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Women’s soccer tops league again; men’s cross country finishes second
D. TRUMPIE PHOTO
Football: The football team, under head
By Bobby Lee Albion College is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and NCAA Division III. B. ENGELTER PHOTO
Sophomore Adam Dohm earned All-Region honors with a 28th place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. The Britons finished seventh overall at the event.
Cross country: The men’s cross country team enjoyed a remarkable season, posting the highest finish in MIAA competition in more than two decades. With five all-league performers on the trail, Albion placed second at the league jamboree in September and at the league championship meet in November. The Britons went on to finish seventh at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, the team’s highest placement in that event in more than a decade. Junior Nick Mockeridge repeated as an All-MIAA first-team performer. He was the third runner to cross the finish line at the league championship meet, finishing the 8,000-meter course in 25 minutes, 41 seconds. Sophomore Adam Dohm achieved All-MIAA first-team status for the first time. Mockeridge and Dohm earned All-Region honors at the Great Lakes Regional, placing 18th and 28th, respectively. Britons included on the all-league second team were juniors Todd Falker and Taurean Wilson, and freshman Jay Puffpaff. The women’s team moved up to a fourthplace finish in the league. Freshman Stacey Kandas and sophomore Loan Portlance achieved all-league second-team status. Hayden Smith coaches the cross country squads.
coach Craig Rundle, finished the season 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA. Albion placed third in the league standings. The Britons were well represented on the all-league team, placing nine student-athletes on the first and second teams and 13 on the honorable mention list. Senior linebacker Nick Loafman achieved first-team all-league status for the second consecutive year after leading the team in tackles and interceptions. Joining Loafman on the first team were senior offensive center John Trupiano and junior defensive tackle Glen Brittich. Britons named to the All-MIAA second team were senior wide receiver Adam Auvenshine, junior tight end Chad Brent, junior kick return specialist Andy Kocoloski, sophomore tailback Dustin Louwaert, sophomore placekicker Andy Cline, and freshman punter Tyler Hunter. In addition to the all-league awards, Brent, Loafman and senior wide receiver Leon McDonald were selected to the Verizon Academic All-District IV team by the College Sports Information Directors of America. McDonald, a speech communication major who boasts a 3.7 grade point average, and Brent, an economics major with a 3.58 GPA, were listed on the second team. Loafman, an economics major with a 3.38 GPA, was included on the third team.
Women’s golf: Albion got off to a great start, topping the field at three tournaments and placing second at two other events in September. Unfortunately, the Britons struggled in the first round of the 36-hole league tournament and settled for a third-place finish in the MIAA. Four Albion players achieved all-league status based on their play in five league rounds. Sophomore Anna Watkins and senior Stacy Chapman earned first-team honors. Watkins finished fourth in the league with an 83.8-stroke average, while Chapman was fifth with an 84.8-stroke average. Lindsey Densmore, a junior, and Lindsay Drewes, a sophomore, were second-team honorees. Densmore was eighth in the MIAA with an 88-stroke average, and Drewes was 10th with an 88.6-stroke average.
Senior midfielder Laurie Vance was named to the All-MIAA first team and Verizon Academic All-America third team, thanks to her effort as a member of the women’s soccer team this fall.
Women’s soccer: After a 2-2 start in league play, Albion turned in an incredible month of October to hold on to the MIAA championship for the third year in a row. Albion won eight league contests in October, all without allowing a goal. The Britons won three more matches at the start of November to extend the winning streak to 11 before falling to Wilmington (Ohio) College in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional semifinal round. The Britons finished the year with a 16-5 overall record and a 12-2 record in league play. Six Britons were selected to the all-league squad. Seniors Theresa Kolly, Stacey Supanich and Laurie Vance and junior Lauran Gentry were selected to the first team, while senior Erica Williams and freshman Jayne Godlew were listed on the second team.
Gentry finished as the Britons' leading scorer with 10 goals and four assists, while Supanich chipped in with eight goals and eight assists. Not to be outdone, Godlew contributed nine goals and an assist. In addition to their league honors, Supanich was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association/adidas Division III All-America team for the second year, and Vance was named to the Verizon Academic All-America College Division team by the College Sports Information Directors of America. A chemistry major, Vance boasts a 3.89 grade point average. Lisa Roschek completed her fifth season as head coach.
Men’s soccer: Albion posted a 6-6 record against MIAA opponents, its first .500 record in the league since 1998. Albion fielded a young squad, with 12 freshmen and four sophomores. Freshman forward Eric Johnson was second on the team in scoring with 11 points on three goals and five assists. The three-member senior class provided outstanding athletic skill and leadership. Senior defender Josh Menig became the first Albion player to achieve all-league first-team status since 1998. Senior midfielder Marcus Boynton and freshman defender Jeff Bennett were included on the honorable mention list by the league coaches. Boynton was Albion’s leading scorer with 10 goals. Jerry Block completed his third season as head coach. Volleyball: Under the direction of second-year coach Russ Frey, the Britons fielded a young team with seven freshmen and sophomores and just one senior. Albion fought through growing pains to win 10 matches. Krystle Weeks, a junior middle blocker, was included on the honorable mention AllMIAA list by the league coaches. She led Albion in kills (243) and finished second on the team in total blocks (56) and service aces (32). Eliza Lee, a freshman setter, turned in a fine all-around season with team-highs in assists (905) and service aces (67). She also totaled 126 kills and 230 digs. A. LINDEMOOD PHOTO
Men’s golf: Albion came on strong in the final week of the season to secure a fifth-place finish in the MIAA standings. The Britons trailed Adrian College by 10 strokes heading into the final two league rounds. Albion made up two strokes at Watermark Golf Club Oct. 7, and nine strokes at the Wuskowhan Players Club Oct. 10. Sophomore Jason Ryan just missed earning all-league honors, finishing 14th in the season individual standings with a 79.7stroke average. The top 12 individuals on the season were awarded all-league status. Jordan Rich, a senior, and Eric Drogosch, a freshman, finished with an 80.6-stroke average in seven league rounds. Mike Turner is the coach of the Britons.
The dedication ceremony for a plaque honoring former Albion football coach Pete Schmidt was held on campus Oct. 19. Pictured with President Peter Mitchell, ’67, (far left) are family members Sarah Schmidt Fuller, ’99, Amy Schmidt Stille, ’97, Becky Schmidt, Peter Schmidt, Jr., ’98, and College staff member Michael Sequite, ’75. The plaque, now mounted on the east side of Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium, recognizes Schmidt’s Albion career which included an NCAA Division III national championship and a 104-27-4 overall record. It was provided by former players and friends, as was an endowed scholarship in Schmidt’s memory.