GLIAC Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Pick GVSU To Win 2008 Championship

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BAY CITY, Mich. -- The head women's soccer coaches of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) chose Grand Valley State University to win the league's championship in preseason balloting. The league's eight head coaches participated in the balloting, but were not allowed to vote for their team. The first-place team on each ballot received seven points, while the second-place team received six points, etc.

GVSU earned a maximum of 49 points and all seven first-place votes it was eligible for. The Lakers outdistanced second-place Saginaw Valley State University by eight points. Grand Valley State, the three-time defending league champion, posted an 8-0-0 record in league play in 2007. That marked the first time since 2004 that a GLIAC team went undefeated in league play.

The Cardinals, who placed fourth in the 2007 GLIAC regular season, recorded 37 points in the balloting. Northern Michigan University and GLIAC newcomer Tiffin University tied for third place in the poll after each team carded 30 points. NMU, a team that placed sixth in last year's regular season standings, picked up the lone remaining first-place nod.

The Dragons, entering their first season in the GLIAC, posted an 11-6-1 record playing as a Division II independent. Tiffin earned a 4-2-1 mark against GLIAC competition in 2007. The University of Findlay fell one point shy of making it a three-way tie as the Oilers garnered 29 points to finish fifth. UF placed third in GLIAC regular season play in 2007. Ashland University edged out Ferris State University for sixth place in the poll by a 22-19 count. Northwood University rounded out the poll in eighth place with seven points.

Grand Valley State claimed the GLIAC's inaugural women's soccer postseason tournament in 2007. The Lakers, who earned the tournament's top seed by having the best regular season record, defeated Northern Michigan , 3-0, in the semifinals. The No. 2 seed, Mercyhurst College, bested No. 4 Saginaw Valley State, 2-1, in the other semifinal match. GVSU then posted a 4-0 win over Mercyhurst in the GLIAC championship match.

GLIAC women's soccer teams open play on Friday, Aug. 29 with conference play beginning Sunday, Sept. 14. The 2008 GLIAC Women's Soccer Championship quarterfinals will be held on Nov. 4, with the semifinals and final on Nov. 7 & 9 on the campus of the No. 1 seed.

The following are previews on each of the GLIAC's eight women's soccer teams for 2008:

Ashland University
Head Coach: John Hall
(Eighth season, 92-28-10)

 Coach John Hall returns for his eighth season as the Ashland University women's soccer coach. Hall's record at Ashland is 92-28-10. After a an up-and-down 2007 campaign, the Eagles approach will be based on a balanced attack from their two leading scorers from last season. This season Ashland will look to get back to being on top in the GLIAC.

Junior forward Kelly Usher returns as the Eagles' leading scorer last season. She tallied a team-high eight goals, and threw in an assist for her team-leading 17 points. Junior midfielder Casey Snyder tied for second in the team with 13 points in 2007, and tied for the team lead in assists with six. Junior midfielder Courtney Schuster (1-1-3) and sophomore midfielder Alicia VanZanten (2-2-6) also return for Ashland.

Ferris State University
Head Coach: Neathan Gibson
(Third season, 13-23-1)

Ferris State University will be hoping to improve upon last season's performance as the Bulldogs welcome back eight starters, including a pair of 2007 All-GLIAC Second-Team performers in senior forward Tammy Unsworth (10 goals, seven assists = 27 points) and defender Jackie Back (two assists).

The team's top two 2007 scoring leaders have graduated, but junior defender Stevie Salow (three goals) along with senior midfielder/defender Brandy Tarnowsky (one goal, three assists), senior Julia Zilan (two goals), and sophomore midfielder/defender Kristen March (five assists) return to provide experience and leadership to a group of 14 newcomers. In goal is junior Kari Alsager (3.18 GAA, .627 save percentage), who is expected to be challenged by sophomore Becci Houdek, a member of the Bulldog women's basketball team.

Grand Valley State University
Head Coach: Dave DiIanni
(Sixth season, 91-13-4)

Grand Valley State, who enters the season ranked No. 3 in the NSCAA D-II poll, returns its entire offense and midfield from last season, as well as the starting goalkeeper and one defender. Dave DiIanni is in his sixth season GVSU, having tallied a 91-13-4 (.861) record and guiding the Lakers to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

After leading his 2007 squad to a perfect 17-0-0 regular season record and a school-record 21-1-1 overall record, DiIanni was named the NSCAA Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year. He led the Lakers to their second trip to the NCAA Final Four in as many years. The offense is led by two-time Daktronics Division II Player of the Year Katy Tafler. Over the past two seasons, Tafler has led Division II in both points per game and goals per game. She is GVSU's all-time leader in points and goals, and holds the school's single-season marks in those same categories. Senior first-team All-American goal keeper Kristina Nasturzio recorded a goals-against average of 0.37 with nine shut outs last season.

University of Findlay
Head Coach: Andy Smyth
(18th season, 212-120-22)

The University of Findlay women's soccer team is coming off of a 10-8 season which included their first appearance in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament. The Oilers and skipper Andy Smyth, who has a 212-120-22 record in 17 seasons with the team, fell in the quarterfinals of the tournament 3-1 to Northern Michigan University but have virtually everyone back for the 2008 season including senior Ali Cariglio and sophomore Rosie Paris who were named second team All-GLIAC last year.

Cariglio led the Oilers with 19 points last year after scoring seven goals to go along with five assists while Paris meanwhile had four assists from her defensive spot and started in 16 of the Oilers 18 games on the year.

Northern Michigan University
Head Coach: Matt Granstrand
(Fifth season, 45-20-5)

Matt Granstrand enters his fifth season as the Northern Michigan University women's soccer coach. He led the Wildcats to a 12-5-2 overall mark and 3-3-2 record in the GLIAC. The ‘Cats will be without the services of the top two scorers from last year. Renee LeBlanc led the team with nine goals while Amanda Gadomski had four goals and a team-high five assists.

Kari Buckel, a sophomore, was second on the team in 2007 with six goals and is back. Dana Stephens who knocked home five goals in 2007 is back for her sophomore campaign. In front of the net, Kara Music returns for her junior season. She was 11-5-2 in 2007 along with four shutouts Music had an 0.90 goals-against average in 2007 and an .847 save-percentage. Entering the 2008 season, Music, is the NMU career leader with 26 wins and 13 shutouts.

As a team in 2007, the Wildcats averaged 2.56 goals per game while allowing just 0.77.

Northwood University
Head Coach: Doug Carter
(Eighth season, 74-91-10)

The Northwood Women's Soccer team is looking to take a step forward in 2008 under 11th year head coach Doug Carter (74-91-10). The Timberwolves return 12 players from last year's team, including senior defender Sarah Snyder.

Elizabeth Fockler led the team in scoring and returns for her junior campaign. Junior keeper Emily Pierce has served as the starter in net for two seasons, starting 24 matches. Carla Donadio, Christina Mazzetti, Courtney First and Allyson DeLaLuz all return after starting all 16 matches in 2007.

Saginaw Valley State University
Head Coach: Drago Dumbovic
(Sixth season, 43-32-3)

In the 2007 season, the Saginaw Valley State University women's soccer team was ranked as high as 3rd in the region and 23rd among Division II programs. The Cardinals finished 2007 with a 9-5-1 mark and were 4-3-1 in the conference. SVSU made the second round of the GLIAC Tournament, defeating Ferris State in the quarterfinals (3-2) before falling to Northern Michigan in the semifinals (2-1).

Coach Drago Dumbovic returns for his sixth season and the Cardinals' helm. Also returning is the team's leading scorer and second-team All-GLIAC selection Stephanie Roy, who recorded 27 points last season, good for sixth in the conference. Senior forward Kim Oberski, who ranked fourth in the GLIAC in game-winning goals last season (4) also returns. Oberski's nine goals and 21 points each ranked second on the squad. Forward Tammie Edmunds returns for her senior campaign after tallying seven goals and two assists in 2007.

Tiffin University
Head Coach: Rudy Brownell
(Fifth season, 60-27-12)

The Tiffin University women's soccer team enters its first year of competition in the GLIAC after serving as a Division II Independent. Head Coach Rudy Brownell enters his fifth season at the helm for the Lady Dragons, compiling an overall record of 60-27-12. "We're excited to enter one of the best conferences in the nation," said Coach Brownell, "and look forward to competing against top teams for a possible postseason berth."

The team went 11-6-1 last season, outscoring their opponents 39-21. The team posted a 4-2-1 mark against GLIAC opponents last season. Seniors Emily Goldsberry (12 goals, 26 points) and Renee Cain (5 goals, 6 assists) lead the returning offensive players, while seniors Lauren Wilhelm (4 goals, 6 assists) and Ciara Gossett (4 goals, 3 assists) also add some offensive ability. Junior Abby Grieser (1.12 GAA, 85 saves) also returns in goal.