Posted: Aug 05, 2015
By: Andrew Sismour '16
BEREA, Ohio -- The Baldwin Wallace University women's soccer team and veteran Head Coach Reid Ayers hope to compete for the 2015 Ohio Athletic Conference title and an NCAA Division III National Tournament berth. The Yellow Jackets played in last season's OAC Championship game and have had four straight winning seasons.
Coming off an 11-9-3 season and in 2014, including a 37-17-8 mark the past three seasons, Ayers feels his team has the talent, experience, depth and leadership to take it to the next level in 2015. He returns five seniors, 10 starters and a bevy of players who gained valuable experience last fall.
BW will be led by sophomore All-OAC and All-Ohio forward Courtney Schutz (Mentor) who scored five goals and had a single-season school-record and OAC-leading 11 assists for a team-leading 21 total points. She was BW's Offensive Player of the Year. She will get plenty of help as nine of the top 10 scorers return.
Also, look for seniors Cheryl Bell (Piqua) and Audrie Wolfe (Hilliard/ Darby) to have an impact. Bell has 15 career goals and six assists for 36 points and Wolfe, who missed all of last season with an injury, has seven career goals and six assists for 20 points.
The midfield will be led by sophomores Alex Elliott (Blacklick/ IMG Academy) and Anna Poptic (Dublin/ Jerome). Elliott was a first-team All-OAC selection and had a team-high nine goals and an assist to rank second with 19 points. Poptic scored three goals and added an assist for seven points and was BW's Co-Rookie of the Year.
Also in the midfield, look for juniors Kristen Lee (Westerville/ New Albany) and Lauren Haynam (Minerva) to contribute. Lee played in 23 games and had a goal and an assist. Haynam played in 23 contests and had a goal and three assists.
On defense, look for junior OAC Defensive Player of the Year Kelly Gough (Hudson) and senior OSCA (Ohio Soccer Coaches Association) All-Ohio defender Kadi Tucker (Mason) to lead the way. Gough, BW's 2014 Co-Most Valuable Player, was second on the team with seven goals and tied for third with 14 points.
In addition, look for junior Allie Lehky (Cincinnati/Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy), sophomore Kori Miller (North Olmsted/Holy Name), junior Natasha Ustaszewski (Lewis Center/Olentangy) to help on defense. Lehky played in 20 contests and scored once. Miller had two goals and four assists in 23 games and Ustaszewski had an assist.
In goal, two-time All-OAC and Academic All-OAC and three-year starter Emily Tallmadge (Fairview, Pa./ Fairview) is one of the best in the region. She has a 35-17-8 career record, allowed 1.0 goals-per-game with a .799 save percentage, 242 saves and 20 overall shutouts. Last season, Tallmadge allowed 1.2 gpg. With 99 saves and eight shutouts.
Overall, Ayers has the talent, experience and depth to take his team back to the OAC Championship Game and ability to battle for an NCAA berth.
The Yellow Jackets open the season on Tuesday September 1 when they travel to Bluffton, Ohio and play Bluffton University and then compete at the annual Penn State (Pa.) Behrend University Tournament on Sept. 4-5. BW opens its home schedule on Sept. 16 when it hosts Cleveland cross-town and non-league rival Case Western Reserve University on the Tressel Field and begin OAC play on Saturday, October 3 when it hosts Muskingum University.
Coming off an 11-9-3 season and in 2014, including a 37-17-8 mark the past three seasons, Ayers feels his team has the talent, experience, depth and leadership to take it to the next level in 2015. He returns five seniors, 10 starters and a bevy of players who gained valuable experience last fall.
BW will be led by sophomore All-OAC and All-Ohio forward Courtney Schutz (Mentor) who scored five goals and had a single-season school-record and OAC-leading 11 assists for a team-leading 21 total points. She was BW's Offensive Player of the Year. She will get plenty of help as nine of the top 10 scorers return.
Also, look for seniors Cheryl Bell (Piqua) and Audrie Wolfe (Hilliard/ Darby) to have an impact. Bell has 15 career goals and six assists for 36 points and Wolfe, who missed all of last season with an injury, has seven career goals and six assists for 20 points.
The midfield will be led by sophomores Alex Elliott (Blacklick/ IMG Academy) and Anna Poptic (Dublin/ Jerome). Elliott was a first-team All-OAC selection and had a team-high nine goals and an assist to rank second with 19 points. Poptic scored three goals and added an assist for seven points and was BW's Co-Rookie of the Year.
Also in the midfield, look for juniors Kristen Lee (Westerville/ New Albany) and Lauren Haynam (Minerva) to contribute. Lee played in 23 games and had a goal and an assist. Haynam played in 23 contests and had a goal and three assists.
On defense, look for junior OAC Defensive Player of the Year Kelly Gough (Hudson) and senior OSCA (Ohio Soccer Coaches Association) All-Ohio defender Kadi Tucker (Mason) to lead the way. Gough, BW's 2014 Co-Most Valuable Player, was second on the team with seven goals and tied for third with 14 points.
In addition, look for junior Allie Lehky (Cincinnati/Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy), sophomore Kori Miller (North Olmsted/Holy Name), junior Natasha Ustaszewski (Lewis Center/Olentangy) to help on defense. Lehky played in 20 contests and scored once. Miller had two goals and four assists in 23 games and Ustaszewski had an assist.
In goal, two-time All-OAC and Academic All-OAC and three-year starter Emily Tallmadge (Fairview, Pa./ Fairview) is one of the best in the region. She has a 35-17-8 career record, allowed 1.0 goals-per-game with a .799 save percentage, 242 saves and 20 overall shutouts. Last season, Tallmadge allowed 1.2 gpg. With 99 saves and eight shutouts.
Overall, Ayers has the talent, experience and depth to take his team back to the OAC Championship Game and ability to battle for an NCAA berth.
The Yellow Jackets open the season on Tuesday September 1 when they travel to Bluffton, Ohio and play Bluffton University and then compete at the annual Penn State (Pa.) Behrend University Tournament on Sept. 4-5. BW opens its home schedule on Sept. 16 when it hosts Cleveland cross-town and non-league rival Case Western Reserve University on the Tressel Field and begin OAC play on Saturday, October 3 when it hosts Muskingum University.
