W&J WOMEN’S SOCCER EYES SECOND-STRAIGHT PAC CROWN (11/4)

WASHINGTON, Pa. — The 2009 Washington & Jefferson College women’s soccer team, led by third-year Head Coach Pete Curtis, will be looking to claim back-to-back Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships for the first time in program history on Saturday afternoon against Grove City College at 1:00 pm. The winner earns the PAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Presidents (11-6-2), who have won eight of their last nine matches, earned a spot in the championship game after defeating Thomas More in double overtime by a 2-1 margin on Tuesday afternoon in Kentucky. W&J has now eliminated TMC from the PAC Tournament in each of the last three seasons, including a 1-0 victory over the Saints in the 2008 PAC title game.

W&J senior Molly Macioce (Dubois, Pa./Laurel Highlands) broke the 1-1 tie in the 105th minute as she took a pass from senior midfielder Spencer Ahrenholtz (Bridgeville, Pa./Chartiers Valley) and netted the game winner for the Presidents.

With the victory against the Saints, Ahrenholtz, senior Jessica Swartz (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata) and senior Tiffany Sherred (Finleyville, Pa./Ringgold) broke the school record for victories during a four-year career with 45. The 2008 senior class previously held the distinction after accumulating 44 in four seasons.

Grove City, which hasn’t won a PAC women’s soccer championship since 2001, advanced to the championship game after defeating Westminster 2-0 in the other semifinal match on Tuesday afternoon at College Field.

The Wolverines (11-5-3) defeated the Presidents 3-2 in their regular-season meeting on September 26th in Grove City. GCC broke a 2-2 tie in the 83rd minute as Emily Ostlund, who assisted the Wolverines’ first two goals, scored an unassisted goal.

The Presidents have not beaten the Wolverines at Grove City’s College Field since the 2005 season, a 2-0 victory.

W&J has used a balanced offensive attack this season as five different players have scored five goals or more. Sophomore midfielder Elizabeth Bendick (Yonkers, N.Y./Hackley) leads the squad with eight, while Sherred and freshman Chrissy Marcius (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) both have netted six. Ahrenholtz and Macioce have found the back of the net five times.

After amassing 14 goals last season, Ahrenholtz leads the team in assists with eight and is the Red & Black’s overall point leader (18). Macioce has also been active in setting teammates up as she is second on the team with five assists.

Sophomore goalie Stephanie Saussol (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) has paced the Presidents’ defensive unit this year, giving up just 17 goals over 1,550 minutes of action for a 0.98 goals-against average. Saussol, who has hauled in 67 saves, has an overall record of 9-6-2, including five shutout performances.

The Wolverines captured their first PAC regular-season title since the 2003 season and have won nine-straight contests. The streak matches the school record for consecutive wins, which was previously set in 2004.

Offensively, GCC has been led by Michelle Peck’s 10 goals and four assists for 24 total points. Ostlund is second on the team in points with 20 (7g, 6a), while Grace Rieman totals 18 points (6g, 6a). Elise Bender rounds out the Wolverines’ top scorers with 17 points (5g, 7a).

Keri Ketcham and Bethany Preston have split time in goal for Grove City and combined for a team GAA of 1.27. Ketcham has started 10 times and allowed 10 goals in 825:55 minutes, while Preston has started nine games and allowed 15 goals in 947:52 minutes.

Eight players in Saturday’s championship match recently earned ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District laurels, including six Wolverines. Ahrenholtz is the only first-team honoree who advances to the national Academic All-America ballot. Macioce garnered second-team honors for W&J.

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