Soccer...Hot Dogs...Ice Cream!!!

"Just Like That, Now Don't Move!"

Earlier this season the Hornet soccer players got together after practice and put on a soccer clinic for the children of faculty and staff here at the college as well as a group of kids from Kalamazoo east side neighborhood. These kids are frequent visitors to the Peace House.

The Peace House is the vision of four alumni. Jen DeWaele, Mike DeWaele, Jerry Mechtenberg-Berrigan, and Molly Mechtenberg-Berrigan. The good friends are all members of the class of 1997 and have been working at creating to create a two-house learning- and-play-centric community that is very grassroots. As well as renovating the two houses that sit side by side the property also includes gardens, a incredible playground, and green space. In the areas where these additions sit was most recently an abandoned lot and too say that it was overgrown was just a little bit of an understatement. A year ago the women's soccer team helped clear brush (the day of the chainsaw) and applied close to 15 gallons of primer to interior walls of one of the houses. If you ever get a chance to stop by the Peace House, it's a trip you won't regret. The address of the Peace House is 313 and 321 Phelps Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49048.

The players were responsible for the soccer activities and the coaching staff and training staff (Thanks Again Trainer Megan!) were responsible for preparing the picnic. The decimation of 80 hot dogs and 2 gallons of ice cream was one impressive feat! Special thanks go out to Rob Passage for helping transport the kids and Laura Furge for helping fill lemonade cups and serving as the clinic photographer. Included below are a couple pictures from the day.

Pre-Game Pep Talk

"Don't All Gang Up On Me"

"You're It"

"Why is the ball almost as big as my leg?"

TeamWork!

A number of players stepped up in a total team effort on Saturday for as the Hornets gained a 1-0 victory at Adrian College on a cool and blustery afternoon. The game opened with neither team really finding a rhythm and adapting to the conditions. In the 18th minute of play two Hornet defenders both challenged for a an air ball and incidentally ran into one another. What resulted was two K players having to leave the field as both sustained nasty cuts to the head. Right back Megan Burns and centerback Anja Burk (two pretty tough players) both left the field for medical attention. Already playing without junior Chelsea Smith (scheduled to return Tuesday) the two players leaving the field were replaced on the backline by sophomore midfielders Rachel Pitzer and Maggie Rogers. The rest of the Hornets stepped up their game and 4 minutes later, sophomore Julia Schroeder (pictured above) found some room down the left wing and left a rocket fly from 25 yds out. Hornets 1 Bulldogs 0. It was the first goal Adrian has conceded in their past five contests. In the second half the Bulldogs continued to pressure the Kalamazoo defense but the Hornets proved to be up to the challenge including several "almost" goals on the counterattack from Kalamazoo attackers Emily Gray and Maya Smolcic. A total team effort on the day would result in the Hornets posting their second MIAA win in as many tries and moving their overall record to 4-4-2. It is the first time in 8 years that the Hornets have opened the MIAA season with consecutive wins.

Health Update: So, due to popular demand. It's important to know that senior Anja Burk is doing well after her on field collision with Megan Burns. If you were at the game, you know Megan made a second half return after being cleared by the training staff on site. Anja was not as lucky. A three hour trip to the ER and 12 stitches later she was on her way back to Kalamazoo. A shot of her trophy gash is below. Yes, if you can tell, she is trying not to smile in the picture, but just could not hold back. Certainly, "Anja Tough" will be a phrase all future Hornets will need to become familiar with. Hurry Back!!!

Looking Tough and Trying Not To Smile

GO HORNETS!!!

Alligator...Elephant...Monkey

Coach Wells was in charge of running practice this afternoon. The field proved to be a little slick after rain this morning but the order of the day was finishing and lots of it. Numerous activities going towards goal. Including 3vNone and progressing to 3v3 which was followed by 9v9 going towards goal. However, the goals in this 9v9 activity were set up inside the center circle and back to back. This game was played twice with it being a race to 15. Then the team played a three goal game with rotating keepers. This meant the keepers had a chance to get out of goal and play in the field while some of the field players had the chance to show off what they have in goal. Several unorthodox but nevertheless outstanding saves from the some of the field players throughout the activity. A full practice with lots and lots of attacking repetitions it ended with a riveting game of Alligator...Elephant...Monkey. A cool down game, we can leave it at that. The Hornets will board the bus tomorrow bright and early (7:45am) as they head off to Adrian College in seek of a their second MIAA win. These two teams battled to a 0-0 tie last year in a game that was both physical and hard fought by both teams. Currently, both Kalamazoo and Adrian will carry a 1-0 conference record into the match and 3 valuable points will be at stake beginning at 12:00pm tomorrow. It would be great to see you at the game but in case you can't make it be sure to check out the link to live stats found here: Live Stats


GO HORNETS!!!

Back to the Blog

So after a month's absence we're going to try and give it another shot. The bad news, we haven't updated you in a month. The good news, we're going to try and do our best to keep you updated each day for the next month. Currently, the Hornets stand at 3-4-2, 1-0 in the MIAA, it is the first time that the Hornets have opened the league with a win in 8 years. The Hornets are looking to move for another conference win as they head on the road to Adrian College this Saturday. The team has shown consistent improvement over the course of the first month and is yet to play their best soccer. The quest for consistency continues each day at practice as well as with each match.

The month of October arrived today and the morning was chilly but the sun was out this afternoon and it was a great day for practice. One of those days where breaking a sweat helps to keep you warm. The focus of training included receiving as well as ball winning. Practice concluded with everyone's favorite, about 15 minutes of fitness. Tomorrow will include final preparations before a match against the Bulldogs on Saturday.

GO HORNETS!!!

Ball Boy

Earlier in the week a future Hornet ball boy, Owen Passage made an appearance at practice. He found something that he really liked (a bag of soccer balls) and apparently was none to happy when he had to leave. Don't worry Owen, it's a pretty good bet that you will probably make it out to the soccer field a couple more times this Fall. For those that don't know, Owen is the son of of Rob and Laura Passage. Laura coached the Hornets from 2005-07 before handing over the reigns to Coach Goyings. Rob is the Men's Basketball Coach here at the college as well. That is just one of his many titles in the the athletic department as he also does an outstanding job helping Coach Goyings keep a healthy perspective on all things coaching while also helping to manage the athletic facilities here on campus and at times serving as a chauffeur for the soccer team.

Friday, yes, more rain washed out the morning session and the scrimmage planned for the day was also canceled as the Kalamazoo Soccer Complex was closed for purposes of field preservation. So this morning everyone had the opportunity to get a little bit more sleep. The juggling delinquents were asked to head over to the gym to put in some time trying to reach their goal. Without a place to scrimmage this afternoon the team headed across town to a local indoor soccer facility. In the tighter space of the indoor field the team worked on a number of different types of combination, including the, don't trip over yourself back heel. The session ended with a 4v4 transition game and a touch of fitness. Rain may have dampened the ground but spirits remain high. The first official contest is quickly approaching. Just one week away!