Fall Sports Report
Highlander intercollegiate athletics enjoyed a strong year, with the men's soccer team reaching post-season play in the American Mideast Conference (AMC) and the women's soccer team and several individual athletes earning trips to the national finals of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in their sports. Fourteen Highlander upperclassmen made the grades to be named as NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
When the 2007 season started, David Lewis, head coach of the women's soccer team, wasn't sure what to expect. After all, he had lost eight starters from the previous year, and a ninth—three-time All-American Bethany Kowalcyzk '08—was trying to come back from a serious knee injury (she would end up sitting out the season). The team started slowly—with a 2-2-2 record—before reeling off nine straight wins (seven of them shutouts) and landing in the AMC's Final Four. After advancing on penalty kicks following a draw in the semifinals, the women won the conference title 2-0 over Mount Vernon Nazarene and with it an automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament in Daytona Beach, FL. They won their opening round game there, 1-0 over Cornerstone (MI) University, before falling 3-0 to Azusa Pacific, the eventual national runners-up. Striker Hannah Swift '09 led the team with 19 goals and six assists and was named the player of the year in the AMC and in the NAIA's Region IX. The NAIA named her an All-America, Second Team, and gave defender Rebecca Smith '08 honorable mention. Five team members—Rebecca Buszka '09, Rebecca Dix '09, Andrea Duryea '08, Ashley LaBoda '08 and Smith—earned designation as Scholar-Athletes by the NAIA, indicating that they are juniors or seniors with grade point averages of 3.5 or better.
The men's soccer team used a strong defense—anchored by goalkeeper Erik Lefebvre '09 and central defender Tyler Haggerty '08—to keep games tight all season long. The men gave up just 18 goals and had eight shutouts on the year. The team started with a pair of 1-1 draws then won four and drew another (1-1, again) before losing for the first time. Head Coach Matthew Webb enjoyed his best record yet in his fourth year, finishing the regular season 8-3-5 and earning an AMC playoff game at home against Roberts Wesleyan. The Highlanders won, 2-0, advancing to Fall Sports Report the NAIA Region IX semifinal where they lost to AMC and Region IX winners Rio Grande, 3-0. Lefebvre, Haggerty and midfielder Josiah Snelgrove '08 were named to the All- Region IX team. The NAIA named Ernie Walton '08 and Andrew Gent '08 as Scholar-Athletes.
Both the men's and women's cross country teams enjoyed strong seasons, placing a total of three runners at the national meet. For the men, Dan Ballard '09 led the team with a race win and several second- and third-place finishes during the regular season. Despite an injury that kept him from training at a high level, Ballard ran the 8K in 25:44.8 at the national meet to finish 48th (out of 258). The women's team came close to earning an at-large invitation to the national meet, but had to settle for sending two runners: Kaitlin Fadden '10 and Rachel Rhodes '08. Each was making her first trip to the national meet and acquitted herself well, starting in a crowded field, then moving up to finish strongly. Fadden ran the 5K course in 19:06.0, good for 92nd (out of 268), while Rhodes ran 19:27.6 to finish 133rd. All three were named to the All-AMC team. Ballard, Lydia Thorneblade '09 and Irene Vickner '08 earned Scholar-Athlete designation from the NAIA.
The field hockey team started slowly, losing three of its first four and reaching 2-7 near the midpoint of its season. Then forward Ashley Hoffman '10 scored twice in a 2-1 overtime win at SUNY Geneseo and the team's momentum turned. They won three of their next five and reeled off five straight wins to end the season at 11-9. The NAIA does not oversee field hockey, so the team plays as an independent, and hosted its own post-season tournament, shutting out St. Vincent (5-0) and Wells (6-0) to take the trophy. Four team members—Amanda Brenon '09, Kathleen Griego '08, Elizabeth Mueller '08 and Ashley Pink '08—met the criteria for the NAIA Scholar-Athlete designation.
The women's volleyball team, which lost six seniors and featured six first-year players and only two seniors this season, strove to mesh together and find consistency. The results were mixed, as the team showed flashes of brilliance as well as inconsistent play throughout the season. It often made for spirited matches as the Highlanders put in a strong effort. Ultimately, the team wound up 11-22 overall and 3- 11 in the tough AMC North Division, missing the playoffs. Middle blocker Holly Motheral '10 made the AMC North Second Team, while outside hitters Stefanie Swanson '08 and Darby Emerson '11 earned honorable mention.
For full stories, statistics, season previews and more, visit the Houghton College Web site and click on "Athletics" at the top of the page. You can receive a weekly e-mail update on Highlander sports during the seasons by subscribing here. Look for a report on the basketball and track and field seasons in the next issue of Milieu.
