Season in Review

Lindsey Zigler

The Wittenberg University women's soccer team put together an extremely successful 2005 season, one that ended tantalizingly close to the program's first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The 2005 season was - at least from a record standpoint - the program's best in more than a decade, and by any measure it was one of the best in the 20 years of Wittenberg varsity women's soccer. The team gained national recognition by breaking into the top 25 national rankings for the first time in 10 years and spent most of the season ranked among the top teams in the Great Lakes Region.

The Tigers opened the season with eight straight victories over such challenging opponents as Ohio Northern, nationally ranked DePauw, Illinois Wesleyan and Elmhurst. It was the second-best start in school history.

The season came to an end with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss against nationally ranked conference rival Denison University in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament semifinals. The Tigers finished 14-5 overall, including a 5-3 mark in the NCAC regular season, which was good for a third-place finish.

Sophomore goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) had an outstanding sophomore season. The best offense is a good defense and that was proven during the 2005 season as Wittenberg ranked first in both goals allowed (11) and goals against average (0.52/game) in the conference. The Tiger defense also broke school records for consecutive shutouts (7), and most shutouts in a season (13).

The Tigers capped off the 2005 season by racking up a trophy case full of awards.

Junior defender Jamie McIntyre (Grandview, Ohio/Grandview) grabbed her second straight NCAC Defensive Player of the Year award. In addition, McIntyre was named first-team All-NCAC and first-team All-Great Lakes Region honors for a second consecutive season.

Sophomore Lisa Rusch (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), the team's scoring leader for a second straight season, was named first-team All-NCAC and third-team all-region, also for a second straight year. Second-team all-conference honors went to senior midfielder Emily Hiscar (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) and freshman defender Suzanne Medwid (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington).

Sophomore defender Lindsey Rusch (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne)and O'Rourke garnered honorable mention status. This was Hiscar's fourth all-conference recognition to cap an outstanding collegiate career, while Rusch, Medwid and O'Rourke were making their first appearance each on the all-conference team.

Jamie McIntyre

The Tigers were led by three seniors in 2005 - forwardLindsay Zigler (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), midfielder Melissa Gallion (West Jefferson, Ohio/West Jefferson)and midfielder Emily Hiscar (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial). All three played key roles in the program's amazing four-year turnaround from mid-range NCAC squad with a sub-.500 overall record to regional powerhouse.

Hiscar also was awarded an NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics.

Norm Riker (Springfield '92) ended his fourth year with the Tigers by evening his record at 16-16 against NCAC opponents. More importantly, since his arrival in March of 2002, the women's soccer team has increased its win total each year.

Riker, also an assistant for the men's lacrosse team, came to Wittenberg from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. where he was an assistant on both the men's lacrosse and women's soccer teams respectively. Riker earned 2004 NCAC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Tigers to an 11-4-5 record and the program's first appearance in the conference tournament championship game. Riker is now 39-31-9 at Wittenberg and 50-38-9 overall.