By Ashley Birchmeier
The Ohio Northern women's soccer team will look to have continued success during the 2015 season.
Head Coach Mark Batman returns 22 letter winners from the 2014 squad that went 10-7-2 overall and finished second in the Ohio Athletic Conference play with a 6-2-1 record. The Polar Bears also made their ninth straight appearance in the OAC Tournament.
ONU's 2015 roster is made up of nine freshman, 11 sophomores, eight juniors, and three seniors.
"The hope is that the young players who gained valuable experience last year play like a seasoned group and understand how to manage tight games," said head coach Mark Batman.
The Polar Bears welcome back senior All-OAC goalkeeper Emily Brodict. The senior has recorded 39 career starts and is currently ranked sixth all-time in ONU school history in shutouts with 14 and eighth all-time in school history in saves with 159.
Also challenging for time at the goalkeeper position are sophomore Ashley Grisnik and freshman Jordyn Roelofs.
ONU welcomes back top midfielders senior Alex Weirich, juniors Missy Ward, Shelby Stephens, Rachel Weigman and sophomore Mary Kate Munz.
Weirich appeared in all 19 games a year ago for ONU recording three goals, while Munz also appeared in all 19 games and recorded one assist.
Stephens, a First Team All-OAC and Second Team All-Ohio selection, scored five goals and recorded two assists for Northern in 2014.
Ward and Weigman also saw valuable minutes a season ago as Ward recorded two goals, while Weigman posted two assists.
Also competing for a starting role this season will be sophomores Alyssa Church and Hailey Martin, as well as freshmen Rebecca Jackson and Sarah Puntel.
Senior Hannah Moloney, juniors Ellie Schmalzl, Michaela Gutierrez and sophomores Maggie Goeller and Hannah Reich return as the top defenders.
Schmalzl played in and started all 19 games last season, while Guiterrez, an All-OAC and All-Ohio honoree, appeared in and started 17 games scoring one goal and recording one assist.
Reich also appeared in and started all 19 games as a freshman.
"There is no question that we bring back a very talented group, and a group that is very hungry to get back to the NCAA's and winning OAC Championships," Batman said. "They are tired of being second place and that's great motivator for them."
Junior Sarah Huster, sophomore Erika Simpson, and a handful of newcomers will also look to provide depth at the defensive position.
After graduating the 2014 OAC Forward of the Year Kristina Klusek, Batman returns a strong core for 2015.
"Kristina was a great player for us for four years, and can't replace her, but we feel we have come very close to doing that," said Batman. "We scored goals in the spring, beating Bowling Green for one of those games, so we feel we are in a great place looking ahead at preseason and the fall."
Sophomore Anna Niemeyer return after seeing valuable minutes last season.
Neimeyer posted a strong 2014 campaign, earning All-OAC honors and leading the team in goals with nine.
Sophomores Taylor Frank-Hall, Brianna Gruber, and Abbey Oswald will also look to challenge for a starting role.
Northern opens its 2015 season with a three game home stint, facing-off with 2014 NCAA Tournament team Kenyon Sept. 1, Albion (Mich.) Sept. 4, and 2014 NCAA Tournament team Hope (Mich.) Sept. 5.
The Polar Bears then travel to Pennsylvania where they will take on #3 nationally ranked Carnegie Mellon Sept. 11 and Allegheny Sept. 12.
On Sept. 16 the Polar Bears take on Denison followed by 2014 NCAA finalist Thomas More (Ky.) Sept. 26.
Northern closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule Sept. 30 at Kerscher Stadium, when they welcome Transylvania (Ky.).
The OAC season kicks off on Oct. 3 at John Carroll. The Polar Bears then welcome Wilmington Oct. 7 before traveling to Mount Union and Otterbein.
ONU then returns home for a two game home stent with conference opponents Capital Oct. 17 and Heidelberg Oct. 21.
The Polar Bears close out the road portion of its schedule Oct. 27 as they travel to Baldwin Wallace.
The OAC Tournament is scheduled to begin on Nov. 2, with the championship game slated for Nov. 7.
