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News
Lady Cougars to Honor 10 Soccer Seniors
on Saturday
written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (10-15-2011) - The Mount
Vernon Nazarene University women's soccer
team will honor its 10 seniors on Saturday
afternoon at halftime of the Lady Cougars'
Mid-Central College Conference match with
Huntington (Ind.) University that starts at
3 p.m. at Cougar Field.
Over the past four years, MVNU has
posted a 46-29-6 overall record (.605
winning percentage). Among the many
highlights during that span, the Lady
Cougars claimed the American Mideast
Conference Tournament title in 2009 and
advanced to the NAIA National Championship
Opening Round for the first time in the
program's history.
Sarah Buehler, a
forward from Tallmadge, Ohio, has played in
66 matches over the past four years with 12
starts. The former Tallmadge High School
product has registered two career goals and
six assists.
"Sarah is kind of known
as the team mom," said MVNU coach Daniel
Seiffert. "Basically, if anyone ever needs
anything, she is the one that everyone goes
to. She has this very nurturing and caring
attitude off the field, but then on the
field she is tenacious and relentless. Her
work ethic and desire to get better and
improve and compete is very evident through
her play. She has been a great addition and
has had an awesome four years here. I know
that she is going to have a terrific life
ahead of her and she will be a fantastic
nurse when she leaves MVNU."
Challyn
Dobson, a defender from Mount Vernon, Ohio,
has played in 60 matches in three seasons
with the Lady Cougars and made 58 starts.
The former Mount Vernon High School standout
has recorded five career goals and five
assists.
"Challyn is one of the most
talented players I have ever coached - male
or female," said Seiffert. "Her soccer IQ
and desire to put the team before herself is
very evident in her play and in everything
she does. She is our one fifth-year senior
who transferred back from Ohio State
University to play soccer and graduate from
MVNU. It amazes me the sacrifices that she
makes for the team. Through all of her
injuries, she never complains and is always
willing to give her all. Her resilience and
relentless commitment to lead this team to
be the best that it can be reflects her
remarkable character. She has done a
fantastic job of leading as one of our
captains this year. These qualities, coupled
with her caring attitude and an ability to
really see the big picture in life, will
serve her very well into the future."
Andrea Fisher, a forward from
Perrysburg, Ohio, has seen action in 18
matches over the past four years while at
MVNU. The former Perrysburg High School
graduate has tallied one career goal and one
assist.
"Fish, as everyone on the
team knows her, is one in a million," said
Seiffert. "She has one of those
personalities that make this team who we
are. Her endless energy and infectious
personality have truly been blessings to
everyone on this team. I dare anyone to try
not to smile when she breaks into one of her
many contagious laughs. She is an amazing
young lady with very cheeky soccer skills
and a strong work ethic. I know that she is
going to have a great future ahead of her,
and she is just an awesome young lady to be
around."
Heidi Moeckel, a defender
from Gahanna, Ohio, has played in 76 matches
over the past four years with 36 starts. The
former Gahanna Lincoln High School product
has recorded three career goals and one
assist.
"Heidi is definitely more of
the jokester of the team," said Seiffert.
"She has a very fun and outgoing personality
that makes everyone smile and laugh. She
also has a terrific work ethic both on the
field and in the classroom, and she is a joy
to be around. The nursing profession will
definitely be a better place with Heidi in
it upon graduation."
Kelci Rhodes, a
defender from Beavercreek, Ohio, has played
in 70 matches over the past four years and
made 65 starts. The former Beavercreek High
School product has registered eight career
assists while helping to anchor the Lady
Cougars' back line.
"By far, Kelci is
one of the most reliable people I have ever
met," said Seiffert. "Whenever there has
been a need of some kind for the team, she
has always been the first to volunteer. On
the field, she is an extremely gifted
player. And, even though she comes across as
a very tough cookie, she actually has a very
soft and gentle spirit. It has been a real
joy getting to know her over the past few
years."
Courtney Ricker, a midfielder
from Marysville, Ohio, has played in 76
matches over the past four years with 54
starts. The former Marysville High School
star has recorded 10 career goals and 10
assists, and she has also been a standout in
the classroom with a 3.92 grade point
average that will have her up for NAIA
All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the
second straight year.
"Courtney is
the enforcer as well as the little maestro
in the midfield," said Seiffert. "Her
determination and talent lies with her
ability to be technically sound and have
good vision. She also has a desire to grow
and help the team grow. Her work ethic is
evident not only through her play, but
through her training regimen. Quite often
after practice, you will see her stay and
run sprints to continue to increase her
fitness. She has a great ability to lead and
is a fantastic young woman with a bright
future ahead of her."
Lindsey
Shaffer, a midfielder from New Cumberland,
W.Va., has seen action in 47 matches over
the past four years with three career
starts. The former Oak Glen High School
product has tallied two career goals and
three assists. She also boasts the highest
grade point average on the team at 3.93 and
will be up for NAIA All-America
Scholar-Athlete honors for the second year
in a row.
"Still waters run deep,"
said Seiffert. "That is how I can best
describe Lindsey. She is very insightful
with a brilliant mind. Her love for the Lord
is very evident in everything that she does
both on and off the field. She always keeps
God first and is a joy to be around. She has
a terrific work ethic and has had a great
career at MVNU. I can't wait to see all the
good things that God has planned for her
going forward."
Ashley Smithberger, a
midfielder from Johnstown, Ohio, has played
in 53 matches over the past four years with
six career starts. She has also scored two
career goals during that span.
"Ashley is one of the strongest players we
have on this team in regards to physical
play and playing through adversity and
pain," said Seiffert. "She has had a lot of
injuries over the years, yet she has toughed
it out and has demonstrated what it means to
be perseverant. That word epitomizes her. No
matter what happens, she has an amazing
ability to simply turn things over to God
and let Him handle it. We've all learned a
lot from Ashley and her approach to life's
challenges. She has an amazing heart and
great attitude and has been an absolute joy
to coach. I know that God has some great
things in store for her future."
Erin
Washington, a midfielder from Lucas, Ohio,
has played in 80 matches over the past four
years with 38 career starts. The former
Mansfield Christian School standout has
scored three career goals and added two
assists, and she will also be up for NAIA
All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the
second straight year as she sports a 3.87
grade point average.
"Erin is
awesome," said Seiffert. "She has this
attitude of team-first mentality which
epitomizes her personality. She is one of
the hardest workers we have on this team.
Not only have her soccer skills developed
because of this mentality, but her
leadership skills have continued to grow as
well. She will do the right thing even when
it is one of the hardest things to do. She
is one of the strongest leaders we have on
the team, and her team-first mentality is
always looking to help grow, develop, and
improve the team. She is very selfless and
you don't find that characteristic in a lot
of people. It has truly been a pleasure to
watch her grow and develop as a young woman
over the past few years, and she certainly
has a bright future ahead."
Amanda
Woods, a forward from Nashport, Ohio, has
played in 78 matches over the past four
years with 40 career starts. The former
Tri-Valley High School star has scored nine
career goals and added six assists. She has
also compiled a 3.52 grade point average and
will be up for NAIA All-America
Scholar-Athlete honors for the second
straight year.
"Amanda definitely has
an amazing heart and an awesome love for the
game of soccer," said Seiffert. She is
one of those people who works hard and is
always doing her best to improve and make
the team better. I love her work ethic
and her development over the past several
years has been fantastic. As a result,
she is one of the most dangerous players we
have on the team. It's been neat to
watch her progress throughout her collegiate
career. Her sincere heart and driven
nature will take her far in life."
After Saturday's
match, the Lady Cougars will three more
regular-season matches left as MVNU looks to
qualify for the eight-team MCC Tournament
that starts on October 29.
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