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MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - The six seniors on the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's soccer team will be honored at halftime of the Lady Cougars' American Mideast Conference South Division match against Tiffin University on Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field.

Katrina Iles, Kristi Tuck, Sarah Rinehart, Karen Stasiowski, Lisa Hinman, and Cheryl Balogh are the first players in the program's history to play four varsity seasons. The group has laid a strong winning foundation for future classes to build upon by posting a 52-27-2 overall record (.654 winning percentage). MVNU has won two National Christian College Athletic Association East Region titles, made two trips to the NCCAA National Tournament, and qualified for the American Mideast Conference/NAIA Region IX Tournament twice. The Lady Cougars have also posted a 13-2-1 record this season and received votes in the NAIA national poll for the first time.

Iles, a midfielder from Amelia, Ohio, has played in 73 career matches with 42 starts. The former Amelia High School standout has recorded three goals and three assists during her career. This season, Iles has played in 12 matches and scored two goals.

Tuck, a goalkeeper from Hollsopple, Pennsylvania, has played in 41 career matches with 36 starts. Last year, the Johnstown Christian High School product started all 23 matches for the Lady Cougars and posted a 1.74 goals against average with five shutouts. Tuck also holds the school records for saves in a season (91) and saves in a career (165).

Rinehart, a forward from Danville, Indiana, has played in 72 career matches with four starts. The former Danville Community High School standout has scored three goals and added two assists. This season, Rinehart has played in 15 matches with two starts and has scored one goal.

Stasiowski, a defender from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, has played in 63 career matches with 55 starts. The former Canon McMillan High School product has started all 16 matches this season and recorded the first assist of her career. She is a key member of the Lady Cougars' back line that has allowed just five goals while posting a school-record 12 shutouts. Stasiowski has also been nominated for the NAIA and NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete teams.

Hinman, a midfielder from Syracuse, New York, has played in 81 career matches with 80 starts - both school records. The former Faith Heritage High School star ranks second in program history with 40 career goals, 26 career assists, and 106 total points. Hinman has started all 16 matches this season and recorded four goals and five assists. As a freshman in 2000, she was a member of the AMC First Team, the NCCAA East Region Team, and the NAIA Region IX Second Team, and she was selected to the AMC Second Team and the NCCAA East Region Team in 2001. Last year, she was named to the NAIA and NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete teams, and she has been nominated for those honors again this year.

Balogh, a defender from Lima, Ohio, has played in 75 career matches with 74 starts. The former Elida High School standout has recorded six career goals and ranks fourth in school history with 14 career assists. This season, Balogh has started all 16 matches and logged a team-high 1,422 minutes in anchoring the defense that has posted a school-record 12 shutouts and allowed just five goals in 16 matches. After earning AMC Honorable Mention and NCCAA East Region honors as both a freshman and a sophomore, Balogh was named to the AMC South Division First Team, the NCCAA East Region Team, the NAIA Region IX First Team, the NCCAA All-American First Team, and the NAIA Honorable Mention All-American Team in 2002. She was also named an NAIA and NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete and is up for those honors again this season.

"As much fun as we have had together, I am even more proud of these seniors and their commitment to the team," said MVNU head coach Jonathan Meade. "They had the courage to enter into a new varsity program four years ago and make it work. They have established important traditions for this program like playing with character and a high work rate as well as emphasizing team unity that is based on genuine concern and care for their teammates."

"Most importantly, though, they have used soccer as a way to share the love of Christ with others," Meade added. "Win or lose, I know what they are made of, what they represent, and who they serve. I would not trade that for anything. These seniors will be greatly missed."