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Meghan O'Rourke
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Suzanne Medwid
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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — For the first time in more than a decade, Wittenberg University is home to an All-American soccer player. It wasn't just one player who broke through, however - an unprecedented one-year total of three standouts from the men's and women's teams earned national honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
For the women, who posted the best record in school history in 2007, goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke, class of 2008 from Columbus, Ohio, and midfielder Suzanne Medwid, class of 2009 from Columbus, Ohio, merited spots on the second team and third team respectively. They are just the third and fourth student-athletes in program history to earn All-America recognition, following in the footsteps of Sarah Newlin and Kathy Aros, both class of 1996, who were first- and third-team honorees in 1995. Newlin, a goalkeeper, earned National Player of the Year honors that year as well.
On the men's side, forward Matt Borland, class of 2009 from Kettering, Ohio, claimed third-team honors. He is just the fourth Wittenberg men's soccer student-athlete to pick up an All-America award, following in the footsteps of Mark Sloman, class of 1983, Paul Goodrich, class of 1990, and Jonas Osterberg, class of 1994. Sloman was a second-team choice in 1982, Goodrich made second team in 1987 and third team in 1989, and Osterberg was a second-team honoree in 1993.
O'Rourke and Medwid advanced to consideration for All-America honors after earning first-team All-Great Lakes Region. They were joined on the regional honor roll by midfielder Amanda Farrell, class of 2008 from Loveland, Ohio, who earned second-team recognition. O'Rourke, who ranked among the national leaders in saves percentage and goals against average in 2007, moved up from third team and Medwid, the team's second-leading scorer, elevated from second team all-region honors in 2006. Farrell, the Tigers' top goal-scorer each of the last two years, was a repeat second-team honoree.
Rounding out the women's regional awards, Head Coach Norm Riker picked up his first Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year honor. Riker, the 2004 NCAC Coach of the Year, led Wittenberg to its first NCAC regular season title and second consecutive NCAC Tournament crown in 2007. Following a run to the program's first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament Round of 16 and an overall record of 18-3-3 in 2007, Riker has a six-year record of 72-37-13 at Wittenberg.
Borland, the NCAC Offensive Player of the Year, moved up from third-team All-Great Lakes Region in 2006 to first team after leading the Tigers in with five assists in 2007, part of a 21-point effort. He was joined by forward Shane Price, class of 2009 from Minford, Ohio, the Tigers' leading scorer.
The Tiger men finished the 2007 season with a 12-4-3 overall record, including a mark of 6-2-1 in the NCAC, good for third place in the final standings.
Photo By: Brad Tucker
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