2010 WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON SEASON PREVIEW

Momentum.  The Washington & Jefferson College women's soccer team has it and wants to keep it going.

Following three straight Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship game appearances and back-to-back PAC titles, the Presidents and fourth-year head coach Pete Curtis are aiming to pull off a conference championship three-peat. 

"Our goal every year is to get to the conference playoffs, we can't underestimate how difficult that is," Curtis said. "Then, once we're beyond that, it's winning the conference title and making good progress in the NCAA Tournament."

The 2010 Presidents lost five senior starters at critical positions on the field.  The team will rely on a talented freshman class to replace, amongst others, 2009 NSCAA Division III All-Great Lakes Region honoree Spencer Ahrenholtz and last season's team MVP Karly Hresko.

Ahrenholtz, along with fellow graduates Tiffany Sherred and Jessica Swartz, leave behind a winning legacy.  Their 46 victories broke the team record for wins during a four-year career.

"To replace them individually would be impossible", Curtis said, but he's confident this year's recruiting class will produce.  "Collectively, we have offensive firepower in the recruiting class, proven goal scorers, who can step in and, in their own way, replace what we've lost." 

In pursuit of another PAC title, the 11-member incoming freshman class will supplement the Presidents' youthful, yet experienced core and, in particular, a sturdy defensive unit.  Junior midfielder Liz Bendick returns after leading all players last season with eight goals, and tying for the team lead in points (18).

Sophomore Chrissy Marcius (7g, 2a) also returns at midfield following a standout rookie season that included the game-winning goal in the 2009 PAC Championship game.  Sophomore midfielder Dawn Murphy also returns after being selected to the All-Presidents' Athletic Conference honorable-mention squad.

The Presidents' defense will continue to be where team success is determined with returning starters Hannah Shaner and Lauren Reynolds {pictured} looking to build upon stellar freshmen campaigns.  That duo, as well as senior Cency Middleton and junior goalkeeper Stephanie Saussol, played vital roles in last season's defensive dominance which set a W&J single-season record by allowing only 21 goals all season. 

The Presidents enter the season with high expectations, but a recent track record of meeting those lofty goals.  With what Curtis called "the best W&J recruiting class he's ever had" joining a group of upperclassmen with big-game experience, the 2010 Presidents warrant those expectations.

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W&J’S AHRENHOLTZ EARNS SOCCER ALL-REGION LAURELS (12/7)

Complete All-Great Lakes Region Team

WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College senior midfielder Spencer Ahrenholtz (Bridgeville, Pa./Chartiers Valley) was recently selected to the 2009 NSCAA Division III Women’s Soccer All-Great Lakes Region Team.  She was a second-team honoree.

Ahrenholtz, who was a third-team All-Great Lakes Region selection in 2008, also received Academic All-American honors earlier this season.  She was a third-team selection on the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American team.  Ahrenholtz is W&J’s 24th student-athlete and first women’s soccer player in history to earn the prestigious honor.

She is also a three-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference performer, including a 2009 and 2008 first-team selection and a 2007 second-team choice.

Ahrenholtz played 86 career games and made 84 starts. She helped guide the 2008 and 2009 W&J squads to PAC Championships and led the Red & Black to their first two NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. In 2008, she helped W&J earn its first NCAA women’s sport tournament victory as the Presidents eliminated Marywood (Pa.) on penalty kicks (5-4) in the opening round of the tournament.

She scored 23 goals and dished out 10 assists for 56 total points during her career at W&J. Ahrenholtz amassed 243 total shots and netted six game-winning goals. The four-year starter put up her best offensive numbers during her junior season as she netted a team-high 14 goals and posted two assists for 30 points.

This season, she showed her versatility as she led the team in assists with seven and found the back of the net four times.

Washington & Jefferson compiled an overall record of 46-31-9 during her career, including a 12-7-2 mark this past season. With 46 career wins, Ahrenholtz along with classmates Tiffany Sherred (Finleyville, Pa./Ringgold) and Jessica Swartz (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata) broke the school record for wins during a four-year career.

Thomas More and Grove City were the only other PAC schools to be represented on the All-Great Lakes Region squads.  TMC’s senior Deanna Goshdigian was a first-team selection, while her classmate Jenna Kramer joined Ahrenholtz on the second-team.  Grove City’s senior Michelle Peck and Thomas More's senior Kaitlyn Cohen garnered third-team laurels.

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BACK-TO-BACK PAC CHAMPS

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