BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College women’s soccer team has four straight seasons with 10 or more victories, including an 11-6-3 record in 2007, and the Yellow Jackets advanced to the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship Game in 2005 when they fashioned an outstanding 13-5-3 mark.
"Our goal every year is to win the OAC title, advance to the NCAA Division III National Tournament and ultimately win the Division III national title," said sixth-year Head Coach Reid Ayers, who already has the best winning percentage for a women's soccer coach in school history.
"We have continued to build our program with the goals of the OAC and NCAA titles in mind while also making sure that both the academic and athletic experience of our student-athletes is a quality experience," said Ayers."
In 2007, Ayers' team outscored the opposition, 26-17, and was one of the best defensive teams in Division III by allowing just 0.82 goals per game. Highlighting the defense was the play of 2007 OAC Goalie of the Year Michelle Neff (Strongsville), who won the award for the second time in the last three years.
In addition to having a successful program in 2007, the Yellow Jacket women's program has a winning record of 174-168-29 in its 20-year existence, including an OAC title and undefeated OAC record (9-0) in 1992 under the direction of Dan White. White's Yellow Jackets equalled the school-record for wins in 1997 with a 14-5-2 slate.
"Traditionally our women's soccer program has been solid," said Ayers. "Now, we are looking to take it to the next level and are looking for young women who want to make that commitment. We will return a strong nucleus of players in 2008 that includes first-team All-OAC midfielder Stephanie Geiger (Berea) and All-OAC forwards in freshman Linsey Clapacs (Willoughby Hills/ South) and junior Allie Wojtkun (North Olmsted/ Magnificat)."
In addition to being solid on the soccer field, Ayers team also excels in the classroom. This fall, four student-athletes, Wojtkun and seniors Brittan Davis (Poland/ Seminary) and Whitney Zunic (Canfield) on the first-team and honorable mention choice in senior Courtney Gillespie (Brunswick), made the Academic All-OAC squad. Also, Wojtkun was a first-team ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-District IV pick and qualified for the national ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-America ballot, and Davis made the second-team. Overall, eight key starters had a 3.2 grade average or better.
"We are extremely proud of our men's and women's soccer student-athletes and tradition of academic excellence," said Ayers. "It tells parents and young men and women who look at our program that we are seeking excellence in all areas. We hope that is a favorable trait."
For more information regarding the B-W men's and women's soccer programs, please call Reid Ayers at 440-826-3839 or e-mail him at rayers@bw.edu.
This page was last updated on December 7, 2007.
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