Meghan O'Rourke
The Wittenberg women's soccer team has made tremendous strides in the last four years, more than doubling its season win total while improving from six wins in 2002 to 14 wins in 2005. In the process, the Tigers have earned a position as one of the elite programs in the Great Lakes Region.
All the pieces appear to be in place for the Tigers to take the next step in 2006, starting with team goals of winning the program's first North Coast Athletic Conference regular season or tournament championship and gaining a first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Expectations are justifiably high after a 14-5 record in 2005, but the challenges will be many this year, starting with what may be the toughest schedule in school history and including multiple nationally ranked teams in their own conference.
The discussion begins in 2006 with a defensive unit that allowed just 10 goals against in the entire 2005 season and set a school record with 13 shutouts. For a fourth straight year, defensive back Jamie Intyre (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview), a two-time NCAC Defensive Player of the Year, will anchor that unit.
She is joined in the defensive end by returning starters Amy Meige (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) and Rachel Morgan (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain), a pair of juniors, in addition to Jamie Mack (Rochester, NY/Denfield), a sophomore who appeared in 11 games off the bench a year ago. They will play in front of one of the finest goaltenders in the conference, junior Meghan O'Rourke (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), a two-year starter in net. O'Rourke set the Wittenberg record for shutouts in a season after starting all 19 games a year ago. Her 55 saves and 0.52 goals against average ranked among the best in NCAC.
Wittenberg boasts one of the strongest midfield trios around, starting with juniorAmanda Farrell (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland), the Tigers' second-leading scorer in 2005. She will be joined in that area this year by junior Lindsey Rusch (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) and sophomore Suzanne Medwid (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), a pair of all-conference defenders in 2005. Their outstanding ball skills will make the transition to midfield seemless. SophomoresLauren Johnson (Huntsville, Ala./Hilliard Davidson) and Allison Macke (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) and junior Melissa Ketterman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy)are also returning letterwinners in the midfield.
Returning starters Sydney Bates (Loveland, Ohio/Milford) and Lisa Rusch (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), a pair of juniors, are the start of a strong forward line as well. Rusch is a two-time all-conference and all-region performer and was the team's top scorer each of the last two years. All three of Bates' goals were game-winners in 2005. They will be joined up front by returning letterwinnersKristy Parker (Hamilton, Ohio/Ross) and Tara Osborne (Oxford, Ohio/Talawanda), both sophomores, and junior Stephanie Sharp (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East).
Sophomores Jordan Bamberger (Solon, Ohio/Solon), Katie Miller (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and Justine Girard (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and junior Amy Apidone (Richfield, Ohio/Revere) are all in the mix as well after at least one year of collegiate experience. In addition, the Tigers welcome a promising 10-person recruiting class that has the potential to make a positive impact on the program.