Wittenberg University Athletics - Women's Soccer 2003 News Releases

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2003 News Releases

All Releases Written by: Ryan Maurer
Director of Sports Information
E-Mail: rmaurer@wittenberg.edu

November 25, 2003

Thirty-Four Wittenberg Student-Athletes Earn 2003 Fall Sport Postseason Awards
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Another banner fall sports season has reaped tangible rewards for 34 Wittenberg University athletes who were selected to All-North Coast Athletic Conference teams. In addition, several Tiger athletes received regional and national recognition from various organizations, including two All-America selections to date. Read More ...

November 20, 2003

Geri Woessner

The Wittenberg women's soccer team placed five players on the All-North Coast Athletic Conference postseason honor rolls.

Following an 8-10-1 regular season under second-year Head Coach Norm Riker, senior Geri Woessner (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood) was named to the first team for a third time. Sophomore Emily Hiscar (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) and freshman Jamie McIntyre (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview) made second team. And freshman Phoebe Gaston (Cincinnati, Ohio/Northwest) and senior Jenny Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) were selected Honorable Mention.

Next: Season Complete

November 17, 2003

Geri Woessner, Emily Hiscar, Jamie McIntyre, Phoebe Gaston and Jenny Miller Earn All-NCAC Honors - pdf file
CLEVELAND -- Ohio Wesleyan sophomore forward Sarah Wall (Columbus, OH/Upper Arlington) and Wooster sophomore goalkeeper Becca Scina (North Olmsted, OH/North Olmsted) have been named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year to highlight the 2003 All-North Coast Athletic Conference women's soccer selections. Read More ...

November 6, 2003

Mandie Dimenna

The Wittenberg women's soccer put the wraps on the 2003 season with a 3-1 victory over visiting Oberlin on Saturday. The win gave the Tigers eight on the season, an improvement of two over Head Coach Norm Riker's first season on the bench.

Goal-scorers in the win over Oberlin were Lucia Cornett (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills), Lindsay Zigler (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Melissa Gallion (West Jefferson, Ohio/West Jefferson) and an assist was credited to Mandie Dimenna (Blacklick, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln).

Senior Geri Woessner (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood) finished as the team's leading scorer with seven goals and three assists for 17 total points. Woessner was the team's leading scorer in each of her four seasons, despite missing half of the 2002 season due to a knee injury. Zigler was second with 13 total points and Cornett finished third on the team with 10 total points.

The Tigers graduate five seniors as they begin looking toward the 2004 season. Twelve freshmen saw significant playing time this season, including Phoebe Gaston (Cincinnati, Ohio/Northwest), Lauren Fraley (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) and Jamie McIntyre (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview), who were three of five players to start all 19 games.

Next: Season Complete

October 30, 2003

Cristin Gill

The Wittenberg women's soccer team is competing well with the best of one of the best soccer conferences in the nation. Problem is, Head Coach Norm Riker and his young team aren't playing for moral victories.

In the last week, the Tigers lost to Wooster 3-0 on Saturday and Denison 3-0 on Wednesday. Both teams are ranked among the top 10 in the region and have received votes in the national NCAA Division III poll. Both are also moving on to the NCAC Tournament next week as two of the top four teams in the regular season standings.

In the loss to Wooster, senior goalkeeper Jenny Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) recorded nine saves and sophomore Emily Hiscar (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) and freshman Jamie McIntyre (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview) each took two shots.

In the loss to Denison, the Tigers fell behind 3-0 in the first 25 minutes, but rallied to play a strong second half. Five different players took at least one shot and Miller recorded 10 saves.

The season wraps up on Saturday at home against Oberlin. Five seniors will play their final game in the Red & White - Geri Woessner (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood), Cristin Gill (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland), Jessica Shellhause (London, Ohio/London), Kaiti Hiscar (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) and Miller.

Next: 11/1 vs. Oberlin, 1 p.m.

October 23, 2003

Kaiti Hiscar

The Wittenberg women's soccer team lost a pair of games in the last week and has now fallen into a must-win situation heading into the home stretch of the 2003 season. The Tigers have lost three straight to NCAC foes - Ohio Wesleyan, Allegheny and Kenyon - after a 2-0 conference start. In order to reach the NCAC Tournament, which includes only the top four teams in the final regular season standings, Wittenberg almost certainly has to win the rest of its games.

Against Allegheny, which is on a school-record 13-game win streak currently and is ranked in the national top 25 poll, Wittenberg was outshot 16-6, but senior goalkeeper Jenny Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) made 10 saves to keep her team in the game until the end.

Against Kenyon, Miller was forced out of the lineup due to an injury. The Tigers got on the board first as senior Geri Woessner (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood) scored. But the Ladies tallied four times to take a commanding lead before senior Kaiti Hiscar (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) scored off a double-assist from freshman Elena Geiger-Simpson (St. Paul, Minn./Concordia Academy) and junior Meredith Belser (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay).

The road only gets tougher over the final two weeks of the regular season, beginning with Saturday's Homecoming game against regionally ranked perennial powerhouse Wooster. The season wraps up home games against Denison on Wednesday and Oberlin on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Next: 10/25 vs. Wooster, 12:30 p.m.

October 16, 2003

Jenny Miller

The Wittenberg women's soccer team went 1-1 in conference action during the last week, defeating Hiram 3-0 on Saturday before losing to defending national champion Ohio Wesleyan 4-0 on Tuesday. As a result, the Tigers remain very much alive in the hunt for one of four berths in the annual NCAC Tournament, which is scheduled to take place Nov. 7-8.

Against Hiram, Wittenberg dominated from the outset as senior goalkeeper Jenny Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) recorded her fifth shutout in goal. She has now played all but 45 minutes this season and has saved 81 percent of opponents' shots. With the shutout of Hiram, Miller moved into second on Wittenberg's career list with 10 shutouts. NCAC 20th Anniversary All-Decade Team member Sarah Newlin leads with 30.5.

Scoring goals against Hiram were sophomore Lindsay Zigler (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), freshman Lucia Cornett (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) and freshman Elena Geiger-Simpson (St. Paul, Minn./Concordia Academy). Geiger-Simpson added an assist.

Against Ohio Wesleyan, the Tigers got over some early jitters to play well against the two-time defending national champions. The Bishops scored three times in the first 20 minutes and got their fourth tally inside the final minute of the game.

This weekend, the Tigers face the first of several crucial games. Regionally-ranked Allegheny visits Bill Edwards Field on Saturday, followed by a road game at Kenyon on Tuesday and a home game against Wooster next Saturday during Homecoming Weekend.

Next: 10/18 vs. Allegheny, 11 a.m.

October 15, 2003

Shana Ryan, Sarah Newlin, Kathy Aros and Karen Larson Named to 20th Anniversary All-Decade Team
CLEVELAND -- Ohio Wesleyan?s Katy Sturtz and Denison?s Meredith Rieder head an impressive list of stellar athletes named to the North Coast Athletic Conference?s 20th Anniversary women?s soccer team. Sturtz and Rieder are two of the 11 former NCAC Players of the Year represented on the 18-person squad. They are also two of only four four-time, first-team All-NCAC selections from the past 10 seasons. Read More ...

October 9, 2003

Jessica Shellhause

The Wittenberg women's soccer team should be well rested heading into the stretch run of the 2003 season. Last week, the Tigers played just one game, defeating NAIA scholarship program Urbana 3-1 on the road on Wednesday. The Blue Knights were 9-1-1 on the season prior to that game.

In that win, senior forward Geri Woessner (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood) got the scoring started with a goal in the 26th minutes of the first half. After Urbana tied it five minutes later and the two teams went into halftime with the score 1-1, senior Jessica Shellhause (London, Ohio/London) broke the tie with a goal at the 48-minute mark. Sophomore Lindsay Zigler (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) rounded out the scoring with a goal late in the second half. Assists on the two second half goals were credited to senior Kaiti Hiscar (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) and freshman Elena Geiger-Simpson (St. Paul, Minn./Concordia Academy).

With a winning record heading into the final three weeks of the 2003 regular season, the Tigers hit the road on Saturday to face Hiram. After that game, four of the final six games on the schedule are against nationally or regionally ranked teams, including defending national champion Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Next: 10/11 at Hiram, Noon

October 2, 2003

Geri Woessner

The Wittenberg women's soccer team got the biggest win of the young season on Wednesday as they took a 2-1 decision at Earlham. The win opened what promises to be an extremely challenging NCAC campaign, one that includes upcoming games against four of the top 10 teams in the region, on the right foot.

The win came on the heels of a hard-luck loss at Cedarville on Friday night in the rain. The Tigers lost that one 2-1 after taking a one-goal lead in the first half thanks to a score by senior forward Geri Woessner (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood). The Yellow Jackets scored the equalizer about seven minutes into the second half and then won the game with less than 11 minutes remaining.

Against Earlham, Wittenberg jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead thanks to goals by freshman Mandie Dimenna (Blacklick, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) and sophomore Meredith Belser (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay). Assists were credited to Woessner and sophomore Emily Hiscar (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial). The win in goal was recorded by senior Jenny Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy).

The Tigers have a week to rest before jumping back into nonconference action for the final time in the 2003 season next Wednesday at Urbana. That will be followed by the most important stretch of games to date, beginning with a match-up against two-time defending national champion Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 11.

Next: 10/8 at Urbana, 4 p.m.

September 25, 2003

Lucia Cornett

The Wittenberg women's soccer team seems to be making the progress necessary to be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming NCAC title chase. The Tigers have posted three wins in their last four games to move back to the .500 mark.

Since an 0-3-1 stretch culminated in a 2-2 tie with visiting Mount Union on Sept. 13, the Tigers have played well almost every time out. The results were hard-fought 1-0 wins over Ohio Dominican and Wilmington on Sept. 16 and 18 respectively, a 4-3 loss at Susquehanna on Sept. 21 and a 2-0 win at Muskingum on Sept. 24.

Against Susquehanna, a game played a day after the team attended a Women's World Cup doubleheader in Philadelphia, the Tigers struggled through several defensive lapses in the first half to fall behind 4-1. A furious second-half rally, highlighted by a goal by senior Geri Woessner (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood) and the second goal of the game by freshman Lucia Cornett (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills), ended just short as the Tigers dropped a 4-3 decision.

Wittenberg rebounded against Muskingum as Woessner and freshman Mandie Dimenna (Blacklick, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) scored the goals and senior goalkeeper Jenny Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) posted her fourth shutout of the season.

The season's schedule offers nonconference games against Cedarville and Urbana over the next week, a pair of local NAIA scholarship programs, on Friday and Wednesday, Oct. 8, sandwiched around the NCAC opener at Earlham on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The conference chase will be an extremely challenging one for the young Tigers as four NCAC teams are currently ranked among the top 10 in the region and three in the top 15 in the nation.

Next: 9/26 at Cedarville , 7 p.m.

September 19, 2003

Geri Woessner

The Tiger women's soccer team has had an up-and-down start to the 2003 season, but the momentum, despite injuries to several key players, seems to be in the positive direction after two straight wins to carry the team back to the .500 mark.

The latest win was perhaps the biggest among the three so far this season, a 1-0 victory on the road at Wilmington on Thursday. Senior Geri Woessner (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood) scored the game's lone goal on a second-half breakaway against a team that is perennially at the top of the Ohio Athletic Conference and involved in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Senior goaltender Jenny Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) recorded the shutout.

Wittenberg opened the season with an impressive win over a 2002 NCAA Division III Tournament team, Mount St. Joseph, on Aug. 29. Also a road game, the Tigers dominated action throughout to gain a 2-0 victory on goals by Woessner and freshman Liz Volz (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton).

After that opening win, the Tigers lost three straight one-goal decisions. First came a 2-1 loss at Capital on Aug. 31, followed by a 1-0 home defeat against nationally ranked DePauw on Sept. 6 and a 2-1 defeat against Rose-Hulman on Sept. 7. Sophomore Lindsey Zigler (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) scored the Tigers' lone goals during that stretch.

Zigler scored the game-tying goal in a 2-2 tie against Mount Union on Sept. 13. Junior Meredith Belser (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay) had the Tigers' first goal in that game.

Since then, the Tigers have posted back-to-back victories over quality foes, beginning with a 1-0 victory over NAIA scholarship program Ohio Dominican on Tuesday. Freshman Mandie Dimenna (Blacklick, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) scored the game's lone goal in the first half off an assist from sophomore Melissa Gallion (West Jefferson, Ohio/West Jefferson).

For the season, Zigler leads the offense with three goals in the first seven games, while Woessner, the team's leading scorer each of the last three years, has five total points with two goals and an assist. Defensively, the Tigers are getting great work out of Miller, who has a goals against average of just over one per game.

The Tigers now have a fun and interesting weekend ahead of them. They travel to eastern Pennsylvania for a Sunday game at Susquehanna. Before they play, however, the team will get the rare and exciting opportunity to attend a Women's World Cup doubleheader in Philadelphia on Saturday. Wittenberg will see games between Norway and France and Nigeria and Korea.

Next: 9/21 at Susquehanna , 1 p.m.

August 20, 2003

W2003 NCAC Preseason Polls
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Defending champion Ohio Wesleyan University emerged as the preseason favorite in balloting by North Coast Athletic Conference men's soccer coaches conducted via email. The Bishops, who earned their fourth consecutive NCAC championship and won their third straight league tournament last fall, earned nine first-place votes from league coaches for 99 points. Read More ...

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