Varsity Athletics

BEREA, OHIO --   The Baldwin-Wallace College men's and women's soccer teams are improving greatly under the tuteledge of first-year Head Coach Reid Ayers.  In the past week, both the Yellow Jacket men and women have begun to show signs of flexing their respective muscles in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

The B-W women improved to 7-6-1 overall and 1-3 in the OAC on Tuesday when they beat Ohio Northern University in Berea, 1-0 in overtime.  That victory broke a 22-game OAC non-winning streak that dated back to 1999.  More importantly, the seven victories are as many as the program had experienced in the three previous seasons.

The B-W men are 4-8-2 overall and 0-2-2 in the OAC and have tied their last two opponents, perennial Great Lakes Region and OAC power Wilmington last Saturday (2-2 in Berea) and a solid ONU team (1-1 in Ada on Wednesday).

"Our program continues to make solid strides toward both respectability now and for the future," said Ayers.  "Our goal this year is to improve every day, in practice and in games.  I have been very pleased with our growth.  We still have a ways to go to challenge for an OAC title, but we are making continued strides and that is important."

The women earned its victory on Tuesday when junior midfielder Lindsey Shilling (Jamestown, New York/ Southwestern Central High School) scored at the 1:03 mark of overtime on an assist from fellow junior Katie Johnson (Erie, Pa./ Mercyhurst Prep).  In goal, junior two-time All-OAC netminder Amanda Avram (Kirtland/ Villa Angela - St. Joseph H.S.), the 2001 OAC Goalie of the Year, recorded her fourth shutout of the season and made 13 saves.

"We hope that this victory will mean a great deal in terms of momentum for our women," said Ayers.  "They are a good team and now they know that they can win in the OAC.  We don't necessarily want to build the rest of our season around one win.  We want it to be a building block for the future."

For the men, freshman forward Geoff Andrews (North Ridgeville H.S.) scored an unassisted goal in the 1-1 tie at ONU, and senior Ryan Edgar (Lancaster H.S.) was solid in goal as the Yellow Jackets gained the tie.  Just as impressive was its tie last Saturday night versus Wilmington.  B-W trailed 2-0 in the first half, but battled back to tie the Quakers.

"Battling back and tying Wilmington gave our guys great confidence," said Ayers.  "Then to go out and tie ONU was huge. Two weeks ago we only lost to the fifth-ranked team in the country, 1-0.  Each of the efforts are building blocks for our men.  I am pleased with this progression, our team's enthusiasm and attitude.  It is becoming contagious."

Both the Yellow Jacket men and women will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 19 when they travel to Marietta College for an OAC doubleheader.  The women play against the Pioneers at 12:00 noon and the men kickoff immediately after the women's game concludes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on B-W Sports Information, please call the SID Office at (440) 826-2327, FAX us at (440) 826-2329 or e-mail SID Kevin Ruple at kruple@bw.edu.  To contact Head Soccer Coach Reid Ayers, please call him at (440) 826-3839, FAX him at (440) 826-6980 or 2192 or e-mail him at rayers@bw.edu.  For all of the latest Yellow Jacket soccer information and news, please log onto our web site at www.bw.edu/athletics and then go to the soccer page.