BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University women's soccer team under the direction of sixth-year head coach Jim Wojtkun is ready to take the field.
Coach Wojtkun returns 9 letterwinners, three All-Ohio Athletic Conference players and 11 Academic All-OAC selections from last year's squad that posted an overall record of 11-10 and a 5-4 mark in the OAC. The Yellow Jackets advanced to the OAC Semifinals.
Junior All-OAC forward Sydney Rice (North Royalton) highlights the returning striking force. Rice appeared in 18 games and made 17 starts as she led the OAC with 18 goals, including five game-winning goals. She led the squad with two assists and was tied for the OAC lead with 38 points. Rice also earned United Soccer Coaches Association All-Region VII Second Team, OAC All-Tournament team and Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association All-Ohio first team.
Another key contributor to the attacking group is sophomore forward Natalie Stewart (Blacklick/Gahanna Lincoln) was tied for second on the team with three goals, one assist and seven points. She appeared in all 21 games and made 16 starts.
The experienced midfield is led by a trio of seniors in All-OAC and Academic All-OAC Brandi Filippi (Pickerington/North), Academic All-OAC Maddie Farrell (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) and Academic All-OAC Bella Reigle (Niles/McKinley).
Filippi appeared and started all 21 games. She was tied for second on the team with a career-high tying three goals and one assist for seven points. Filippi was also an Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Academic All-Ohio second team.
Farrell appeared in 14 games and made 12 games this past season. She was second on the team with two goals and fifth on the team with four points. Farrell was also on the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Academic All-Ohio first team.
Reigle appeared in and started all 21 games. She took 23 shots including 14 on goal.
Despite losing three starters, the defense returns junior Academic All-OAC Anna Wolfinger (Wadsworth) and sophomore Kayleigh Neale (Holley, N.Y.).
The goalies are headline by senior Maddie Hofmann (Olmsted Township/Olmsted Falls) and sophomore Katie Scott (Lewis Center/Olentangy). The duo posted an 11-9 record with four shutouts and 87 saves.
BW opens the 2022 campaign on September 2 and 3 at the annual Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament hosted by Penn State Behrend College. The Yellow Jackets play their first home contest on September 9 when they host crosstown rival Case Western Reserve University. The OAC schedule begins on October 1 with a road game against Marietta College.
