2004 Archives

“We are very much a work in progress,” D’Arcy said. “Once we settled our system of play this past weekend, we seemed to improve.

“A lot of people are contributing,” D’Arcy added. “The team is evolving right now. It’s not set in stone.”

Forward Drew Pitzer, a senior from Worthington, scored six points in the tournament, tallying two goals and two assists.

Pitzer scored the tying goal and assisted on the game-winning goal from midfielder/forward Patrick Shick, a senior from Powell, in the 74th minute in the win over Goshen. Against Tri-State, he scored the first goal 18 minutes into the match and assisted the game-winner from midfielder/forward Matt Beckett, a sophomore from Sunbury, in the 85th minute.

Otterbein remains on the road, traveling to Wooster Thursday for a match scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--The Otterbein men’s soccer team handed out its team honors at an awards ceremony held Feb. 4 on the campus of Otterbein College.

The Cardinals finished the season 8-8-1 and 3-5-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), landing them in seventh place in the conference.  Of the eight losses, five of them came by one goal.

A list of special award winners follows:

Junior forward Drew Pitzer (Worthingtion/Thomas Worthington High School) was named the team’s most valuable offensive player. Pitzer led the team with 48 shots, six goals, four game-winnings goals, and was tied for first with 12 points. Pitzer tied for fourth in the league in game-winning goals and garnered second team All-OAC honors.

Junior defender John-Mark Mocas (Bellbrook) was named the team’s co-most valuable defensive player. Mocas scored three goals this season and anchored a defense that posted five shutouts on the year. He was also named OAC Co-Defender of the Year and first team All-OAC.

Junior goalkeeper Jordan Guhl (Gahanna/Lincoln) was named the team’s co-most valuable defensive player. Guhl posted a 1.57 goals-against average and made a league-leading 103 saves. He was also third in the conference with five shutouts.

Junior midfielder Patrick Shick (Powell/Olentangy) was named the team’s most improved player. Shick was second on the team in goals with five and tied for first in points (12).

Senior midfielder Kurt Marks (Canal Winchester) 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. Marks started all 17 games this year and notched one assist. He was also named to the Academic All-OAC team.  Marks ends his collegiate career with three goals, five assists and 11 points.

Twenty-four Otterbein players were awarded letters at the banquet. The complete list follows:

Four-year lettermen:  Senior midfielder Aaron Hickman (Westerville/Olentangy).

Three-year lettermen:  Marks, junior midfielder Adam Warner (Greenville), Pitzer, junior midfielder Jordan Gonzales (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), junior defender Ryan Studer (Reynoldsburg), Mocas, junior defender Kevin Stahr (Columbus/DeSales) and Guhl.

Two-year lettermen:  Junior midfielder Adam Boals (Mansfield/St. Peters), senior midfielder Aaron Lahman (Pemberville/Eastwood), Shick, sophomore defender Daniel Ensign (Westerville/South), sophomore defender R.J. Lindquist (Worthington/Kilbourne), sophomore midfielder Matt Weiss (Worthington/Kilbourne) and senior midfielder Dustin Wilshire (Ashville/Teays Valley).

First-year lettermen:  Junior forward Ian Doherty (Westerville/St. Francis DeSales), freshman forward Cody DiLauro (Broadview Heights/Independence), junior midfielder Andrew Beckett (Sunbury/Big Walnut), freshman midfielder Matt Beckett (Sunbury/Big Walnut), freshman midfielder Auggie Fisher (Dublin/Jerome), freshman forward Michael Mayo (Columbus/Tree of Life Christian), freshman defender Ephraim Medaugh (Corning/Bishop Rosecrans) and sophomore midfielder Jonathan Herr (Groveport/Madison).

Three Earn All-OAC Honors; Mocas Named Co-Defender of the Year
Written Nov. 10, 2006 by Jason Miller

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--Three Otterbein College men’s soccer players were named All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and defender John-Mark Mocas was named OAC Co-Defender of the Year, the OAC released today.

Mocas, a junior from Bellbrook, led a Cardinal defense that registered five shutouts this season. He is third on the team in points (7) and goals (3) and second on the team in game-winning goals (2).

Forward Drew Pitzer, a junior from Worthington (Thomas Worthington High School), earned second team All-OAC honors.  Pitzer led the team in goals (6) and game-winning goals (4) and was tied for first on the team in scoring with 12 points.  He was also tied for fourth in the league in game-winning goals.

Cards Prep for Season Finale
Written Oct. 27, 2006 by Jason Miller

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--Otterbein, 8-7-1 overall and 3-4-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, travels to Muskingum, 2 p.m., Saturday for the final game of the 2006 regular season.

“My expectations are that our team keeps up the effort from the last two games and play the best game they can right from the kickoff,” said head coach Gerry D’Arcy. “We also have to do a better job of defending during the first half of the game.”

The Muskies enter the match 9-7-1 overall and 4-3-1 in the OAC.  Muskingum recently upset 15th-ranked Baldwin-Wallace, 2-1, and dropped a tough match to Capital, 4-0.  The Cards have won the last five meetings against Muskingum.  Last season, the Cardinals blanked the Muskies 3-0 in their only meeting of the season.

“Muskingum defeated Heidelberg, 4-1, and they (Muskingum) are having the best season they have had in the last decade,” D’Arcy said.  “We know our final game will be very tough, especially at their field.”

Otterbein comes into the game off a 3-2 overtime win at Heidelberg Wednesday in Tiffin.  Midfielder Aaron Lahman, a senior from Pemberville (Eastwood High School), blasted two goals to take the game into overtime.  Defender John-Mark Mocas, a junior from Bellbrook, knocked in the game-winning goal in overtime.

“The Heidelberg match was pleasing because the team didn’t lay down, even though we were down 2-0 with 15 minutes left,” D’Arcy said.  “It was a very exciting comeback, and the win in overtime was great for team morale.”

Cards Prime for Tough OAC Tests
Written Oct. 17, 2006 by Jason Miller

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--Otterbein prepares for two tough Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) contests this week.

Otterbein, 7-6 overall and 2-3 in the OAC, travels to 15th-ranked Baldwin-Wallace, 7 p.m., Wednesday, and then hosts Capital in its final home match of the season Saturday at 3 p.m.

“We have a really tough road ahead now, but we will certainly make an effort to at least improve our mental attitude to the game,” D’Arcy said

The Yellow Jackets enter the match 12-1-1 overall and 4-1 in the conference.  Baldwin-Wallace recently shut out Heidelberg, 3-0, and Marietta, 2-0.  Over the past five meetings, each team won two games.  Last season, the Cards and Yellow Jackets battled to a 0-0 double overtime tie in their only meeting of the season.

“Baldwin-Wallace is a tough place to play and they are on a roll,” D’Arcy said, “so we have to match their energy and commitment.”

The Cards came into the week off a 2-1 overtime loss to John Carroll at Clements Field last Saturday.  Midfielder Patrick Shick, a junior from Powell (Olentangy High School), scored the lone goal for Otterbein off an assist from defender John-Mark Mocas, a junior from Bellbrook.

“The performance against John Carroll was sub par,” said head coach Gerry D’Arcy.  “The level of physical, mental and emotional commitment from some individuals was acceptable, but for the team as a whole, it was not.”

Cards Prepare for John Carroll
Written Oct. 13, 2006 by Jason Miller

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--Otterbein gets ready to host Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) foe John Carroll this weekend at Clements Field.

Recently, the Cards fell to Wilmington, 2-1, knocked off Mount Union, 1-0, and dropped a tough battle to Ohio Northern, 1-0.

“The Ohio Northern game was frustrating for us because I thought we played quite well, and the commitment of our players was good,” said head coach Gerry D’Arcy.  “It was tough to lose the 3 points on one goal scored in the last 5 minutes but, conversely, we have to score goals to win games.”

Otterbein, 7-5 overall and 2-2 in the OAC, hosts John Carroll, 4 p.m., Saturday, and then are scheduled to battle Baldwin-Wallace Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Berea.

“Defensively, we are making a good effort, with forwards, midfielders and defenders all contributing in that area,” D’Arcy said.  “Offensively, we are struggling to manufacture goals, and we will keep working on this aspect in practice, hoping that we can eventually get a balanced attack with many players involved.”

The Blue Streaks enter the match 0-7-4 overall and 0-2-2 in the conference.  John Carroll recently tied Muskingum, 1-1, and dropped a 3-1 decision to Capital.  The Cards own a 4-3-1 advantage over the Blue Streaks in the last eight meetings.  Last season, John Carroll defeated Otterbein 3-2, in overtime, in their only meeting of the season.

“John Carroll is last year’s OAC champions and they have pretty much the same players as last year,” D’Arcy said. “They are a very technical team and are very dangerous if you let them play.

“We have to find a way to disrupt their rhythm,” D’arcy added, “and make them defend us. We know we will only get what we work for this year.”

Cards Prepare for Wilmington
Written Oct. 3, 2006 by Jason Miller

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--After defeating Marietta, 1-0, in the final seconds of regulation, the Cardinals look to remain undefeated in league play.

Forward Drew Pitzer, a junior from Worthington (Thomas Worthington High School), notched the game-winning goal with 21 seconds left in regulation to lift the Cards past the Pioneers last Saturday at Marietta Field.

“I was pleased with the persistence that led to the goal right at the end of regulation,” said head coach Gerry D’Arcy.  “We could have lost the game on a penalty that we gave up but, fortunately, they missed their penalty kick like we missed ours.”

Otterbein, 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the OAC, hosts Wilmington, 2 p.m., Wednesday at Clements Fields.

The Quakers enter the match 5-3-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.  Wilmington recently fell to Capital in overtime, 1-0, to begin their 2006 OAC campaign.  The Cards own a 4-3 advantage over the Quakers in the last seven meetings.  Last season, Wilmington defeated Otterbein 2-1 in their only meeting of the season.

“We are trying to work on the same things we have been working on all season,” D’Arcy said.  “We are trying to do a better job of getting numbers into our attack, and attack with a little bit more precision.

“We have scored good goals, but we need to score bad goals,” D’Arcy added.  “We need to score goals where the ball just goes off someone’s shin or something like that.”

Cards Prepare for OAC Opener
Written Sept. 22, 2006 by Jason Miller

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--Otterbein plays its final nonconference match this weekend before Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play begins.

Otterbein, 4-3 overall, hosts Anderson (IN), 2 p.m., Sunday at Clements Fields.

The Cardinals come into the match off a 5-0 loss at third-ranked Ohio Wesleyan Wednesday.

“We were down two nil at the half, and for the first 10 minutes of the second half we had a lot of pressure on them, but weren’t able to score,” said head coach Gerry D’Arcy.  “I think had we been able to score, we might have been able to get up and play better."

Ohio Wesleyan was able to capitalize on critical Otterbein mistakes and out-muscle the Cardinals en route to the win, according to D’Arcy.  However, he saw significant positives in the loss.

“We saw a few things from certain players, who we feel may be able to give us minutes in a game,” D’Arcy said.

Following Anderson, the Cardinals have a week off to prepare for their OAC opener at Marietta Sept. 30.

“Every game in the OAC this year is going to be a dog fight,” D’Arcy said.  “We have to play better in the OAC games than we have so far.”

Cards Remain Unbeaten
Written Sept. 8, 2006 by Jason Miller

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--Otterbein extended its unbeaten streak with a 2-0 victory over Mount Vernon Nazarene Wednesday.

“I’m satisfied with the standard of play and effort the team is putting in,” Head Coach Gerry D’Arcy said.  “We are learning from every game.”

Defender Drew Pitzer, a junior from Worthington (Thomas Worthington High School) scored Otterbein’s first goal in the eighth.  Jordan Gonzales, a sophomore midfielder from Worthington (Thomas Worthington) got the assist.  Otterbein added another goal in the 44th minute by Patrick Shick, a junior midfielder from Powell (Olentangy).  Adam Boals, a junior midfielder from Mansfield (St. Peters) got the assist.

Goalkeeper Jordan Guhl, a junior from Gahanna (Lincoln), registered five saves.

“I think Jordan is playing well,” D’Arcy said.  “Everybody contributes in their own way.” 

Otterbein, 3-0 overall, takes on Wooster, 3:30 p.m., Saturday at Wooster.
 

Jordan Guhl

In game one, the Cardinals took a 1-0 deficit into the second half before defender John-Mark Mocas, a junior from Bellbrook (Bellbrook High School), scored the equalizer in the 52nd minute.  He would later tally the go-ahead goal in the 56th minute on an assist by Jordan Gonzales, a sophomore midfielder from Worthington (Thomas Worthington).

In game two, Otterbein jumped on top on a goal by Patrick Shick, a junior midfielder from Powell (Olentangy), in the 38th minute.  After Wittenberg knotted the game at 1-1 early in the second half, Drew Pitzer, a junior defender from Worthington (Thomas Worthington), scored the game-winning goal in the 79th minute on an assist by Gonzales.

Adam Rothermel

The Clyde A. Lamb Awards are named in honor of the man who organized the Department of Health and Physical Education at Ohio Northern in 1929. He served as coach, department chairman, and athletics director at ONU from 1929-64.

Criteria for the award include at least two year's participation in an OAC-sponsored sport, senior status, a minimum grade-point average of 3.00 and sportsmanlike conduct in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete and his/her institution.

Rothermel, a molecular biology major, was a four-year starter for the Otterbein men’s soccer team and played in 77 career games. He accumulated 34 points on 14 goals and six assists. Rothermel helped his team to a pair of OAC regular-season titles, one OAC Tournament title and an appearance in the 2002 NCAA Division III national championship game.

During the NCAA Tournament, the senior scored the game-winning goal in a semifinal win over Trinity, Texas.

Lewis and Neiderman Named Team MVP
Written by Craig Coleman 02/10/06

Senior forward Justin Lewis and senior defender Brett Neiderman were named offensive and defensive most valuable players of the Otterbein men’s soccer team at the team’s annual awards banquet held Sunday, Jan. 29 on the campus of Otterbein College.

Sophomore midfielder Adam Boals, from Mansfield (St. Peters), was named the team’s most improved player.

The Cardinals finished the regular season 8-8-2, 4-4-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), good for fifth place in the conference. Otterbein won three of its final four games and came within one win of qualifying for the OAC Tournament, which takes only the top four teams.

Of the Cardinals eight losses, seven came by one goal, two in overtime, including a heart-breaking 3-2 overtime decision to OAC regular-season and tournament champion, John Carroll.

Three Cardinal players were selected to All-OAC teams and two were named to the Academic All-OAC team. A list of special award winners follows:

Lewis, from Grove City, was selected as the offensive most valuable player. Lewis, a transfer from the University of Cincinnati, led the team and the OAC in points (40), goals (17), and shots (100). The senior was also named to the Great Lakes Region second team, All-OAC first team, and earned OAC forward of the year, just the second Cardinal in school history to win the award, joining Angelo Manzo who won it in 2002.

In 60 career games Lewis accumulated 87 points on 35 goals and 17 assists.

Brett Neiderman, from Cuyahoga Falls, was named the most valuable defensive player. The senior was also named to the OAC first team and earned Academic All-OAC. Defensively, Otterbein finished the season allowing just 24 goals for a 1.30-goals-against average, fourth best in the OAC, including six shutouts.

In 2002, Neiderman scored Otterbein’s lone goal in the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Final, then booted home the game-winner in a 6-5 shootout win over Ohio Wesleyan, sending the squad to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

Neiderman finished his career tallying 16 points on four goals and eight assists in 80 career games.

Brett LeFever, a senior forward from Westerville (Westerville South), finished second on the team with 15 points on 5 goals and 5 assists. LeFever was also named to the All-OAC second team by the conference coaches.

In 50 career games at Otterbein, LeFever tallied 39 points on 13 goals and 13 assists.

Adam Boals was named the team’s most improved player. Boals tallied his first career goal and assist in a pair of victories for Otterbein and provided solid minutes throughout the season.

Adam Rothermel, a senior midfielder from Columbus (Worthington Kilbourne), recorded 5 points on a goal and three assists and was named to the Academic All-OAC team. Rothermel was also named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Soccer second team as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA).

The four-year starter played in 77 career games accumulating 34 points on 14 goals and six assists.

Twenty-four Otterbein players were awarded letters at the banquet. The complete list follows:

Four-year lettermen:  Rothermel, Neiderman, and senior defender Auston Bland (Columbus/Hilliard Darby).

Three-year lettermen:  LeFever, senior defender Micah Doyel (Westerville/Worthington Christian), and junior midfielder Aaron Hickman (Westerville/Olentangy).

Two-year lettermen: Junior midfielder Kurt Marks (Canal Winchester), sophomore midfielder Adam Warner (Greenville), sophomore midfielder Drew Pitzer (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), sophomore midfielder Jordan Gonzales (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), Lewis, sophomore defender Ryan Studer (Reynoldsburg), sophomore forward John-Mark Mocas (Bellbrook), sophomore defender Kevin Stahr (Columbus/DeSales), sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Guhl (Gahanna/Lincoln), and senior midfielder Andrew Heasley (Pickerington).

First-year lettermen: Boals, junior midfielder Aaron Lahman (Pemberville/Eastwood), sophomore midfielder Patrick Shick (Powell/Olentangy), freshman defender Daniel Ensign (Westerville/South), freshman midfielder R.J. Lindquist (Worthington/Kilbourne), sophomore midfielder Matt Weiss (Worthington/Kilbourne), freshman forward Abdoulaye Sy (Franklin/Walnut Ridge), and junior goalkeeper Justin Tatman (Pittsburgh, PA/Schenley).

Aaron Kennedy and Justin Buren earned participation awards.

Lewis Takes OAC Player of the Year Honor
Written by Craig Coleman 11/10/05

Justin Lewis, of the Otterbein men’s soccer team, was selected Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) forward of the year, the OAC announced today.

Lewis, a senior from Grove City, led the team with 40 points on 17 goals and six assists, as well as four game-winning goals. The senior also ranks first in points and goals in the OAC. Lewis is the second Cardinal in school history to win the honor, joining Angelo Manzo, who won it in 2002.

Lewis transferred from Cincinnati during the 2004 season and has accumulated 87 points on 35 goals and 17 assists in 60 career games. The senior also earned first team All-OAC honors for the second consecutive year.

Other Cardinal players earning All-OAC honors include Brett Neiderman, a senior defender from Cuyahoga Falls, first team; and Bret LeFever, a senior forward from Westerville (South), second team.

Neiderman was a second team All-OAC selection in 2004 and in 80 career games tallied 16 points on four goals and eight assists.  In 2002, Neiderman scored Otterbein’s lone goal in the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Final, then booted home the game-winner in a 6-5 shootout win over Ohio Wesleyan, sending the squad to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

LeFever tallied 15 points on five goals and five assists this season, second on the team. The senior was an honorable mention All-OAC selection last season. In 69 career games, LeFever, who also played at Cumberland College, accumulated 46 points on 14 goals and 18 assists.

Rothermel: Academic All-District 2nd Team
Written by Craig Coleman 11/03/05

Senior midfielder Adam Rothermel was named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Soccer second team as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA).

Rothermel, from Columbus (Worthington Kilbourne High School), carries a 3.51-grade-point average in molecular biology and started all 18 games for the 8-8-2 Cardinals this season.

The four-year starter played in 77 career games accumulating 34 points on 14 goals and six assists. In the 2002 NCAA Tournament, the senior scored the game-winning goal in a semifinal win over Trinity (TX).  He has made the Dean’s List six out of nine quarters and was awarded the E. Jeanne Willis Life Science Endowment Award for 2005.

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.

During his career, the Cardinals won two OAC regular-season championships, one OAC Tournament championship, and finished second in the 2002 NCAA Division III Soccer Tournament.

Cards End Season With a Loss
Written by Craig Coleman 10/29/05

Otterbein men’s soccer team lost 1-0 in the 88th minute to Heidelberg at home Saturday, officially ending the team’s season.  It was the Cardinals seventh one goal loss of the year, and ended the team's seasons-best three game winning streak.

Otterbein finishes the season 8-8-2 overall, 4-4-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).  Heidelberg ends their season at 9-7-1, 3-5-1 in the OAC.

Both teams had opportunities to score in the first half.  Otterbein came close on a through pass delivered by senior defender Auston Bland, from Columbus (Hilliard Darby High School) to senior forward Justin Lewis, of Grove City, in the 25th minute.  Just as it seemed the pass would sneak by the defense, the Heidelberg defender managed to get a foot on it and clear the ball.  Three minutes later junior midfielder Kurt Marks, of Canal Winchester, sent in a low driven service that deflected off a defender and nearly crept by the Student Prince goalkeeper.

Heidelberg came away with a great opportunity in the 32nd minute, when midfielder Kevin Holt ripped a shot from about 15 yards out.  The Cardinals sophomore goalkeeper, Jordan Guhl, made the save.  Guhl, from Gahanna (Lincoln High School), was credited with nine saves for the game, and finished the season with a 1.18-goals-against average, five shutouts, and 105 saves.

What followed a relatively quiet first half, with no goals and only seven combined fouls, turned a bit ugly in the second half.  With Otterbein fighting to qualify for a berth in the OAC Tournament, emotion ran high and tempers were on edge.  Sixteen fouls were called in the second half, in addition to two yellow card cautions, and several hard tackles.

The game ended, however, when the Cardinals were pressing late in the game to score.  Off an Otterbein throw-in deep in their offensive third, the ball was cleared, and on the ensuing counter attack Heidelberg forward Brent Kehrle found the back of the net. The Cardinals did not manage a shot in the final two minutes.

Before the game, eight Otterbein seniors were honored for their time and service given to the Cardinal program: Auston Bland, Justin Lewis, Micah Doyel, of Westerville (Worthington Christian High School), Andrew Heasley, of Pickerington, Bret LeFever, of Westerville (South High School), Brett Neiderman, of Cuyahoga Falls, Adam Rothermel, of Columbus (Worthington Kilbourne High School), and Justin Tatman, from Pittsburgh, Penn. (Schenley High School).

Thank you, guys, for your contributions.

Cards Win Third Straight
Written by Craig Coleman 10/26/05

Otterbein men’s soccer team defeated Muskingum 3-0 on the road Wednesday for their third straight victory.

The Cardinals scored twice in the first half despite wet and messy conditions.  Senior forward Bret LeFever, of Westerville (South High School), one-timed a nice slot pass from forward Justin Lewis in the 26th minute.  Fifteen minutes later, sophomore midfielder Drew Pitzer, from Worthington (Thomas Worthington High School), found senior midfielder Adam Rothermel’s thru pass, poked the ball through an oncoming defender’s legs, and proceeded to knock home the second goal of the game.  For Rothermel, who is from Columbus (Worthington Kilbourne High School), it was his third assist of the season.

Lewis, from Grove City, headed in his team-leading 17th goal in the 51st minute after receiving a nice chip service from junior midfielder Kurt Marks, of Canal Winchester.

The Cardinals now sit in fifth place of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) at 4-3-1 with one game remaining.  In order to qualify for the OAC Tournament, Otterbein must win their final match, and hope that Capital loses their final two games.

Otterbein, 8-7-2 overall, finish the regular season against Hiedelberg, 2 p.m., Saturday at home.

Lewis Named OAC Player of Week
Written by Craig Coleman 10/24/05

Justin Lewis, a senior forward from Grove City, was selected Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) player of the week in men’s soccer.

Lewis scored three goals and added an assist in a pair of Cardinal wins over Marietta and Ohio Northern last week. Lewis scored a pair of goals and contributed to the game-winning assist against Marietta.  Against Ohio Northern, Lewis scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season and fourth game-winning goal.

The 2004 first team All-OAC selection currently leads the OAC in goals (16) and points (37).

Otterbein, 7-7-2 overall, takes on Muskingum, 3:30 p.m., Wednesday on the road, and finishes off the regular season against Heidelberg, 2 p.m., Saturday in Westerville.

Cardinals Take Down the Polar Bears
Written by Bret Billhardt and Craig Coleman 10/22/05

Senior forward Justin Lewis, from Grove City, scored the game-winning goal in the 40th minute over Ohio Northern to lead the Cardinals to a 1-0 victory Saturday at home.  Assists were credited to junior midfielders Kurt Marks, of Canal Winchester, and Aaron Lahman, of Pemberville (Eastwood High School).

Otterbein, again, found itself in a one goal game for the 10th time this year, where the game could have gone either way based upon each teams’ opportunities.  In the 16th minute, Ohio Northern caromed a direct kick from 25 yards out off the post.  Late in the first half, Lewis found himself in front of the Polar Bear goalkeeper, only to see his rebound opportunity ricochet off the post.

The Cardinals came out strong defensively in the second half and limited the Polar Bears opportunities.  Head coach Gerry D’Arcy said that it was the team’s goal throughout the week to play more assertively and aggressively on defense.

“I thought that made the difference today,” D’Arcy said. “We got the ball higher up the field instead of sitting back with our midfield and defense.

“It was a good win for us today,” D’Arcy continued. “It takes us to .500 on the season and league.  We’ve still got an outside chance of getting in the final four.”  The Cardinals now sit in fifth place of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) with a 3-3-1 record and two games remaining.  Only the top four teams qualify for the conference tournament.

Another key to the victory, according to senior defender Brett Neiderman of Cuyahoga Falls, was the teams’ ability to possess the ball.  Through possession, the Cardinals held onto the ball longer and made things easier on the defense, Neiderman said.

Junior goalkeeper Jordan Guhl, from Gahanna (Lincoln High School) was credited with four saves in the game, as well as his fourth shutout.

Otterbein, 7-7-2 overall, plays next at Muskingum, 3:30 p.m., Wednesday.

LeFever: Small in Stature, Big in Heart
Written by Craig Coleman 10/21/05

At 5-3, Bret LeFever is probably one of the shortest players in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).  On his own team, LeFever is a good three inches shorter than the next shortest player.

Perhaps, it is a testament to the game of soccer that anyone of any size can play the game.  While growing up, however, LeFever has listened to countless fans and opponents call him names.

“I’ve been called a midget.  I’ve been called an Oompa-Loompa,” said LeFever, a senior forward from Westerville.

This season at Wilmington, the crowd was all over LeFever, calling him everything from a midget to an eighth grader.  But the name calling only serves to light a fire under him. “It makes me push that much harder,” LeFever continued. “When I scored at Wilmington all I could do was smile.”

LeFever’s goal at Wilmington came on a flighted service he one-touch-volleyed over 20 yards from goal.  After the goal, he ran to his teammates to celebrate, taking one quick glance at the Wilmington fans to say—am I too short now?

What LeFever has done is compiled an impressive soccer career, garnering 37 career points on 12 goals and 13 assists in three seasons at Otterbein.  This season he is second on the team with 13 points on four goals and five assists.  Although LeFever has not scored as many goals as he would have liked, he refuses to let it stop him from giving it all he has each time he steps on the field.

“My first select soccer coach, Larry Williams, told me to always play your heart out, to give it 110 percent and don’t ever quit,” LeFever explained.  Whenever he is down, LeFever will call on Williams for encouragement, and his old coach will remind him that when others put him down he needs to be the bigger man.

“There have been times when I’m down,” LeFever said. “But the way I look at it—if the man marking me wins our first battle, there’s always going to be another one.  I’m not going to give up. You might beat me nine out of 10 times, but that one time I beat you, I’m going to make you pay for it.”

As his Otterbein career nears an end, LeFever takes to heart the lesson he learned when one of his best friend’s, Connor Senn, who played for Ohio State, died on the soccer field at Akron in 2001. At home, LeFever keeps Senn’s picture on his dresser.  He sees it before he leaves for each game and is reminded to give it his all.

In the future, LeFever plans to graduate from Otterbein with a degree in health promotion and fitness.  He is also considering returning to Otterbein to finish a nursing degree.  But what he will remember from his career at Otterbein are his friends and teammates that have become his family these past three years.

With three games left in the season, Otterbein still has an outside chance to get into the OAC Tournament, where only the top four teams qualify.  Though the season has been rough for LeFever and his teammates, he says that the team can get it done. “We’ve only been beaten by more than one goal once all year.  We know we're as good as every team we’ve played,” LeFever said. “We need to keep our heads up and look forward to the next game.”

LeFever is used to overcoming odds.  Proving people wrong has been something he’s strived to honor in his life.  “I think when people underestimate you, you tend to do better.  I like it when people say I can’t do things.  It makes me work that much harder,” LeFever said.

Cards Record First OAC Victory
Written by Craig Coleman 10/12/05

It took four tries in overtime, but Otterbein finally won their first overtime game of the season, 2-1, over Mount Union Tuesday at home.

Senior forward Justin Lewis, from Grove City, scored in the 99th minute after receiving an over the top pass from sophomore midfielder Drew Pitzer (Thomas Worthington High School).  On the play, it appeared that the Mount Union defender tried to make a pass-back to the goalkeeper, but Lewis snuck in just in time to secure the ball, beat the keeper, and secure the victory.

The game was a tale of two halves.  Mount Union dictated most of the play in the first half, though only out-shooting the Cardinals 15-12.  Otterbein’s play in the first half was very disappointing, said head coach Gerry D’Arcy.

In order to change the second half momentum, Otterbein pushed more players forward, including going to a three forward formation.  The additional pressure seemed to work as the Cardinals started getting more chances the longer the game wore on.  Finally, in the 78th minute, Otterbein was rewarded with a throw-in deep in their offensive third.  Sophomore defender Ryan Studer, from Reynoldsburg, sent the long throw in, which found sophomore forward John-Mark Mocas (Bellbrook High School), who promptly flicked the ball over the out-stretched arms of the Raider goalkeeper.

For the game, Mount Union out-shot Otterbein 31-25.  Sophomore goakeeper Jordan Guhl, from Gahanna (Lincoln High School) was credited with eight saves.  Backup goalkeeper Justin Tatman, from Pittsburgh, Penn. (Schenley High School) was credited with two saves after entering in the 88th minute.

Not only was this Otterbein’s first overtime victory of the season, but it was also their first home and OAC victory.

“I’m really glad for the team to get their first victory at home,” said D’Arcy.  “We needed to get a win, and in the second half we found a way to win ugly. The biggest thing for us right now is to play at a steady intensity that we can keep up throughout our games.”

Otterbein, (5-6-2, 1-2-1 OAC), will get that chance next on the road against Capital, 11 a.m., Saturday.

Cards Come Close but Fall in OAC Opener
Written by Craig Coleman 10/02/05

Otterbein gave it all they had for 90 minutes but came up short, 2-1, on the road at Wilmington Saturday night.

Forward Brett LeFever got the Cardinals on the board in the 22nd minute with a highlight-reel volley 20 yards from goal.  Midfielder Drew Pitzer was credited with the assist.

The Quakers managed to tie the game in the 40th minute when a low driven shot by Wilmington’s David Benedict beat goalkeeper Jordan Guhl to the far post.

Tied at the half, the Cardinals continued to play strong all the while battling continuous pressure from the Quakers.  In the 55th minute the Quakers managed to pull ahead off a service and one-timer that found the back of the net.  Seven minutes later Wilmington was rewarded with a penalty kick opportunity that Guhl pushed aside and deflected off the post.  Guhl was credited with 10 saves for the game.

The Cardinals out-shot the Quakers 26-22, and only came up short on the scoreboard, not opportunities to score.  In the 20th minute, forward Justin Lewis saw his breakaway attempt snuffed by the Quaker keeper.  After several close chances passed in the second half, the Cardinals best attempt to tie the game came in the 90th minute.  Forward John-Mark Mocas sent a long throw-in into the penalty area that bounced around, was deflected, and finally shot by Lewis, but was cleared by the defense on the goal line.

Though coming up short, head coach Gerry D’Arcy thought the Cardinals played hard to the very end.

“I was very pleased with our level of commitment for 90 minutes,” D’Arcy said.  “They’re the defending champions of the OAC, and I didn’t think that game was over until the final whistle blew.”

Otterbein (4-5-1, 0-1) plays their next OAC match against John Carroll at home, 4 p.m., Tuesday.

Cards Open OAC Against Wilmington
Written by Craig Coleman 09/29/05

Otterbein will play their first Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game against Wilmington this Saturday, 7 p.m., on the road.

The Cardinals (4-4-1) enter the game on a two game winning streak, having just finished a tough non-conference schedule.

The purpose of the tough schedule, however, was to prepare the team for the OAC.  The Cards first game figures to be just as challenging.

Wilmington enters the match 5-4-0 overall, including close losses to Wittenberg, Christopher Newport, and No. 5 Ohio Wesleyan. Last season, the Cardinals lost to Wilmington 2-0.

Forward Justin Lewis leads the Cardinals with 24 points on 10 goals and four assists.  Goalkeeper Jordan Guhl has started each of the first nine games, tallying a 1.36 goals-against-average.

Cards Battle Through Tough Schedule
Written by Craig Coleman 09/18/05

Otterbein’s men soccer team has lost three tough one-goal games in a row, each goal coming late in the game or in overtime.  There will be no reprieve, however, from the schedule.

Otterbein (2-3-1) will take on fifth-ranked Ohio Wesleyan, 4 p.m., Wednesday at home.

Though the team has suffered a string of tough losses, head coach Gerry D’Arcy’s plan is to use the non-conference games as a tool to sort out the team’s organization.  In other words, the team is still learning about itself, what positions are best for players, and what brand of soccer the team will play in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).

“We’re still trying to sort out our pieces, organize better, get players to know their positions, and get their seasoning against good teams,” D’Arcy said.  “We had a chance this past weekend to play a lot of new players, some who showed they can be involved.”

The difference between winning and losing often hinges on one big play.  Against Denison on Friday, Otterbein had a chance to break a one goal tie in the 43rd-minute when forward Justin Lewis’ one-timer sailed just over the crossbar.  Again, in the 85th-minute Lewis went in alone on the Big Red goalkeeper, only to see his shot deflected outside the post.  Defender Brett Neiderman kept things alive in the first overtime by heading a Denison shot off the goal line.

In the first-half against Christopher Newport (CNU) on Saturday, forward John-Mark Mocas just missed a go-ahead goal, only to see his header redirect off the crossbar.  In what turned out to be a very physical match, with 31 whistles, eight yellow cards, and two ejections, Otterbein battled to the end.  Down by a goal with eight seconds to go Lewis stole the ball and was fouled just outside the penalty box.  Midfielder Bret LeFever took the set-piece, narrowly sending the ball wide of the goal.

“We played competitive against a very good team,” said D’Arcy referring to CNU.  “They’re the kind of team that can blow teams away. But we knew going in that we had a tough non-conference schedule. And it’s going to get tougher.”

Cards Look to Rebound at Home
Written by Craig Coleman 09/14/05

After falling in the final minute in the home opener, Otterbein will look to regain momentum this weekend.

The Cardinals (2-1-1) host Denison Friday and Christopher Newport on Saturday.  Both games are scheduled to start at 4 p.m.

Last season against Denison, the Cardinal defense blanked the Big Red 4-0.  Forwards Justin Lewis and Bret LeFever lead the way with two goals and one goal, respectively.

Denison enters the match with a 1-3-0 record.  Since 1996, Otterbein and Denison have played six times with the Cardinals holding a 4-2-0 advantage.

The Cardinals have not played Christopher Newport in head coach Gerry D’Arcy’s tenure.  The Captains enter the game with a 3-2-0 record, including a 2-0 shutout of Wilmington.

Lewis enters the week having scored a goal in every Otterbein game this season. His current goal-scoring streak stands at six games, dating back to Oct. 26, 2004, a 2-0 win over Muskingum.

Goalkeeper Jordan Guhl has played all 360 minutes in the first four games.

Cards Open Season Undefeated
Written by Craig Coleman 09/08/05

Fresh off a 2-1 victory over Mount Vernon Nazarene, Otterbein opens play at home Saturday taking on Wooster at 4 p.m.  The two teams last played each other in 2003, finishing a hard fought match with a 1-1 overtime tie.

Scoreless at the half at Mount Vernon Nazarene, forward Justin Lewis finally got Otterbein on the board in the 48th minute from a corner kick taken by midfielder Jordan Gonzales.  Gonzales earned his second assist three minutes later, threading a through pass to forward John-Mark Mocas and the eventual game-winning goal.  Goalkeeper Jordan Guhl was credited with eight saves.  The Cougar’s lone goal came in the 58th minute on a penalty kick.

In assessing his team’s performance, head coach Gerry D’Arcy was not entirely pleased, saying that they were lucky to escape with a win.

“We were under a lot pressure in the second half,” D’Arcy said.  “We can be a dangerous team, but right now we’re not where we need to be.  We need to put together a more stable defensive performance as a team.”

Otterbein, (2-0-1), opened the new season last weekend, winning its second Wittenberg Invitational title in the last three years.

Against Wittenberg, Otterbein jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead with goals by midfielder Adam Rothermel and Lewis.  Midfielder Brett Neiderman assisted the second goal with a beautiful serve off of a set piece that Lewis headed in.  Wittenberg charged back in the second half, tying the game at two in the 55th minute before midfielder Brett LeFever put the Cardinals back on top with a low driven shot in the box a minute later.  Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the Tigers still had some energy left and salvaged a 3-3 tie.

Upset but undaunted, Otterbein returned to Wittenberg the next day to face Ohio Dominican.  Pouncing on the Panthers’ early and often, the Cardinals scored three first-half goals, this time holding the lead for a 4-0 shutout.  Otterbein was lead by Lewis’ two goals, as well as one goal apiece from midfielders Drew Pitzer and Matt Weiss.  Guhl was credited with five saves and the shutout.

“We played well against Wittenberg in the first half, but faltered a bit in the second,” D’Arcy said.  “We jumped on Ohio Dominican early, but they’re a good team and had we not scored like we did the game might’ve turned out different.”

Cards Shoot for Top Four of the OAC
Written by Craig Coleman 08/30/05

The 2005 Otterbein men’s soccer team is hoping that the return of 18 lettermen, including eight of the starting lineup, will propel the team back into the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament.

No matter how the 2005 Otterbein men’s soccer team fares in the pre-conference games, the ultimate goal is to be in the top four of the OAC in order to qualify for the league tournament.  Otterbein, 9-6-1 overall and 5-4 in the OAC last season, won three of their last four conference games but fell short of qualifying for the league tournament.

The ultimate goal of the Otterbein men’s team has not changed as D’Arcy enters his 17th season.

“We aim to be competitive in all the games we play,” D’Arcy said.  “We want to be the best we can be with the talent level we have here in any given year.”

But winning the OAC is not easy.  “The standard in the OAC is tremendously high now,” D’Arcy added.  “There is great parity among the teams.”

The backbone of the team will be the seniors:  forwards Justin Lewis and Brett LeFever, midfielders Adam Rothermel and Brett Neiderman, and defenders Auston Bland and Micah Doyel.

Offensively, Otterbein returns three of its top four scorers.  After transferring from the University of Cincinnati, Lewis tallied team highs in goals (11), assists (7), points (29), and game-winning goals (3).  Lewis was named first-team All-OAC, second-team All-Ohio, and second-team All-Great Lakes Region in 2004.  LeFever, an honorable mention All-OAC pick, tied for second on the team with 12 points on five goals and two assists.  Rothermel was fourth on the team with 10 points on four goals and two assists.

Defensively, Otterbein returns a strong unit to the OAC, led by Neiderman, Bland, and Doyel.  The three seniors helped Otterbein tally a 1.15-goals-against average, third best in the conference, along with five shutouts.  The Cardinals limited their opponents to just 19 goals for the season, tying them for first in the OAC.  Neiderman was a second-team All-Ohio selection and a third-team All-Ohio pick in 2004. 

Rounding out the list of returning starters are junior midfielders Kurt Marks and sophomore Drew Pitzer.  Marks started 10 games and tallied four points on two goals.  Pitzer started 15 contests, recording six points on two goals and two assists.  Pitzer joins a group of sophomores that D’Arcy believes could have a significant impact on the upcoming season.

“We had a good recruiting year last year, and we’re hoping that group of sophomores will show the results of a year in a college program,” D’Arcy said.

Getting his first chance to start a season, Jordan Guhl will take over the goalkeeping duties. Guhl competed in three games last season, allowing only one goal and finishing with a 1-0 record.

Accolades and statistics aside, D’Arcy refers to the Otterbein program as team oriented, rather than one led by a few individuals. 

“We have to outwork other teams to win games, pure and simple,” D’Arcy explained.  “That’s very much going to be the case this year.”

In terms of their style of play, D’Arcy plans on implementing a flexible 3-5-2 offensive formation that can maneuver into a defensive 4-4-2. 

“We try to get at teams in a lot of different ways,” D’Arcy said.  “We can go down the sides or through the middle.  We can go short passing or with early long balls.  We can also be effective on set pieces.”

The main thing is to maximize the team’s abilities and find out what works best for the players.  Having won five of the past eight OAC Tournament championships, Otterbein has established high standards and expectations for the men’s soccer program.

“People know that when they play us it will be tough,” D’Arcy explained.  “Every year we try to be disciplined, organized, and tough to beat in transition.” 

Otterbein opens it season Sept. 3-4 at the Wittenberg Tournament.  The Cardinals challenge defending conference champion Wilmington Oct. 1 to kick off the OAC schedule.

Lewis, Neiderman Named Most Valuable
Written by Justin Hamilton 02/01/05

The Otterbein men’s soccer team put a cap on the 2004 season with its annual awards banquet held last Sunday on the campus of Otterbein College.

The Cardinals concluded play at 9-6-1 overall and 5-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), falling just two points shy of qualifying for the OAC Tournament.  Otterbein made a push for the final spot in the tournament after going 3-1 in its final four matches.

Four Cardinal players were selected to All-OAC teams and one was named to the Academic All-OAC team.  A list of special award winners follows:

Justin Lewis, a junior forward from Grove City (Grove City High School), was selected as the Otterbein offensive “most valuable player” by the Cardinal coaches.  Lewis, a transfer from the University of Cincinnati, recorded a team-high 29 points on 11 goals and seven assists despite missing four games of the season.  In addition, Lewis earned first-team All-OAC, second-team All-Ohio, and second-team All-Great Lakes Region honors.  Lewis netted three multi-goal games along with three-game winning goals, which was a team-best.

Brett Neiderman, a junior defenseman from Cuyahoga Falls (Cuyahoga Fall High School), was named the “most valuable player” of the Otterbein defensive unit.  Neiderman helped Otterbein tally a 1.15 goals-against-average along with five shutouts.  He was also named second-team All-OAC and third-team All-Ohio.

Jeff Rust, a senior goalkeeper from Saline, Mich. (Saline Area High School), earned his fourth letter as a member of the Cardinal soccer team.  Rust totaled an 8-6-1 record in 2004 and helped lead Otterbein to the 2002 NCAA Division III National Championship game with his 0.609 goals-against-average.  Rust also earned second-team All-OAC honors and a third-team All-Ohio honors this season. 

Brett LeFever, a junior forward from Westerville (Westerville South High School), tied for second on the team with 12 points on five goals and two assists.  LeFever was an honorable mention All-OAC pick by the conference coaches. 

Adam Rothermel, a junior midfielder from Columbus (Worthington Kilbourne High School), recorded 10 points on four goals and two assists.  Rothermel was a first-team Academic All-OAC selection.

Nineteen Otterbein players were awarded letters at the banquet.  The complete list follows:

Four-year lettermen:  Rust. 

Three-year lettermen:  Jeremy Davis, a senior midfielder from Englewood (Northmont High School); Auston Bland, a junior defender from Hilliard (Hilliard-Darby High School); Neiderman, and Rothermel.

Two-year lettermen: Ritchie Hunter, a senior midfielder from West Jefferson (Grove City High School); Jeff Wytzka, a senior midfielder from Bay Village (Bay High School); Micah Doyel, a senior midfielder from Columbus (Worthington Christian High School); LeFever, Matt Rees, a junior midfielder from Reynoldsburg (St .Charles High School); Aaron Hickman, a sophomore midfielder from Westerville (Olentangy High School). 

Cards Jump into the OAC Fire
Written by Ed Syguda 09/28/04

Otterbein jumps from the frying pan into the fire when it begins Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) competition beginning with Wilmington, 2 p.m., Saturday at home.

“The problem we have this year,” said 16th-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy, “is that we don’t have a chance to learn and get better and better. We have to be ready this Saturday because Wilmington is the top-ranked team in the OAC right now.”

Right on Wilmington’s heels come John Carroll Oct. 6 and Baldwin-Wallace Oct. 9. Wilmington (7-1-1), John Carroll (4-2-0) and Baldwin-Wallace (9-1-0) were ranked fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Great Lakes Region, according to the latest poll from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The Cardinals, 4-2-1 overall, held down the seventh spot in the Great Lakes.

Although Otterbein faces the OAC’s best early, D’Arcy feels his team is ready.

“We’re as ready as we can be,” D’Arcy said. “We’ve had a good nonconference schedule. We’ve had a satisfactory start to the season.”

Over the course of its nonconference schedule, Otterbein played to a 2-2 tie at nationally-ranked Calvin, toppled regionally-ranked Denison, 4-0, in Granville, and fell 3-2 in double-overtime at nationally-ranked Ohio Wesleyan.

“We defended quite well in general,” D’Arcy said about his team’s play in those nonconference matches. “We have a number of players that we can slot into certain positions. We have a little more depth.

D’Arcy cited goalkeeper Jeff Rust, sweeper Brett Neiderman and central midfielder Matt Rees as standout players in the early going.

Rust, a senior from Saline, Mich., and Neiderman, a junior from Cuyahoga Falls, spearhead a defense that sits second in the OAC with a 0.81 goals-against average, and shares the OAC lead with four shutouts.

Rees, a junior from Reynoldsburg, sits second on the team in scoring with two goals and four assists.

Justin Lewis, a transfer from the University of Cincinnati, leads the squad in scoring with four goals and three assists in just three games. The junior forward, from Grove City, joined the team in mid-September and promptly scored two goals in his first game at Denison Sept. 18.

D’Arcy described the addition of Lewis to the squad as “big for us”.

“It’s not just what Justin does,” D’Arcy said. “It’s the attention he draws that opens up other players too. Good players make other players on the team better.”

Cards to be Tested Early
Written by Justin Hamilton 08/30/04

The Otterbein Cardinals men’s soccer team will look to get back to the NCAA Tournament with the help of 13 returning letterwinners, including eight starters, to this year’s squad.

Otterbein, 11-7 overall and 7-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), finished the 2003 season with a strong showing, going 7-1-1 over its last nine games and notching six shutouts along the way.  The Cardinals outscored their opponents 24-2 during that stretch, which saw Otterbein claim a share of the regular-season OAC title. The Cardinals fell 2-1 to John Carroll in the conference tournament championship, just missing to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

As impressive as the end of last season was, 16th-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy notes that this will be a different team beginning the 2004 campaign.

“I think that you really start fresh each season,” D’Arcy said.  “The makeup of our team will change a lot, but I think we will be confident that we can be competitive this year.”

The makeup of this year’s Cardinal squad does change dramatically with the loss of 12 letterwinners from last year, including All-OAC performers Angelo Manzo and Kyle Daniel.  Manzo was spectacular over his four seasons as a Cardinal, recording 143 totals points, which was a new school record.  Also gone will be forward Travis Jones, who was second on the team with 13 points.

Helping to fill the void left behind at the forward positions will be junior Brett LeFever along with sophomore Jimmy Fee.

“Brett’s technical ability as well as his ability to make himself available for the ball will be things that can help us up front,” D’Arcy said.  “Jimmy Fee is the same kind of player as Brett.

“We have a number of players coming in that can play the forward position, but we have to see how they will adjust to the college game.”

At the midfield, the Cardinals return All-OAC and All-Ohio selection Matt Rees, who netted 11 points, including the game-winning goal in the 110th-minute against John Carroll, which helped Otterbein clinch the number-one seed in the OAC tournament.  Also returning are juniors Adam Rothermel, who scored 11 points, and Micah Doyel.

“Our central midfield is fairly strong,” D’Arcy said.  “Matt Rees is a box-to-box guy and a very strong midfielder.

“Adam is also a good player with good vision, and Micah was named our most-improved player last season.

“We also have guys like Jimmy Fee and Brett LeFever who will be able to spark things at the midfield as well.”

Defensively, Otterbein must replace Kyle Daniel, who became one of the best defenders in the conference over his four seasons. He was also the emotional and vocal leader of the team, so replacing him will be no easy task.

Otterbein does return senior goalkeeper Jeff Rust, who recorded nine shutouts and was an All-OAC selection in 2003.  Juniors Brett Neiderman, Auston Bland, and Chris Blackburn will help anchor the Cardinal defense.

“We will be a little bigger this year,” D’Arcy said.  “We were a bit of a small team last year and it cost us in some situations.  You need to have a balance of size, speed, and skill in the lineup.”

The Cardinals will get tested early and often before OAC play rolls around.  Five of Otterbein’s first seven opponents won 14 or more games last season.  Three of those schools—Hope, Denison, and Ohio Wesleyan—made the NCAA Tournament.   

“We try to play the best teams around because we know we are going to bump into them at some point anyway,” D’Arcy said.  “We can see early on where our areas for improvement are because if you make a mistake against these teams, they will punish you. 

“The season is always a work-in-progress because you are trying to learn game-to-game on how to piece things together to be the most effective team you can be.”

Otterbein will open its season against Notre Dame College at the Wittenberg Tournament Sept. 4.  The Cardinals begin OAC play at home versus Wilmington Oct. 2. 

If Otterbein is to return to the NCAA Tournament, D’Arcy reminds his players that the one sure way is winning the OAC Tournament.

“We have to realize that if everyone does his job, the rest will follow,” D’Arcy said.  “The first half of this year is really tough, but we have to understand that win or lose, we are going to learn from each game, which will prepare us for the OAC.

“The OAC is the door to the NCAAs.  It used to be that we could go on our record alone, but it’s unlikely that you can do that anymore.”

Manzo Named Academic All-America
Written by Ed Syguda 11/25/03

For the second straight year, Angelo Manzo, a senior from Pickerington, has been named first team Academic All-America in men’s soccer.

Manzo, majoring in business administration, carries a 3.85 grade-point average.

The forward has led his teammates in scoring all three years as a starter. He tallied 15 goals and six assists this season as the Cardinals finished 11-7-2 overall and 7-2-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).

A year ago, Manzo helped lead his team to a 23-3-1 record and a second-place finish in the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Tournament, scoring 19 goals and distributing seven assists over the course of the season.

The four-year letterman concludes his career at Otterbein as the school’s all-time points leader, with 143, on 60 goals and 23 assists.

The Academic All-America Teams program honors 816 male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America; a 2,000-member organization consisted of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

Three Named 1st Team All-OAC
Written by Justin Hamilton 11/12/03

Angelo Manzo, Kyle Daniel, and Matt Rees were selected first team All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) while Jeff Rust was named to the second team in men’s soccer.

Manzo, a senior from Pickerington (Pickerington High School), was third in the conference with 15 goals and finished eighth in the league with six assists.  Manzo was a first team selection in 2001 and 2002. 

Daniel, a senior from Columbus (Worthington Kilbourne High School), helped anchor an Otterbein defense that finished second in the OAC, allowing just 1.11-goals-per-game.  Daniel was a second team selection in 2002.

Rees, a sophomore from Reynoldsburg (St. Charles High School), tied for second on the team with five goals, including two game-winning goals in the 2003 season.

Rust, a junior from Saline, Mich. (Saline Area High School), led the OAC with nine shutouts and was second in the conference with a 1.12-goals-against-average.  Rust was selected second team All-OAC in 2002.  

Streaks, Cards Pair off in OAC Final
Written by Ed Syguda 11/06/03

Otterbein hosts John Carroll, 2 p.m., Saturday in the championship game of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Men’s Soccer Tournament. The winner automatically qualifies for the NCAA Division III Tournament scheduled to begin Wednesday.

Otterbein, under 15th-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy, advanced into this championship game on penalty kicks, 4-2, when the match with fourth-seeded Mount Union ended in a scoreless tie after two overtime periods in the semifinals last Tuesday at home. The second-seeded Blue Streaks, under 12th-year head coach Ali Kazemaini, tallied three second-half goals, overpowering third-seeded Ohio Northern, 4-0, Tuesday in University Heights.

Today’s matchup features two of the most prolific teams in OAC Tournament play since the tournament’s inception in 1992.

The Cardinals are making their seventh appearance in the OAC Tournament and are two-time defending tournament champions.  The team edged Wilmington, 1-0, in the semifinals then defeated John Carroll, 2-0, for the 2002 championship. Otterbein has compiled a 10-1-1 record in OAC Tournament play and has won five championships.

John Carroll is making its 11th appearance in the OAC Tournament, compiling a 9-8-1 record. The Blue Streaks have won the tournament twice (2000 and 1993), and have finished second, five times, and third, twice.

This marks the third time that Otterbein and John Carroll have met in the conference final. In addition to last year, Otterbein defeated John Carroll, 2-1, for the tournament championship in 1997.

Otterbein entered tournament play red hot, winning its last seven games of the regular season—six by shutout—by a combined score of 22-1.

The Cardinals finished the regular season at 11-6-1 overall, and shared first place with John Carroll and Ohio Northern, each 7-2-0 in the OAC. The team wrapped up a share of the regular-season title and the top seed in this tournament with a 5-0 win over Mount Union at home last Saturday. Senior forward Angelo Manzo scored four goals in the win.

John Carroll, on the other hand, compiled a 2-2 record over its final four games of the regular season.

The Blue Streaks tallied wins at home over Wilmington, 3-0, Oct. 25 and Baldwin-Wallace, 4-1, last Saturday, but lost on the road at Mount Union, 3-0, Oct. 21 and Otterbein, 1-0 (2OT) Oct. 29. Otterbein’s Matt Rees, off an assist from Travis Jones, scored in the 109th minute to give the Cardinals their win over John Carroll.

John Carroll leads the league in defense, allowing just 0.66 goals a game, and shutouts, with 10. Otterbein sits second in defense, 1.07 goals a game, and shutouts, nine.

Rust Saves the Day for Cardinals
Written by Justin Hamilton 11/04/03

After playing 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, Otterbein and Mount Union had to determine a winner through a penalty kick shootout.  

Junior goalkeeper Jeff Rust (Saline, MI/Saline Area) stopped one attempt in the shootout to help Otterbein claim a 4-2 shootout victory in the semifinals of the 2003 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Men's Soccer Tournament in Westerville Tuesday afternoon.  

The Cardinals now advance and will host John Carroll in the OAC Championship game Saturday, 2 p.m.  Otterbein beat John Carroll Oct. 7, 1-0, in two overtimes.  Matt Rees (Reynoldsburg/St. Charles) netted the game winner in the 109th minute.  

Otterbein knocked off Mount Union, 5-0, last Saturday but discovered that things would not be so easy this time around.

In the shootout's opening round, Dan Sears scored for Mount Union and Adam Rothermel (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) found the back of the net for the Cardinals.  Mount Union failed to score on its next two tries as Paul Pendy hit the crossbar, and Rust saved John Moenk's try.   

Brett Neiderman (Cuyahoga Falls/Cuyahoga Falls) and Brett LeFever (Westerville/South) were true on their attempts to give the Cardinals a 3-1 advantage after three rounds.

Anthony Karam made good on his attempt to keep Mount Union alive, but Rees sealed the victory by drilling his attempt.

Rust made four saves in the shutout victory, which was his ninth of the season.  Purple Raider keeper Eric Sebor made five saves in the loss.

The two teams both finished with 11 shots, and Mount Union held a 12-9 advantage in corner kicks.   

Manzo Named OAC Player of the Week
Written by Ed Syguda 11/03/03

Forward Angelo Manzo, a senior from Pickerington, was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in men’s soccer, the conference office released today.

Manzo scored four goals and assisted on a fifth in a 5-0 win over Mount Union at home last Saturday. The win secured Otterbein a share of the OAC regular-season title and the top seed in the OAC Tournament, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

Cards Face Mount Union in OAC Semifinals
Written by Ed Syguda 11/02/03

Otterbein hosts Mount Union, 2 p.m., Tuesday in a semifinal game of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Men’s Soccer Tournament. The tournament winner automatically qualifies for the NCAA Division III Tournament that is scheduled to begin Nov. 12.

Under 15th-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy, the Cardinals wrapped up a share of the regular-season title and the top seed in this tournament with a 5-0 win over Mount Union at home last Saturday. Senior forward Angelo Manzo scored four goals in the win.

Otterbein finished the regular-season at 11-6-1 overall, and shared first place with John Carroll (13-4-0) and Ohio Northern (12-8-0), each 7-2-0 in the OAC. Mount Union (13-5-1), under first-year head coach Scott Langone, finished fourth in the league at 6-3-0.

This marks the first meeting of Otterbein and Mount Union in the OAC Tournament since its inception in 1992.

The Cardinals are making their seventh appearance in the OAC Tournament and are two-time defending tournament champions.  The team edged Wilmington 1-0 in the semifinals then defeated John Carroll 2-0 for the 2002 championship. Otterbein has compiled a 10-1-0 record in OAC Tournament play and has won five championships.

Mount Union is making its fifth appearance and is seeking its first win in the OAC Tournament. The Purple Raiders have compiled a 0-4-0 record in the tournament. The team’s last appearance came in 1998.

Otterbein enters tournament play red hot, having won its last seven—six by shutout—by a combined score of 22-1. The Cardinals opened conference play at a deficit with back-to-back road losses at Baldwin-Wallace and Ohio Northern.

The Cardinals sit second in the OAC for scoring defense, allowing 1.14 goals a game, and rank fifth in scoring offense, averaging 2.28 goals a game. In conference play, however, the team is averaging 2.78 goals on offense while yielding just 0.78 goals on defense.

Mount Union, on the other hand, enters tournament play having lost two of its last three games. The Raiders do, however, own quality wins over the other two teams in this tournament. The squad won 2-1 at Ohio Northern Oct. 11 and 3-0 over John Carroll at home Oct. 21.

The Purple Raiders rank third in the OAC for scoring offense, averaging 2.41 goals a game, and sit fifth in scoring defense, allowing 1.34 goals an outing. 

Cards Play for Spot in OAC Tournament
Written by Ed Syguda 10/27/03

Otterbein, playing perhaps its best soccer of the year, shoots for one of four spots in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament, which is set to begin Nov. 4.

The Cardinals sit among the OAC’s top four, but must face two of those teams at home in this final week of regular-season play.

The squad, under 15th-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy, hosts league-leading John Carroll, 3:30 p.m., Wednesday before facing Mount Union, 2 p.m., Saturday in Westerville.

Otterbein (9-6-1), fresh off a 5-0 win at cross-town rival Capital, enters the week locked in a three-way with Mount Union (12-4-1) and Ohio Northern (10-8-0) for second place, each 5-2 in the OAC. John Carroll (12-3-0) holds down the top spot at 6-1-0.

“Technically, they are the best team in Ohio,” said D’Arcy about his team’s next opponent John Carroll. “So you would expect them to win the OAC, but, sometimes, they are a bit complacent because they are so good.

“So we have got to hope they are that way on Wednesday,” D’Arcy added.

Otterbein enters the game against John Carroll on a roll, winning its last five games—four of those on the road—by a combined score of 16-1.

The squad opened conference play 0-2 with road losses at Baldwin-Wallace, 2-1, and Ohio Northern, 4-2, before rebounding with wins against Marietta, 1-0, Heidelberg, 3-0, Muskingum, 4-0, Wilmington, 3-1, and Capital.

D’Arcy cites “role clarification” as one reason for the team’s recent success.

“We’ve tried to give players roles and minutes that they know they’re going to have so that they know what their jobs are,” D’Arcy said. “For example, Drew Cheesman knows that he’s going to be coming in the second half of the first half, and the first half of the second half.

“Other players, therefore,” D’Arcy continued, “know when their rest is and when their work is and they can pace themselves a little better. And they know what their job is when they are out there.” 

Cards To Face OAC's Best
Written by Ed Syguda 10/21/03

Otterbein heads into the heart of its Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) schedule riding a three-game winning streak.

“I’m satisfied with the effort I’ve seen in the last three games,” said 15th-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy. “I think we’ve been more difficult to break down than we were in the earlier games, a little bit steadier, a little bit more stingy on defense.

“And we’ve had some contributions offensively from a number of players which is always good,” D’Arcy added. “I think we’ve played with heart the last three games.”

The Cardinals, 7-6-1 overall, share fourth place with Ohio Northern, each 3-2-0 in the OAC. John Carroll (11-2-0) sits at the top of the OAC with a 5-0-0 record and is followed by Mount Union (11-3-1) and Wilmington (9-6-1), who share second place with 4-1-0 conference records.

Following a pair of road games at Wilmington, 7 p.m., Tuesday and at cross-town rival Capital, 2 p.m., Saturday, Otterbein wraps up regular-season play next week, hosting John Carroll Oct. 29 and Mount Union Nov. 1.

At stake—the OAC Tournament. Only the top four teams qualify.

D’Arcy feels his team is ready.

“We’re as ready as we’re going to be,” D’Arcy said. “We’ve tightened things up a bit, moved some pieces around. We’ve done what we can do, but we’ve got to concentrate on the game at hand.”

Otterbein opened OAC play with back-to-back road losses at Baldwin-Wallace, 2-1, and Ohio Northern, 4-2, before bouncing back with successive shutout wins at Marietta, 1-0, and Heidelberg, 3-0, and at home against Muskingum, 4-0, last Saturday.

Cards Open Conference Play
Written by Ed Syguda 10/03/03

Otterbein, 4-4-1 overall, begins Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play this weekend and 15th-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy says his team is ready based upon the strength of its nonconference schedule.

“The strength of our first half schedule is  second to none,” D’Arcy said. “No school has had a tougher first half than we’ve had and we’ve come out of it at .500.

“Having said that, D’Arcy continued, “the OAC this year is going to be an absolute dog fight.  There are six or seven teams playing for those top four spots.  So when I say we’re ready for the OAC, we’re ready to compete in the OAC with those teams.”

Otterbein, defending OAC regular-season and tournament champion, plays its first four conference games on the road, beginning with Baldwin-Wallace, 7 p.m., Saturday. The Cardinals won’t see the friendly grass of Clements Field until Oct. 18 when they host Muskingum.

The squad wrapped up nonconference play with a 4-1 win over Case Western Reserve Wednesday at home. Midfielder Adam Rothermel (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) scored three goals, including the game winner.

“We’re a better team than we were two weeks ago,” D’Arcy said. “We’ve moved some players around into slots that we might not necessarily have thought that they would be in. They’ve been able to do the job there.”

Cards Find the Going Tough Early
Written by Ed Syguda 09/16/03

Six games into the season, youthful Otterbein finds itself in a position it hasn’t seen in awhile—struggling against top-notch competition.

“I knew this year was going to be tough for us,” said 15th-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy. “Especially given our schedule.”

Otterbein, which has already faced two nationally-ranked teams—Rochester (NY) and Denison—in its first six games, continues its brutal schedule, taking on 
13th-ranked Ohio Wesleyan, 4 p.m., Wednesday in Westerville.

The Cardinals, coming off a record-setting season, opened the new campaign with promise, defeating Ohio Dominican, Walsh and Kenyon before dropping to 3-3 with losses to Rochester, Palm Beach Atlantic (FL) and unbeaten Denison.

“We’re young,” D’Arcy said. “We lost a lot of physicality from last year—size, strength, strength on the ball and ability to get to the ball.”

And the Otterbein coach believes his team is struggling with the “things that young teams struggle with,” D’Arcy said, “like winning the 50-50 ball, getting to the 50-50 ball to make a challenge, and winning the second ball.”

Following Ohio Wesleyan, Otterbein continues non-conference play, traveling to Wooster Sept. 24.

3rd-Ranked Cards Open at Home
Written by Ed Syguda 09/05/03

The Otterbein men’s soccer team, ranked third in the nation, opens at home Saturday, hosting a four-team tournament on Clements Field.

The Cardinals, under 15th-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy, carry a 3-0-0 record into weekend play. Otterbein returns 13 lettermen, including seven starters, from last season’s record-setting 23-3-1 squad, which finished second in the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Tournament.

Otterbein squares off against soccer power Rochester (NY), 12:30 p.m., Saturday followed by Palm Beach Atlantic (FL) and Notre Dame (OH) at 3 p.m.

The four teams return Sunday for the consolation, 12:30 p.m., and championship, 3 p.m., matches.

Cards Win 3rd Straight Wittenberg Tourney
Written by Ed Syguda 09/02/03

Senior forward Angelo Manzo picked right up where he left off last season, scoring three times to help lead Otterbein to victory at the Wittenberg Tournament held last weekend in Springfield.

The Cardinals defeated Ohio Dominican, 2-1, Saturday, and Walsh, 2-0, Sunday to claim its third straight tournament title at Wittenberg. Manzo (Pickerington/Pickerington) nailed the game-winner against Ohio Dominican, and scored both goals against Walsh.

“We got out of the gates fast in terms of the results of the games,” said 15th-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy, “but we still have an awful lot we have to work on.

“A lot of that has to do with trying to get new players in the system we play,” D’Arcy continued. “Early on, it’s a case of getting people on the right page and seeing who rises in terms of who can play certain spots.”

D’Arcy was pleased with the leadership from his seniors at Wittenberg, pointing out the play of Manzo, who was double-teamed for most of the tournament, and senior sweeper Kyle Daniel (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne).

Otterbein, following a match at Kenyon, 5 p.m., Wednesday, opens at home this weekend, hosting a four-team tournament which features Rochester (NY), Palm Beach Atlantic (FL) and Notre Dame (OH).

The Cardinals square off against Rochester, 12:30 p.m., Saturday followed by a matchup between Palm Beach and Notre Dame at 3 p.m. The consolation and championship games are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Lochner Named Top Male Scholar in the OAC
Written by the OAC Office 05/14/03

Otterbein soccer player Mike Lochner (Bexley) and Wilmington basketball player Megan Woodruff (New Vienna) have been selected as the 2002-03 recipients of the prestigious Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Clyde A. Lamb Scholar-Athlete Award Scholarships. Both Lochner and Woodruff will receive postgraduate academic scholarships, which are sponsored by Ohio Northern.

Twenty Clyde A. Lamb Award winners were honored at the 19th annual OAC Awards Banquet on May 12, at the Wyndham Dublin Hotel in Columbus. The 10 male and 10 female award winners represent the top student-athletes among the 10 OAC schools. Criteria for the award include at least two years' participation in an OAC sponsored sport, senior status, a minimum grade-point average (gpa) of 3.0 and sportsmanlike conduct in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete and his/her institution.

Lochner was a member of the Dean's List every quarter at Otterbein
and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.95 grade-point average. In
2002, Lochner was named to the Verizon Academic All-America First
Team and was selected the Academic All-American of the Year in soccer.
The Verizon All-America awards are selected by the College Sports
Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Lochner helped lead the
Cardinals to a school and Conference record 23 wins last season and a
runner-up finish in the 2002 NCAA Division III Soccer Tournament. For his
efforts, Lochner was named the OAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year and
Ohio Player-of-the-Year, First Team All-OAC, First Team All-Great Lakes
Region and First Team All-Ohio. He was a second team All-America selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

D'Arcy Tabbed Coach of Year in Great Lakes
Written by Jason Erickson 12/13/02

Otterbein head men’s soccer coach Gerry D’Arcy was selected Great Lakes Region Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

D’Arcy, who has spent 14 seasons with the Cardinals, led Otterbein to a school and conference record 23 wins and a second-place finish in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Otterbein coach was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Coach of the Year as the Cardinals took both the OAC regular-season and conference tournament championships.

“It’s a real privilege to be given such an honor,” D’Arcy said. “I am thankful to be coaching soccer and I love the challenge that comes with coaching soccer.

“I think this reward reflects the play of my players,” D’Arcy continued. “I enjoy the guys on the team so much and I am so proud of what they have accomplished this season. Our players are great kids who fought very hard for each other this year.”

Lochner Named Second Team All-America
Written 12/12/02

Mike Lochner, a senior defender from Bexley, was selected second team All-America by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Lochner, who helped lead Otterbein to a school and conference record 23 wins and a second-place finish in the NCAA Division III Tournament, was also selected Academic All-America of the Year and, for the second year in a row, first team Academic All-America by the College Sports Information Directors of America. He carries a 3.944 grade-point average in business administration.