"Lady Cougars Land Westland High School Soccer Player"

written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

   The Mount Vernon Nazarene College women's soccer team continues to add to its roster for the 2002 season as the Lady Cougars have signed Bethany Rockwell to join the team next year.

   Rockwell, a midfielder from Galloway, Ohio, was a three-year co-captain and a four-year varsity letterwinner on the Westland High School team. As a senior, she scored five goals and added three assists while being named to the Ohio Capital Conference First Team. She is one of only two players in school history to play on the varsity soccer team all four years, and she was selected as the team's Most Valuable Player in both 1998 and 2001.

   "I feel really good about Bethany becoming a Lady Cougar," said MVNC head coach Jonathan Meade. "She has been a leader for her high school team and really loves the game. I look forward to having her bring that leadership and love for the game to our team next year. She has a couple of soccer qualities that you cannot teach - quickness and work ethic - and putting good players around her will only allow her to exhibit these qualities even more in the college game."

   "Bethany's faith is also important to her and that is important to us," Meade added. "Knowing that she wants to be in a Christian atmosphere tells me that she will fit into the mission of the team and school. I am excited to know that she will be a part of the MVNC experience next year."

   In addition to playing soccer on the Westland High School team, Rockwell has also been involved in club soccer since 1999. She was also invited to the Honors Breakfast this year for her work in the classroom.

   "I want to attend Mount Vernon Nazarene College because they seemed to really care about the best decision for me," said Rockwell of her college choice. "The campus is small and fairly close to my home. Also, playing soccer is a big reason, of course."

   The Lady Cougars finished the 2001 season with a 14-9 overall record and a 10-6 American Mideast Conference mark in just their second varsity season. MVNC also won the National Christian College Athletic Association East Region title and advanced to the NCCAA National Tournament in Kissimmee, Florida.