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August 24, 2009

Coaches Pick Grand Valley State to Win 2009 Women's Soccer GLIAC Title

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Bay City, Mich. -- The head women soccer coaches of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) chose Grand Valley State University, defending league champions, to win the 2009 GLIAC women’s soccer title 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 second received six points, etc.

School (first-place votes) Points
1. Grand Valley State (7) 49
2. Tiffin (1) 37
3. Saginaw Valley State 35
4. Northern Michigan 33
5. Ferris State 29
6. Findlay 19
7. Ashland 13
8. Northwood 11

The Lakers outdistanced Tiffin University by 12 points in the voting (49-37) and garnered seven first-place votes. GVSU has won 27 consecutive conference matches (t-3rd in Division II history) dating back to Sept. 29, 2006. The Lakers return first-team All-American Natalja Stanski and enter the season ranked #9 in the NCSAA Division II poll.

Tiffin posted a second best league record in 2008 and received the lone remaining first-place nod for a second place poll finish.

Saginaw Valley State University placed third in the balloting with 35 points after a runner-up finish in the 2008 conference tournament, falling to GVSU, 2-0. SVSU was followed closely by fourth-place Northern Michigan University with 33 points.

Ferris State University tallied 29 points and finished in fifth place sailing over sixth place the University of Findlay by ten points.

Ashland University finished two points ahead of Northwood University for eighth place (13-11) to round out the poll.

The 2008 season saw #1 Grand Valley advance the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Championship match. The Lakers lost to #8 University of Wisconsin-Parkside by the score 1-0, for their only loss of the season. Tiffin also advanced to the NCAA tournament, falling to Quincy University (Ill.), 1-1 (2OT), in the NCAA D-II Midwest Region first round.

GLIAC women’s soccer teams open play on Thursday, Aug. 27 with conference play beginning Sunday, Sept. 13. The 2009 GLIAC Women’s Soccer Tournament will begin with quarterfinals on Nov. 3 on campus site, with the semifinals and final held on Nov. 6 & 8 on the campus of the No. 1 seed.

 

Ranked in order picked in the 2009 GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll:

 

1. Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State enters the season ranked No. 9 in the NSCAA D-II poll, under head coach Dave DiIanni. DiIanni is entering his seventh year in the program with an impressive 113-14-6 record. GVSU was 14-0 in GLIAC play and captured its fourth straight GLIAC title. The Lakers are returning five starters and 16 letterwinners from the 2008 season.

GVSU’s offensive returns senior forward Irie Dennis (11 goals, 11 assists, 33 points), a first-team All-GLIAC choice in 2008. Dennis had a team-high six game-winners last season to go with 35 shots on goal. Junior midfielder Kristen Eible (5 goals, 4 assists, 14 points) was named to the First-Team All-GLIAC selection in 2008. Also returning for the Lakers is the 2008 GLIAC “Defensive Player of the Year”, senior defender Natalja Stanski. Stanski started all of GVSU’s 23 games and was second in minutes played with 1735. Stanski was a part of a tough defense that only allowed five goals in the 2008 season.

2. Tiffin University

The Tiffin University women’s soccer team will look to build off of a successful first year in the GLIAC, posting a 13-5-2 record in 2008 and reaching the NCAA National tournament. The Dragons lost in both the conference semifinals and the first round of Nationals by one goal apiece, including a gutwrenching double overtime loss to Quincy at Nationals.For the women, Rudy Brownell enters his seventh year with a record of 73-32-14.

The Lady Dragons look to build on last year’s success and return a solid group of established and experienced team members. Sophomore Shelly Rogers returns after being named GLIAC “Freshman of the Year” and posting 8 goals and nine assists in 2008, while senior defender Felicia Ruiz returns as a Second-Team All-GLIAC player in 2008. Senior defender Kirsten White is back as a captain for her final season, sharing that honor with Ruiz.

 

3. Saginaw Valley State University

The Saginaw Valley State University women’s soccer team, lead by head coach Drago Dumboivch, looks to have another very successful season. After ending last year with a record of 9-6 coach Drago and his players look to improve upon their impressive 2008 season and contend for the GLIAC Championship.

The Cardinals lost five seniors from 2008, but are returning a group of very experienced upperclassmen, including Jacylyn Barrett, Renee Privette, and Kristen Kemmer. These athletes will serve as a great core to build and lead the large group of incoming freshman and transfer athletes. The incoming players make up over half of the members on the team and have gained very valuable experience from their high-level soccer clubs.

 

4. Northern Michigan University

Matt Granstrand enters his sixth season as the Northern Michigan University women’s soccer coach, 56-29-6 with the Wildcats.The team is looking to improve on last year’s 11-9-1 overall record and its 7-6-1 mark in GLIAC play. Three of NMU’s top four scorers from last year are gone. This year the ‘Cats will look for a couple of the newcomers to step up and contribute with the veterans.

Last year’s leading scorer Kari Buckel returns. She tallied 11 goals for the 2008 campaign. The top four scorers from last year represented 18 of the 25 goals scored. Goalkeeping should be in good hands as Kara Music had a 0.99 goal-against average with an .824 save-percentage. Music recorded five shutouts last year and is the NMU career leader for wins (37) and shutouts (18). Dana Stephens who had two goals last year is back in the fold along with Ashley DeKeyser and Celia Sturos.

 

5. Ferris State University

Ferris State University hopes to continue its upward climb in the GLIAC standings as the Bulldogs return six starters from last season’s team.

FSU also welcomes back nine of its 12 top points leaders, although the top two have departed. Leading the way in 2009 are sophomore Bri Borgman, the squad’s top returning scorer, along with sophomore Mekyla Spraggins, sophomore Ellen Phillips, senior Megan McCabe, senior Stevie Salow, junior Kristen March, and junior Christy Palmer. Spraggins earned team Most Improved Player honors a season ago. With the loss of 2008 All-GLIAC Second Team and 2008 FSU MVP Becci Houdek in goal, senior Kari Alsager and freshman Kara Stephens will battle for the starting job.

 

6. The University of Findlay

The University of Findlay women’s soccer team is coming off of an injury filled 6-11 season and hoping to make some noise in the GLIAC this year under the guidance of head coach Andy Smyth who has amassed a 218-131-23 record over 18 years at Findlay.

The team will be led by junior Rosie Paris who has been named second team all-conference twice during her career. Also back to lead the team will be Second Team All-GLIAC player junior Amanda Bachmayer, as well as juniors Sara Jones and Megan McCracken, who each have all-conference abilities.

 

7. Ashland University

Coach John Hall returns for his ninth season as the Ashland University women’s soccer coach with a 99-41-10 record. The Eagles come back to the pitch after a disappointing 7-13 year last season. Coach Hall will look upon a strong group of returners to propel the Eagles back to their winning ways.

The team returns 13 letterwinners from last season, including nine starters. Senior Casey Snyder returns as the top performer as she scored 11 goals last season. Returning senior Kelly Usher also looks to make a mark as she had two goals and three assists last year. The Eagles open the season up at Case Western Reserve on September 1.

 

8. Northwood University

The Northwood Women’s Soccer team is looking to take a step forward in 2009, thanks to 11 returning players from last season. 

Leading the way for the Timberwolves will be sophomore Marie Zaccagni, who led the team in goals (six) and points (16) a year ago.  Allyson DeLaLuz, Elizabeth Fockler and Christina Mazzetti are three seniors who bring a great deal of experience to the team.  Other key returning players include Heather Rhodes, Carla Donadio and Kristen Giovenazzo. 

Coach Doug Carter is in his 12th season as the head coach of the women’s team with a record of 76-107-10.