a very tough non-conference schedule and were competitive
with everyone we played,” said head coach Brandon Koons, who is in his ninth
season at his alma mater. “I’m very much looking forward to conference play.”
Otterbein comes into the match 3-4-1 overall, earning a 4-0 win at Allegheny
last Saturday and losing 2-0 at Ohio Wesleyan Wednesday.
“I think we are playing very well,” Koons said. “We look good.
Statistically, we’re outplaying our opponents, but have struggled to finish.
We just need to score more goals.”
Over the first eight games of the season, the Cardinals have out-shot their
opponents, 129-60, but have scored only nine goals while giving up nine.
Forward Sara Vasbinder, a senior from Westerville (St. Francis DeSales), leads
Otterbein in scoring, with two goals and one assist, despite missing the last
two games due to injury. Midfielder Chanel Smith, a senior from Dublin (Scioto),
has scored two goals this season.
Marietta, 5-2-1 overall, played Walsh to a 0-0 tie Tuesday in Canton, which
snapped a four-game winning streak. The Pioneers finished fifth in the OAC last
season with a 4-2-3 conference record.
Following
Marietta, Otterbein remains at home, taking on 20th-ranked Wilmington (7-1-1), 4
p.m., Wednesday in a key OAC matchup.
Cards Creating Goal-Scoring Opportunities
Written Sept. 10, 2007 by Ed Syguda
WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein came away with mixed results from the
weekend’s tournament held at Kenyon.
The Cardinals (1-2-1) played Manchester to a scoreless tie Saturday, and fell
to Carnegie Mellon, 3-1, on Sunday.
“As a team, we are a little frustrated that we are playing well, but not
getting results,” said ninth-year head coach Brandon Koons. “We’re
creating scoring opportunities, but not finishing them as often as we’d
like.
“It’s the creating that matters most at this point in the season,” Koons
added. “Once we get everyone on the same page, the goals will come.”
The Cardinals out-shot Manchester, 29-4 overall, and 8-0 in the overtime
periods, in Saturday’s 0-0 tie.
The
squad got off 10 shots against Carnegie Mellon. Midfielder Chanel Smith, a
senior from Dublin, scored Otterbein’s lone goal in the 80th minute.
The tournament, originally scheduled to be played in Westerville, was moved to
Kenyon due to poor field conditions at Otterbein. Drainage problems on Clements
Field were fixed over the summer and some sections of replacement sod were not
yet ready for play.
“We were very happy with the way everything was run and thankful to Kenyon for
taking the tournament on for us,” Koons said.
All of Otterbein’s September matches originally scheduled for home will now be
played on the road at the opponent’s site.
Otterbein travels to Wooster Wednesday for a match scheduled to begin at 4:30
p.m.
Otterbein Soccer Tournament Moves to Kenyon
Written Sept. 6, 2007 by Ed Syguda
WESTERVILLE, OHIO--The Otterbein women's soccer tournament scheduled for
Saturday and Sunday in Westerville has been moved to Kenyon College in Gambier
due to the field conditions at Otterbein.
The tournament pairings remain the same, however, match times for Saturday have
changed. Otterbein will play Manchester at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The Cardinals
face Carnegie Mellon on Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m.
Otterbein fixed some drainage problems on Clements Field over the summer and the
Otterbein men's and women's coaching staffs determined that some sections of
replacement sod were not yet ready for play.
Women's Soccer Distributes Team Awards
Written Jan. 31, 2007 by Jason Miller
WESTERVILLE, OHIO--The Otterbein women’s soccer team handed out its team
honors at an awards ceremony held last Sunday on the campus of Otterbein
College.
The Cardinals recorded a school and Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) record 14
shutouts and earned their third-consecutive appearance into the NCAA Tournament.
After capturing their second-straight OAC regular-season title and losing via
penalty kicks to Capital in the OAC Tournament finals, Otterbein earned an
at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where it fell, 2-1, to Wittenberg in the
opening round of the Tournament in Springfield.
Eight Cardinal players were selected to All-OAC teams, and senior Lauren
Thompson earned OAC Defender of the Year, Great Lakes All-Region and All-America
honors. Four players were named to the Academic All-OAC teams, and senior
Annelise Erpenbeck was named Academic All-Region and Academic All-America.
A list of special award winners follows:
Junior forward Sara Vasbinder (Westerville/St. Francis DeSales High
School) was named the team’s most valuable offensive player for the
second-straight year. Vasbinder finished the season second on the team with 13
points on five goals and three assists, and was OAC player of the week. She also
garnered first team All-OAC honors while earning Academic All-OAC honorable
mention.
Senior defender Lauren Thompson (Pickerington) was named the most
valuable defensive player. A first team All-OAC selection, Thompson started all
21 games and led the team with 14 points on five goals and four assists while
helping Otterbein post a record 14 shutouts.
Sophomore defender Julie Kathman (Greenville) was named the team’s
most improved player. Kathman played in 20 games, registered three shots, one on
goal, and helped Otterbein post a record 14 shutouts.
Senior goalkeeper Annelise Erpenbeck (Lewis Center/Olentangy)
received the coaches’ award, an award specifically handed out by the coaches
for a player’s accomplishments and efforts reflecting the spirit of the team.
Erpenbeck, named All-OAC honorable mention, also set the school record for
most goalkeeper minutes played in a season (1957). She finished the season
leading the league in goals-against average (0.37), save percentage (.900) and
shutouts (14).
Sophomore midfielder Cara Gale (Westerville/Worthington Christian)
earned the team’s goal of the year award for her game-winning shot at
Wilmington in Otterbein’s 2-1 win. Gale scored a corner kick goal with 10
seconds left in regulation to lift the Cards to victory. Gale finished the
season with 4 points on one goal and two assists.
Senior forward Karen Beers (Bellbrook) finished her career as
Otterbein’s all-time leader in points (98) and goals (42). She was named first
team All-OAC, while also earning Academic All-OAC first team honors.
Nineteen Otterbein players were awarded letters at the ceremony. The complete
list follows:
Four-year letterwinners: Senior forward Hilary Atha (Granville),
Beers, Erpenbeck, senior
midfielder Ashley Service (Westfield Center/Cloverleaf), and Thompson.
Three-year letterwinners: Junior midfielder Chanel Smith (Dublin/Dublin
Scioto) and Vasbinder
Two-year letterwinners: Sophomore forward Lauren Capelle (Fairfield),
Gale, sophomore defender Alison Wallace (Sylvania/Northview), sophomore defender
Kate Weale (Worthington/Kilbourne).
First-year letterwinners: Freshman midfielder Becky Bowser
(Pickerington/North), freshman forward Megan Cooper (London/Jonathan Alder),
freshman defender Carly Dent (Pataskala/Watkins Memorial), sophomore midfielder
Natalie Harper (Ft. Leavenworth, KS/Leavenworth), Kathman, freshman forward
Jessica Toth (Poland/Poland Seminary), and sophomore defender Michelle Weingarth
(Zanesville/West Muskingum).
Participation Awards: Sophomore defender Beth Downs (Doylestown,
PA/Central Bucks West), sophomore forwards Tiffany Harrison (Worthington/Kilbourne),
sophomore forward Molly Koppel (Minneapolis, MN/South), freshman goalkeeper
Emily Lindsey (Coshocton/River View), senior midfielder Kelly Patterson
(Zanesville/Bishop Rosecrans), sophomore midfielder Stefanie Szarka (Westlake),
and freshman defender Sarah Warner (North Canton/Hoover).
Senior midfielder Jenna Brader (Westerville/St. Francis DeSales), sophomore
midfielder Rachel Kucharski (Westerville/St. Francis DeSales), senior forwards
Kelli Peirano (Gahanna/Lincoln), and senior defender Rachel Reitter
(Worthington/Thomas Worthington) received a medical redshirt.
Thompson
Earns All-America Honors
Written Dec. 8,
2006 by Ed Syguda
 WESTERVILLE,
OHIO—Defender Lauren Thompson, a senior from Pickerington, was named to the
2006 NSCAA/adidas All-America first team in women’s soccer, released today by
the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
Thompson, a two-time “defender of the year”
in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), helped lead Otterbein to its
second-straight OAC regular-season title and into the NCAA Division III
Tournament for the third straight year in 2006. She was also named to the NCAA
Division III All-Great Lakes Region first team.
“With
14 different starting line-ups this season—with players coming in and out of
injuries—a couple of players were counted on to get us through some tough
times,” said Otterbein head coach Brandon Koons. “Lauren helped us tie an
OAC record for shutouts and also led the team in scoring, all the while
organizing a relatively inexperienced defensive group that constantly changed.”
The defender helped orchestrate 14 shutouts
while allowing just 0.36 goals a game. In addition, Thompson scored five goals
and assisted four other goals to lead the team with 14 points.
“I honestly don’t know if I’ve seen a more consistent performance
over such a long period of time,” Koons added. “She was absolutely
brilliant and we needed her to be.”
Thompson
becomes the third women’s soccer player at Otterbein to earn All-America
honors.
Erpenbeck
Garners Academic All-America Honors
Written Nov. 21,
2006 by Ed Syguda
WESTERVILLE,
OHIO— Goalkeeper Annelise Erpenbeck, a senior from Lewis Center (Olentangy
High School), was named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first
team, released today by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA).
Erpenbeck, who is majoring in athletic
training, helped lead Otterbein to the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC)
regular-season title and into the NCAA Division III Tournament for the third
straight year. The goalkeeper allowed just eight goals in 21 games, and led the
OAC with a 0.37 goals-against average. She has made the Otterbein Dean’s List
all nine quarters.
Academic All-Americas are selected through
voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public
relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and
Canada.
To
be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve,
maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore
athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution and be nominated
by his/her sports information director.
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