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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
