Challenge - Winter 2007/2008 - Tiffin University

s p o r t s a t T U > S p o r t s S c e n e
Senior Mircea
Handru led the
Dragons defense this
season, earning
Second Team honors
in both the Great
Lakes Region and
the All-Independent
squad. TU finished
with a 10-6-1 mark.
The team will bring back all but two graduating seniors from this
year’s squad, with Niquita Amirkhanian (4 goals, 6 assists) and
Katherine Murphy (2 goals, 1 assist) leaving behind a tradition of
success . Emily Goldsberry led the team with 12 goals and 26 overall
points, with fellow juniors Renee Cain (5g, 6a), Ciara Gossett (4g,
3a), and Lauren Wilhelm (4g, 6a) contributing to the team’s 2.16
goals per game average. Also returning will be sophomore Abby
Grieser, who tended goal for the Lady Dragons and allowed only
1.12 goals per game, and backup goalkeeper Emily Demorest, who
allowed two goals in seven appearances.
All-Great Lakes Regional team. Also graduating is the team’s starting
goalkeeper, Mike Rutkowski, who saved over eighty percent of
shots on goal and managed a solid 1.76 goals allowed per game
average. Sophomores Tony Iyayi and Nick Dreshaj led the Dragons
with 10 goals scored, while junior Adi Vlad was third on the team
with 7 goals and 18 points.
Sophomore Felicia
Ruiz earned Second
Team All-Great Lakes
Region honors for the
women’s soccer team,
which finished 11-6-1.
The Dragons also
cracked the Top 10 in
the regional rankings
in their first
year of Division II
independent
competition.
With a solid returning core of players, Coach Rudy Brownell has
high expectations for his team as they enter the GLIAC. “We’ve had
a chance to compete against GLIAC and Division II teams the past
few years, so as long as we continue to work hard and improve we
expect great things for next season.”
Women’s Soccer
Recap
The Tiffin University Women’s Soccer team concluded its first season
of NCAA Division II competition with an 11-6-1 overall record.
The Lady Dragons closed out the season with three consecutive
overtime games, including a thrilling match against #1 ranked
Grand Valley State (NCAA II) and a 2-1 victory over #10 ranked
Ohio Dominican (NAIA).The team compiled an impressive 9-5-1 record
against NCAA Division II competition, and was ranked as high
as 10th in the Great Lakes Region. The team will look to build on
its 4-2-1 record this year against GLIAC opponents as they enter
the conference for the 2008 season.
The team’s veteran squad will be prepared for even tougher competition
next year. “We have a lot of work ahead of us in the offseason,”
said Coach Rudy Brownell, “and need to get faster and be
more consistent. If we put the proper work in, some good things
can happen next season.”
Cross Country
Review
The Tiffin University Cross Country season came to a close with the
Men’s team earning their second consecutive ICAA Championship
and the Women’s squad finishing in second place among all NCAA
Division II Independent schools.
44 CHALLENGE > Winter 07|08