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Matt Borland
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Springfield, Ohio — It may be closer to the start of the 2007 soccer season than it is to the end of the 2006 campaign, but that does nothing to diminish the recently announced All-Ohio awards given to five members of the Wittenberg women's soccer team and one player on the Wittenberg men's soccer team.
After a season of firsts for the Tiger women's soccer team, including a program-best second-place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) regular season, their first-ever NCAC Tournament title and the Tigers' first NCAA Division III Tournament appearance, it was only fitting that Wittenberg placed five players on the All-Ohio honor roll, more than any other school. Similarly, the Tigers had the most players on the All-Great Lakes Region team when it was announced in December.
Defender Jamie McIntyre, class of 2007 from Columbus, Ohio, added to her legacy with All-Ohio honors, to go along with three consecutive All-Great Lakes Region awards and four straight years of All-NCAC recognition. McIntyre, who broke a school record by starting all 80 games in her career, also was the NCAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. McIntyre led the Tigers to a four-year record of 48-22-10, and she spearheaded a defensive effort that yielded just 11 goals in 22 games in 2006. The Tigers posted a school record 13 shutouts in both 2005 and 2006.
Midfielders Amanda Farrell, class of 2008 from Loveland, Ohio, who led the team with nine goals and 19 total points, and Suzanne Medwid, class of 2009 from Columbus, Ohio, who topped the squad in assists with six and ranked second in total points with 14, also made All-Ohio after earning their first all-region honors in December. They picked up the slack when midfielder Lisa Rusch, class of 2008 from Columbus, Ohio, was lost for the season with a knee injury. Despite an absence that knocked Rusch out of consideration for All-NCAC and all-region honors, Rusch earned recognition on the All-Ohio team.
Rounding things out for the women, goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke, class of 2008 from Columbus, Ohio, claimed All-Ohio honors. O'Rourke played every minute in goal for the Tigers in 2006, and she ranked among the national leaders in save percentage and goals against average.
The Tiger men finished the 2006 season with an 8-8-2 overall record, including a 4-4-1 mark in the NCAC that put the Tigers in sixth place in the final standings after a heartbreaking double-overtime loss at Allegheny on the final day of the regular season.
Midfielder Matt Borland, class of 2009 from Kettering, Ohio, earned All-Ohio honors after leading the team with six assists and 14 total points while starting all 18 games. Borland was also named first-team All-NCAC in 2006 following a second-team distinction in 2005 and third-team All-Great Lakes Region.
By: Ryan Maurer
018-07