OAC Coaches Poll (.pdf)
BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin Wallace University womens' soccer team returns 19 letter winners and nine starters from last year's 11-9 overall squad. The Yellow Jackets look to continue to improve and work towards their goal of an Ohio Athletic Conference championship in 2012. The OAC Coaches have tabbed the Yellow Jackets fifth in their preseason poll (released today, August 17).
In 2011, BW produced a winning record and advanced to the OAC Tournament for the fourth time in the past five seasons. This season, 11th-year Head Coach Reid Ayers has even higher hopes.
"I expect big things from this team this year," said Ayers, the second winningest women's soccer coach in school history with 91 victories. "Anything less than a deep run in the OAC Tournament with the chance to compete for an OAC title would be a disappointment."
The Yellow Jackets will be led by senior All-Region and 2-time All-OAC midfielder Lindsey Cooper (Westerville/ New Albany) and junior All-OAC and All-Ohio defender Elizabeth Helser (Fort Wayne, Ind./ Canterbury).
Cooper, who transferred from NCAA Division I High Point (N.C.) University in 2009 and carries a 3.3 grade point average in pre-physical therapy, finished second on the team in scoring with 14 points on career and team-best six goals and two assists. She also was first on the team with three game-winning goals, shots with 51 and shots on-goal with 21.
| OAC Coaches Poll | |
| 1. Ohio Northern University | 80(8) |
| 2. Otterbein University | 72(1) |
| 3. Capital University | 64(1) |
| 4. John Carroll University | 57 |
| 5. Baldwin Wallace University | 50 |
| 6. Wilmington College | 43 |
| 7. Heidelberg University | 32 |
| 8. The University of Mount Union | 26 |
| 9. Marietta College | 14 |
| 10. Muskingum University | 12 |
A year ago, Helser anchored a defense that recorded seven shutouts and allowed just 1.23 goals per game. The 2-year starter also recorded her best offensive season with a career-best two goals and one assist for five points.
"We return two very solid players in Lindsey [Cooper) and Elizabeth [Helser] and there are a number of others who have the talent and ability to help us make the step to the next level of competition," said Ayers. "Our veteran group is strong. Then add that group to another excellent recruiting class and it brings even more excitement to the program and the upcoming season."
In addition to Helser on defense, sophomore goalkeeper Gabrielle Bodo (Alliance/ Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas) is one of three returning goalies Bodo saw action in 16 contests, recorded 64 saves and allowed just 24 goals in 2011. Junior Tina Marthur (Mason) and sophomore Claire LoPresti (Bethel Park, Pa.) return to compete for additional playing time this season.
In the midfield, senior Lindsey Mikula (Rocky River) and juniors Rachel Gokey (Seville/ Lodi Cloverleaf) and Kayla Losco (Aliquippa, Pa./ Hopewell) all return with experience as they were all major contributers last season. Mikula played in all 20 matches and contributed one assist, Gokey played in 19 contests and had three goals and four assists for 10 points, and Losco saw time in 17 contests and recorded four goals, one of which was a game winner.
The B-W offense outscored (33-25) and outshot (273-217) its opponents last season and returns even more firepower. Leading the way is junior forward Heather Keller (Parma). The 2010 second-team All-OAC pick started in all 20 matches, scored five goals and added five assists for a team-leading 15 points. In addition, All-OAC senior Hannah Cavalier (Chippewa Lake/ Lodi Cloverleaf) and fifth-year senior Noelle Fox (Canfield) return. Cavalier had her best season as a collegian in 2011 as she tallied four goals and four assists to finish third on the team with 12 points. Fox played in all 20 contests and scored four goals for eight points.
"In the field, we return a fair number of student-athletes at forward, midfield and on defense," said Ayers. "It is a talented group that gained valuable experience last season. How they play together as a group this year is key. The talent is there. The chemistry is the key."
The Yellow Jackets open the 2012 season on September 1 at the Penn State Behrend Tournament in Erie, Pennsylvania versus Allegheny (Pa.) College at 5:00 p.m. B-W also plays the host school the next day at 5:30 p.m. The first home match is on Saturday, Sept. 15 versus Grove City (Pa.) College on the Tressel Field pitch inside The George Finnie Stadium in Berea at 3:30 p.m. The first OAC contest is at Otterbein University on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1:00 p.m. Both the Grove City and Otterbein matches are part of a men's and women's doubleheader.
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 Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@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 http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
