11 Players Earn MIAA Academic Accolade

Eleven members of the women's soccer team for the 2009-10 season were recently recognized for their hard work in the classroom during this past school year (50% of the team).  Each of these individuals are a member of the MIAA academic honor roll because they were able to maintain a GPA of 3.5 or above for the entirety of the 2009-10 academic year.  Leading by example, all of the senior and junior team members made the Honor Roll!  GREAT JOB GIRLS!!!  Team members on the honor roll for the 2009-10 school year included:


Anja Burk, K'10
Megan Burns, K'13
Cierra Gillard, K'13
Paige Howell, K'10
Jackie Jessup, K'11
Katie Manstrom, K'10
Megan Martinez, K'13
Hilary Marusak, K'11
Rachel Pitzer, K'12
Eva Schmidt, K'11
Chelsea Smith, K'11

GO HORNETS!!!

FULL TIME COACH!!!

Bryan Goyings named full time Women's Soccer coach
Kalamazoo College named Bryan Goyings its first full-time head women’s soccer coach on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010. In addition to his duties as head coach, Goyings will serve the department as recruiting coordinator.
After serving as the part-time head coach the past two seasons, Goyings emerged as the top candidate in the nationwide search to fill the new full-time position.
“The way Bryan rose to the top of the candidate pool is a testament to his accomplishments and abilities,” said Kristen Smith, director of athletics. “Bryan has been a tireless worker on behalf of the women’s soccer program as well as the entire athletic department and College as a whole.
“Bryan is a proven recruiter who has overseen the continued improvement of the women’s soccer program. He is an excellent teammate and ambassador for the College, and he has high expectations to lead the program back to national prominence.”
A 2004 graduate of Kalamazoo College, Goyings joined the women’s soccer coaching staff in 2006 as an assistant coach and helped lead the team to a third-place finish in the MIAA in 2007. He took over as part-time head coach in April of 2008 and has guided the team the past two seasons. After finishing seventh in the MIAA in 2008, Goyings led the Hornets to a third-place finish this past season (5-2-1 record). The Hornets advanced to the championship game of the MIAA Tournament before bowing out as a result of a shootout.
“It is truly a privilege to be named the first full-time head coach in the history of the women’s soccer program at Kalamazoo,” Goyings said. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to continue rebuilding the Kalamazoo College women’s soccer program to compete on the national level. We have been able to lay that foundation in a limited role, but the opportunity to be on campus full time gives me the chance to focus entirely on our goals of building championship-quality teams while ensuring that our student-athletes have the best experiences on and off the field.
“The team is moving in the right direction, but there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done to establish and maintain the standard which I envision for both the program and our players.”
Originally from Jackson, Mich., Goyings is a graduate of Lumen Christi High School. He currently holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “A” License, the highest licensing of any active collegiate soccer coach in the Kalamazoo area. Goyings also holds a National Youth License and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Goalkeeping Diploma.
Goyings has also been actively involved at various camps and working with the Olympic Development Program in Michigan, training and developing the highest level of youth soccer in the state.  He is presently the assistant coach of the 95 ODP age group.
As a student at Kalamazoo College, Goyings was a four-year letter winner for the Hornets (2000-03). He was a defender on three MIAA championship teams and two NCAA Division III tournament teams, and scored four goals his senior season.
Following graduation from Kalamazoo College, Goyings became heavily involved as a coach in the local youth soccer scene, where his varying posts included time as the head junior varsity girls' coach at Wayland High School, the assistant boys' varsity coach at Plainwell High School, a staff coach for the Portage Lightning Soccer Club, and as a staff coach with the Kalamazoo Kingdom Reserves soccer club.
As recruiting coordinator, Goyings will work to initiate departmental recruiting strategies and initiatives while supporting all coaches and the admission office in their efforts.
The Kalamazoo College women’s soccer team finished 8-6-5 overall in 2009. The Hornets tied for third place in the MIAA with a record of 5-2-1 and advanced to the MIAA Tournament Championship game.
The women’s soccer program at Kalamazoo College began in 1982. The program has an overall record of 326-146-36 for a .677 winning percentage. The Hornets are 165-60-12 (.722) in MIAA play since the league began sponsoring women’s soccer in 1989. Kalamazoo has won eight MIAA championships, made six NCAA III Tournament appearances, and produced 10 NCAA III All-Americans. (courtesy Kalamazoo Sports Information)

GO HORNETS!!!

Hornet Soccer on NPR

 Soccer Clinic Revisited

In the Fall the Hornets hosted children from the Peace House to campus.  The team put on a soccer clinic followed by a picnic.  It was recently mentioned on Michigan Public Radio on Monday, December 7th in a lead on a story about the Peace House.  If you didn't get a chance to hear it you can check it out by clicking on the link below.  
NPR LINK

For more details about this great event, check out the blog entry that describes the day with pictures and all! October 5th Blog Entry

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Thank Goodness!!!

 Thanks To Everyone That Helped Make 2009 a Success!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  Being a day dedicated to giving thanks there are a number of individuals and groups that Hornet women's soccer program would like to thank for making 2009 a season to remember.  First, school administrators, especially Coach Rob Passage, who endured some very wet days at our games and long days moving game locations when rain made our field unplayable.  Thank you to the facilities management crew at K that does their best to keep the field in top shape.  Thanks to Don, the college bus driver who always make sure we get where we are going in a safe and timely fashion.  Thanks to our training staff, Scott Michel and Megan Hass for doing an excellent jog keeping the girls healthy and prepping them for competition.  Thanks to Pat Marcinkowski and Elyse Dunsford in the admissions office.  They do a great job behind the scenes helping to coordinate recruiting visits 12 months of the year!  Thank you to Laura Passage, alumni liaison, communications director, and super fan.  Thanks you for massive support throughout the year from family and friends.  The hundreds of supporters at the MIAA final will not soon be forgotten!  Most importantly, THANK YOU to all the parents and grandparents who make the Kalamazoo College experience possibly for their student athlete.  Have a Great Thanksgiving!

GO HORNETS!!!

Team Banquet

 Henderson Castle, Site of the 2009 Women's Soccer Banquet

Team Awards 
MVP: Anja Burk
MIP: Zari Haggenmiller

Hornet Award: Katie Manstrom

2009 Team MVP, Senior Anja Burk

Anja Burk was voted team the Hornet's most valuable player for the 2009 season.  Burk's contributions throughout the season as well as her career are quite impressive.  This year she started all but one game for the Hornets and was an extremely consistent contributor both at practice and in games.  She was positionally sound and a superb 1v1 and team defender.  Outstanding ball winner, especially with her head Anja ranks among the top Hornet defenders of the past decade.  Selfless and quiet, she might not standout but her leadership and intelligence were a major reason for the success that the team experienced this past year!  Congratulations Anja.

2009 Hornet Most Improved Player; Freshmen Zari Haggenmiller

Zari Haggenmiller was recognized as the team's Most Improve Player for the 2009 season.  After splitting time between midfielder and goalkeeping positions in high school, Zari became a full-time goalkeeper upon her arrival at Kalamazoo College.  Working with goalkeeping coach Erin Carlson, Zari showed tremendous progress and improvement throughout the year.  Her dedication to the position and willingness to challenge herself and ask questions not only made her better but also her teammates.  With continued hard work, Zari has just scratched the surface of her potential.  Congratulations Zari!

Hornet Award Winner, Senior Katie Manstrom

Senior Katie Manstrom was awarded the Hornet Award for her efforts during the 2009 season.  The Hornet Award is given to the player who best embodies what it is to be a Kalamazoo College Hornet.  Throughout the season Katie faced a number of challenges and did a great job leading through example in practice and at games.  She was a superb captain and the little things which she did both on and off the field that go unnoticed were a big reason for the Hornet's 2009 success.  Thanks for all your contributions and congratulations Katie!

SEASON RECAP

The 2009 Hornets would arrive on campus in mid August.  With a roster of 9 returning players from a year ago, 2 seniors stepping back onto the field after six months abroad, and 11 first year players the preseason was full of unknowns.  The season would officially kick-off at the Ohio Northern Invitational.  Friday of Labor Day weekend the Hornets would open against Ohio Northern and Otterbein College.  Both perennial contenders at the top of the Ohio Athletic Conference the Hornets would fall to ONU 4-1 and Otterbein 3-0.  In both games Kalamazoo had spells of strong possession but struggled to find an offensive identity.  The teams next match would pit them against Huntington College in Indiana.  Trailing twice in the match, senior Katie Manstrom scored off a scrappy goal off a Hornet corner kick with just over 15 minutes to play.  In the second overtime C.J. McCarthy would record her first goal of the year and give the Hornets there first win of the year.

With a record of 1-2, Kalamazoo would host their first home games of the year.  A Saturday morning match against Carroll University from Wisconsin.  Carroll, the defending champion of the Midwest Conference tournament would record a goal 7 minutes into the contest.  However, the Hornets improved as the game progressed and Hornet forward, Jackie Short would score her first goal of the season in the 36 minute.  Despite several quality opportunities for both teams in overtime the game would end in a 1-1 draw.  The next weekend Kalamazoo would host to perennially strong programs in the University of Chicago and the College of Wooster.  Chicago would arrive in Kalamazoo sporting a record of 4-1 and top 15 national ranking while the Fighting Scots were unbeaten (6-0-1).  Against Chicago the Maroons carried play early and were kept in the game with very strong play from freshmen goalkeeper Courtney McCoy who would record 10 saves on the day.  The team's confidence grew as the game progressed and two minutes before halftime, Jackie Short would take advantage of a loose ball in Chicago's box and stake K to a 1-0 lead.  After halftime the Hornets would continue to play hard and had several chances to take a 2-0 lead.  However, with less than 10 minutes to play Chicago would find the equalizer and record the game winning goal with less than 5 minutes to play in the second overtime.  A tough loss for K but the Hornets had several excellent segments of play.  The next day, against Wooster, K came out firing and Hornet C.J. McCarthy scored less than 2 minutes into the contest.  A defensive hiccup at right before half allowed Wooster to take a 2-1 lead at the break.  In the second half, sophomore Julia Schroeder would equalize.  Despite hitting the crossbar in overtime Kalamazoo could not quite solve the Wooster goalkeeper and would tie for the second time in three games.  The non-conference schedule would be complete following a strong win against against Marygrove College (3-0) and tough loss to nationally ranked Denison University (4-0).

Kalamazoo would enter league play with an overall record of 2-4-2 and goal of improving on the previous year's 7th place league finish.  The Hornets would open at Trine and with a solid 5-0.  In the game all the points would be generated by freshmen.  Maya Smolcic 2 goals, 1 assist C.J. McCarthy, 2 goals, Jackie Short 1 goal, 1 assist, and Megan Burns 1 assist.  It was the first win in a league opener for K in 9 years.  With a 1-0 league record the Hornets would travel to play an very strong Adrian College program which had not given up a goal in their 5 previous matches.  Julia Schroeder lashed a shot into the goal in the 22nd minute and that would be all that the Hornets would need for a 2-0 conference record.  The story of the day would be Kalamazoo's defense.  Already playing numbers down the Hornets sustained a couple more injuries in the game and played the majority of the match with a back line of sophomore Rachel Pitzer, sophomore Maggie Rogers, sophomore Jenn Gateley, and junior Eva Schmidt.  Rachel and Maggie who are used to minutes in the midfield, stepped up to the challenge in the back and were two key players on the day.  Returning home Kalamazoo's next game would be a game played in the driving rain against the Britons of Albion College.  Albion would strike first in the 56th minute, as the game wore on the Hornet's resolve was as constant as the rain and C.J. McCarthy would score in the 86th minute tying the game at one.  Once again the Hornets would find the post but not the net in overtime as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.  With a league record of 2-0-1 Kalamazoo traveled to Grand Rapids to take on 3 time defending conference champion Calvin College.  Calvin jumped on the Hornets early with two early goal but the Hornets fought back and Jackie Short would score making the score at halftime 2-1.  In the second half K would have some strong opportunities but would fall to the Knights.  A trip to Holland was next up to face Hope College.  In Hope's new stadium both teams played a fair and even first half.  In the second half the Hornets would have the stronger run of play including having a ball that had beaten the Hope keeper cleared off the line with less than 15 minutes to play in regulation.  In the second half and overtime Kalamazoo out shot the Dutch 15-1 and with less than one minute left in the second overtime, junior midfielder Hilary Marusak would win a Hope goal kick, Jackie Short was able to gain control of the ball and put a shot just out of the reach of the Hope keeper.  What resulted was a 1-0 win for Kalamazoo and the programs first win over Hope in 8 years!  With a league record of 3-1-1 Kalamazoo would welcome Olivet College for a homecoming match.  The flu also hit the team pretty hard leading up to the game and K would be without 5 regulars at game time.  No worries, a number of K's reserve players would step up and play key roles.  It would begin as freshmen Natalie Reszka would record the first goal of the game on a penalty kick.  Her classmate C.J. McCarthy would score the game's second goal and junior Jackie Jessup would score on her first touch of the game giving K a 3-0 halftime lead.  Olivet would score first in the second half before sophomore Rachel Pitzer would put K up 4-1 with a late goal off a corner kick.  After several days off to recover from illness the Hornets would return against St. Mary's at a neutral site.  With over an inch of rain in the day prior to the contest the game was moved to the turf field at Vicksburg High School.  St. Mary's would prove to be as formidable as the wind and rain that day.  They would open the scoring at the 20 minute mark.  Struggling to find consistency and rhythm, freshmen Stephanie Verbeek crossed in a ball which fellow freshmen Emily Gray was able to direct into the goal.  1-1 at halftime, the Hornets would come out buzzing in the second half.  Jackie Short would convert two breakaways less than two minutes apart giving K all they would need to secure a 3-2 win.  With the victory Kalamazoo headed into the final day of the season trailing league leading Calvin and with a win coupled with a Calvin loss had an outside shot at their first MIAA championship in a decade.  An afternoon showdown with Alma College would be the Hornet's final regular season league contest.  Stephanie Verbeek would score the first goal of the game with a great breakaway goal less than a minute before halftime.  Kalamazoo would have several chances to finish off the Scots and not converting would prove costly.  Alma would score an unassisted goal in the 79 minute and then win the game in the 2nd overtime with a superb header goal.  With the loss Kalamazoo would end the regular season with a league record of 5-2-1 tied for 3rd in the league and enter the conference tournament as the 4th seed. 

Kalamazoo would open the league tournament against Hope.  After beating them in Holland earlier in the season, the Dutch were primed for a rematch.  Katie Manstrom would intercept a ball in the midfield and played Jackie Short forward who would put the ball past the Hope keeper and put K up 1-0 five minutes into the game.  The Hornets would weather several late chances by the Dutch to advance to the conference tournament semi final in Grand Rapids against regular season champion Calvin.  In a hard fought match Kalamazoo played very strong and organized on defense and neither team was able to capitalize offensively after scoreless regulation and two overtimes the Hornets and Knights had a penalty shootout to determine who would advance to the conference final.  Kalamazoo would convert 3 of their 5 shots and defeat Calvin 3-1 in the penalty kick shootout.  The conference final would pit Kalamazoo against Albion, teams that had battled to a 1-1 draw throughout the year.  A tightly contested match neither team would create strong scoring chances in the first half and Albion would hold and edge in the shot department.  In the second half the Hornets would play stronger as the match wore on and had several close calls including a point blank save by the Albion keeper and a defender clearing a Kalamazoo shot off the line.  After 110 scoreless minutes the game would again move to a penalty kick shootout and Albion would claim the conference tournament title and automatic bid to the national tournament with a 5-4 win in the penalty kick shootout.

The Hornets would conclude the season with an overall record of 8-6-5.  It was a very successful year that included wins over several programs the Hornets had not beaten in years as well as an incredible nine overtime games.  All of the team's non-conference would come to teams that would end of qualifying for the national tournament and out of the team's 19 games, 9 were played against national tournament qualifiers, making the schedule one of the top ten toughest in the country.  Although it did not end the way the team wanted it to, the progress that the team and program made throughout the year was a major step in the right direction to getting Kalamazoo College Soccer competitive at not only a conference level but also a regional and national level. 
 




All-League Awards:
1st Team: Maya Smolcic
2nd Team: Anja Burk
2nd Team: Jackie Short
2nd Team: C.J. McCarthy

Maya Smolcic, Anja Burk, C.J. McCarthy and Jackie Short received All-MIAA honors for the 2009 season. Smolcic, a freshman from Troy (Troy HS), was named to the All-MIAA First Team. In conference play the midfielder recorded two goals and three assists. Burk, McCarthy and Short all earned All-MIAA Second Team honors. Burk, a senior defender from Saline (Saline HS), was one of the Hornets' top defenders throughout the year, playing every minute of the conference tournament in which the Kalamazoo defense posted three consecutive shutouts. She was also named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week for week seven of league play. McCarthy, a freshman from Ada (Forest Hills Eastern), was one of the team’s top offensive performers. The forward was Kalamazoo's second-leading scorer posting seven goals and two assists for 16 total points. In league play McCarthy was fifth in total points (9) and fourth in the league in goals (4). She was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week for week 10 of league play. Short, the Hornets' leading scorer and a freshman from Troy (Athens HS), was recognized with second team honors for being the league’s second-leading scorer with five goals and third in total points (10). The 2009 Kalamazoo College women’s soccer team finished in a tie for third place during the MIAA regular season (5-2-1), and fell to Albion in a shootout in the conference tournament final. The Hornets posted a final overall record of 8-6-5 (courtesy Kalamazoo College Sports Information).