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The Shawnee State University Women's Soccer Team is coming off its
first winning season in program history. The Bears posted an
8-7-2 record which included American Mideast Conference wins over
Walsh University and The University of Rio Grande. Eleven
players and 73% of the Bears' offense returns from the record
breaking season. Added to the mix is a group of 9 freshmen,
all of whom have the ability to see immediate playing time.
"With the combination of returning and new players, I really have
high expectations for the coming season," said second year coach Rob
Appell.
Headlining the returning players is senior Sarah Koehler.
Koehler earned 2nd Team All-American Mideast Conference honors as
she established school records for goals in a season (22) and
assists in a season (11). She also holds the record for goals
in a career with 46.
Also returning on offense or at midfield are sophomores Lana
Kaucher, Courtney Moore, Staci White, and Lacie Abella.
Kaucher wa the team's second leading scorer with 11 goals and 6
assists. Moore and White scored 4 goal each to go along
with 6 and 1 assist respectively. Abella tallied 2 goals and 2
assists.
Senior Amanda Jay, junior Kristi Jarrell, and sophomores Saveoung
Ien and Samantha Rolsen return to anchor the defense. Injuries
have limited Jay to only 36 games over the last three seasons, but
her leadership on and off the field will play a major role in the
team's success. Jarrell started in 18 games as a freshmen, but
is also returning from an injury. Ien started 15 games and
played in all seventeen. She scored one goal and tallied 2
assists. Rolsen earned honorable mention All-American Mideast
Conference honors as she recorded 6 shutouts and registered 172
saves.
Shawnee State's freshman class is composed of Marie Hartke,
Kelley Bowles, Cindi Hay, Courtney Shackelford, Lizzie Simpson, Kat
Westendorf, Kaylay Laveley, Jessica Campbell, and Madeline Eckhart.
Hartke earned 1st team all-conference honors and led Tippecanoe
to three league championships. Bowles was a first
all-conference player at Anderson High School in Cincinnati.
Hay was a four-time all-district honoree and earned all-state honors
her senior year at Minford High School. Simpson earned
all-district recognition as a senior at Eastern Brown.
Westendorf was a three-time All-FAV honoree and was named Honorable
Mention All-Ohio as a senior at Amelia High School. Lavely
helped lead her team to two league championships and a league
runner-up finish over the course of her career at New Richmond.
"We're still a very young team with 9 freshmen and 7 sophomores,
but this is an extremely talented group," said Appell. "If the
freshman can make a successful transition to the college game, and
the returning players continue to work hard and improve, we should
be able to equal or eclipse last year's success. It really all
depends on the players all taking care of business on and off the
field."
Shawnee State opens the season at West Virginia Tech on August
24. The Bears home opener is Sunday, September 9. Game
time is 2:00 p.m. at Shawnee State Field. |
