Jackets to Compete For School's First OAC Tournament Title in 2011

Posted: Sep 02, 2011

BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College men's soccer team and its Head Coach Reid Ayers will seek to take the program one step further in 2011-12 and earn the school's first-ever Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament title and NCAA Division III National Tournament berth.

"We return a solid nucleus of student-athletes and we have an outstanding recruiting class coming to camp who will compete with our veterans," said Ayers, the winningest men's soccer coach in school history with 104 victories at the College of 150 in his career.

Last season, the Yellow Jackets finished the 2010 season with a 12-6-4 overall record and earned its second straight appearance in the OAC Final Four. During Ayers past eight seasons in Berea, B-W has recorded eight straight winning seasons, 12 or more victories in seven of the eight seasons, including three straight.

"We have been right there [referring to an OAC title and NCAA tourney berth], but whatever reason we have not finished what we started," said Ayers. "That will be the goal this season. To finish what we start. We hope to start and finish strong."

This year's squad is led by senior All-OAC forward Carlin Vandendriessche (Medina/ Senior). He has played in 62 matches the last three years, scored 30 goals and added five assists for 65 career points to currently stand seventh on the all-time scoring list. His 30 career goals are fourth all-time and just six shy of tying Jeff Schenk (1983-86) for the school career record. A year ago, Vandendreissche scored eight goals and had 16 points to tie for third on the team.

Joining Vandendriessche up front is senior Noah Eubanks (West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield), who netted two goals and added three assists for seven points a year ago. In addition, Ayers has the option of moving a number of talented midfielders to a forward spot or opting to utilize one of his first-year players, including junior international transfer student Ghasoub Shehab (Syria).

"Obviously, Carlin returns as one of the top offensive players in the conference and we will look to him for production," said Ayers. "He is a proven scorer.

"We also have a number of other weapons who will need to step up and produce," continued Ayers. "We feel very good about our ability to put the ball in the net." The major strengths for Ayers are in the midfield, on defense and in goal.

The midfield is led by senior All-OAC player Andrew Thompson (Huron) and junior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC student-athlete Pat Brennan (Akron/ Walsh Jesuit). The duo represent two of the top returning midfielders in the OAC. Thompson, a three-year starter, scored one goals and added six assists in 2010 for eight points. His six assists ranked second on the squad. Brennan, who has started every match since stepping on campus, scored eight goals and had three assists to lead all returning players with 19 points.

In addition, look for sophomore Judson Sprandel (Akron/ Green), last season's Rookie of the Year, senior Pete Childerson (Alliance/ Senior), junior Kirk Graf (Ashland) and junior Joshua Thacker (Brecksville/ Brecksville-Broadview Heights) to add strength and depth. Last fall, Childerson had a goal and two points while Sprandel and Thacker each recorded one assist. Again, look for the incoming frosh, including Brennan's younger brother, Mike, to push for playing time.

"In Andy and Pat, we have two of the top returning midfielders in the OAC, and that's saying a lot when you consider we lost Jeff Grater, the 2010 OAC Midfielder of the Year, to graduation," said Ayers. "Each is an outstanding student and leader. We will look to them to solidify our midfield."

On defense, senior Sean Maloney (North Versailles, Pa./ East Allegheny) joins juniors Thomas Kramer (Columbus/ Worthington Kilbourne) and Ricky Barth (Strongsville) return as anchors. They helped the Yellow Jacket defense post six shutouts last season and allow just 25 goals in 22 contests. Maloney recorded one assist and Kramer, the team's Co-Defensive Player of the Year, added two goals. In addition to the returning trio, look for junior Ben Kolich (East Aurora, N.Y./ East Aurora) to compete for additional playing time.

In goal, junior Ryan Hulings (Centerville) returns between the pipes for his second season as a starter. Hulings, the other 2010 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, started 21 games and recorded 85 saves while allowing 24 goals for a 1.10 goal average and an 11-6-4 mark.

"Ryan and Tommy will anchor our defense," said Ayers. "We feel very comfortable with our last line of defense. We did very well defensively a year ago and there is no reason to think that we can't be successful again."

The Yellow Jackets open the season on September 3 with a road contest versus Elizabethtown (Pa.) College in the first match of the Penn State Behrend Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament in Erie, Pa. at 12:30 p.m. The Yellow Jackets first home game is September 6 versus Oberlin College on Tressel Field at The George Finnie Stadium in Berea at 7:00 p.m. B-W begins OAC play on October 14 versus Case Western Reserve on Tressel Field at 7:30 p.m.

FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Nick Minerd by phone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at nminerd@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.