Winter 2011/2012 - Tiffin University

FootballSportsSceneMen’s SoccerQuarterback JamesCapello had a strongfirst season for Tiffin,breaking the singleseason completionpercentage recordand the single gamecompletion record.Tiffin University’s football team played hard butcouldn’t pick up a victory in 2011.For first-year head coach Gary Goff, the rebuilding processbegan with some offensive highlights. Tiffin University’soffense had their best game of the season against Lake Erie ina tough 52-42 defeat. Six records fell in the defeat.Quarterback James Capello completed 46 passes inthe game, shattering the GLIAC record of 39. The mark alsobroke Matt Root’s TU record of 40 set in 2008.Wide receiver Obadiah Dykes caught 18 of those passes,breaking another GLIAC record of 15 catches. The mark also brokeDyshaun Edwards’s TU record of 14 set in both 2008 and 2007.Capello accounted for 6 touchdowns in the game, passingfor 5 and rushing for another, breaking the school recordof 5 touchdowns accounted for by George Whitfield, GarrionCorbin, and Matt Root. Capello’s 5 touchdown passes alsotied the single game mark held by Root and Whitfield.Overall, Capello broke the season record for completionpercentage with a .692 mark, while also finishing with the thirdhighest completions in a season despite missing four gamesdue to injury.Dykes led the team in receiving with 547 yards whileMarcus Beaurem led the team with 73.9 all-purpose yards pergame. Mike Gomez (76 tackles) and Mike Virgin (68 tackles)led the team defensively.Midfielder MichaelO’Neill was a FirstTeam All-GLIAC selection,helping to leadthe Dragons to theirthird GLIAC Tournamenttitle in four years.The men’s soccer team won their third GLIAC Tournamentchampionship in four seasons. Overall, the squadfinished 10-5-4, 5-4-3 in the GLIAC.The Dragons outlasted Northwood 2-2 after two overtimesand won 3-2 on penalty kicks in a dramatic conclusion tothe tourney.Tiffin University’s Michael O’Neill landed top honors forthe men’s soccer program. O’Neill was a First Team pick aftera season in which he had 2 goals and 5 assists for 9 points over17 games. He was the lone Dragons player named to the FirstTeam. In 2010 he was a Second Team and All-Region selection.Three other Dragons were on the Second Team. TwotimeGLIAC Player of the Year Ashton Campbell was a SecondTeam pick. He led the conference in goals with 9 and pointswith 23 along with 5 assists. He also led the GLIAC in fiveseparate offensive categories. He finishes his career as a fourtimeAll-GLIAC honoree.Two defenders were also selected to the Second Team.Ryan Johnstone and Christopher Hoerle were the top defenderson a defense that led the GLIAC in all defensive categoriesincluding goals allowed, GAA, saves, and shutouts. TiffinWINTER 2011 / 12 | CHALLENGE | 55