LAURA ARNOLD Arnold AMIE BANNISTER Bannister - Amazon Web ...
THE FRESHMEN
LAURA ARNOLD
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GOALKEEPER • 5-11 • FR./FR. HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, OHIO (MAYFIELD)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year letterwinner at Mayfield (’09) under coach Matt Lubin ... earned All-Ohio First-Team honors as a junior before being named to the second team in her final season ... a three-time All-Western Reserve Conference selection for the Wildcats ... also an All-Greater Cleveland Coaches honoree ... captained the team as a senior ... named to the honor roll in three years. PERSONAL Laura L. Arnold was born on May 6, 1991, in Highland Heights, Ohio ... plans to major in a science-related field (biology or chemistry) at BGSU ... daughter of Bill and Ann Arnold ... the youngest of two children ... has one brother ... has played club ball with the Cleveland Cobras Soccer Club ... prior to that, earned an OYSAN State Cup Championship in 2007 with her CASA U16 team ... has also played for Ohio Premier.
Arnold
AMIE BANNISTER
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DEFENDER • 5-6 • FR./FR. WESTERVILLE, OHIO (SOUTH)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year starter at Westerville South (’09) under coach Bobby Weimer ... the Wildcats’ team MVP as a senior ... also was named to the Ohio Capital Conference First Team in each of her last two seasons after earning second-team honors as a sophomore ... a First-Team All-Central District honoree in her final year ... also a four-year track letterwinner, competing in the sprint and relay events ... earned All-Central District and All-OCC honors in that sport as well ... a two-year captain for both the soccer and track teams ... Senior Class President ... spoke at commencement ... was a finalist for the Westerville South Hall of Excellence. PERSONAL Amie Lee Bannister was born on April 29, 1991, in Westerville, Ohio ... plans to major in elementary education and minor in psychology at BGSU ... daughter of Rick and Diane Bannister ... the second of four daughters ... has played club ball for Olentangy Premier FC the past few years, after playing for Premier adidas SC from the U9 to U16 levels.
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Bannist
THE FRESHMEN
KEELY CHANDLER
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MIDFIELDER • 5-6 • FR./FR. ROCHESTER, MICH. (ADAMS)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year starter at Rochester Adams (’09) for coach Aaron Donaghy ... a three-time allleague (Oakland Activities Association) selection ... also a three-time all-district pick ... twice named to the all-county team ... was the Highlanders’ MVP as a senior in the spring of 2009 ... helped the team to a regional title and a state semifinal berth as a freshman ... team captain as a senior ... was the Valedictorian of her class. PERSONAL Keely Ann Chandler was born on Dec. 24, 1990, in Orlando, Fla. ... plans to major in pre-medicine at BGSU ... daughter of Chris and Colleen Chandler ... the middle of three children ... has an older brother and a younger sister ... mother swam collegiately at Michigan State Univ. ... has played club ball for West Coast FC (2003-05) and Vardar (2005-09) ... has been her team’s captain as well as leading scorer in each of the last five years.
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JENNY FOWLER DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER • 5-3 • FR./FR. GROVE CITY, Ohio (CENtRAL CROSSING)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year letterwinner at Central Crossing (’09) for coach Amy Martin ... earned All-Ohio Capital Conference honors three times ... garnered honorable mention as a freshman, secondteam laurels as a junior and first-team accolades as a senior ... missed the bulk of her sophomore season due to injury ... a two-time team MVP ... National Honor Society. PERSONAL Jennifer Marie Fowler was born on March 19, 1991, in Grove City, Ohio ... plans to major in pre-medicine at BGSU ... daughter of Robert and Julie Fowler ... the middle of three children ... has an older brother and a younger sister ... has played club ball for Ohio Premier ... additionally, has been a part of the Ohio South ODP program since the U13 level, and has also played in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL).
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THE FRESHMEN
LAUREN LIVINGSTON
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MIDFIELDER/FORWARD • 5-4 • FR./FR. LISLE, ILL. (WHEATON WARRENVILLE SOUTH)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year letterwinner at Wheaton Warrenville South (’09) for coach Guy Callipari ... a unanimous All-DuPage Valley Conference selection as a senior ... helped the Tigers to the regional championship game in all four seasons, winning the regional title twice ... team won 57 games during her four years, including a 19-2-1 overall record and a DVC title in her junior season ... had career totals of 15 goals and 18 assists, including a team-leading 10 assists as a sophomore ... team captain as a senior ... four-time academic all-conference honoree ... also earned the HISA Scholastic Achievement Award all four years ... National Honor Society.
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PERSONAL Lauren Taylor Livingston was born on Oct. 20, 1990, in Winfield, Ill. ... plans to be a mild/ moderate intervention specialist major at BGSU ... daughter of Brad and Jenny Livingston ... the middle of three children ... the youngest of three daughters ... oldest sister, Brittany, was a four-year member of the gymnastics team at Ohio State ... sister, Brooke, is entering her junior year on the women’s soccer team at MAC rival Miami Univ. ... has played club ball for America’s Soccer Club (ASC Eagles).
EMILY ROTHWELL
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DEFENDER • 5-3 • FR./FR. COLLIERVILLE, TENN. (COLLIERVILLE)
HIGH SCHOOL A three-year letterwinner at Collierville (’09) for coach Bill Gillespie ... a sweeper who captained her team as a senior, and received Defensive MVP honors in each of her last three years ... the Lady Dragons went 20-1-5 and advanced to the state finals for the second-straight year in 2007 ... that season, team was ranked #1 in the region and state, and #6 nationally ... CHS went 17-5-2 en route to state finals in ‘06 ... named to All-Tennessee All Metro teams in those three years ... Best of Preps all four years ... Who’s Who Among H.S. Students ... honor roll all four years. PERSONAL Emily Christine Rothwell was born on July 21, 1991, in Germantown, Tenn ... currently undecided upon a major at BGSU ... daughter of Richard and Jane Rothwell ... has an older sister ... has played club ball with 1991 Lady Lobos, captaining her teams in each of the last seven years ... part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) state pool from 2003-05.
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THE FRESHMEN
SARAH VONDERBRINK
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MIDFIELDER/FORWARD • 5-7 • FR./FR. KETTERING, OHIO (FAIRMONT)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year letterwinner at Kettering Fairmont (’09) for coach Jeff Kuns ... an All-Ohio Second-Team selection as a senior ... three-time all-league (Greater Western Ohio Conference choice) ... also earned All-Miami Valley honors on multiple occasions ... had a career total of 29 goals, including 12 as a senior ... had 21 career assists for the Firebirds ... also earned four letters in track and field, along with two letters in diving ... captained both the soccer and track teams as a senior ... National Honor Society ... United Student Body Commissioner. PERSONAL Sarah Marie VonderBrink was born on June 4, 1990, in Dayton, Ohio ... plans to major in communication disorders at BGSU ... daughter of Phil and Kathy VonderBrink ... the third of four children ... has an older brother, an older sister and a younger sister ... father played soccer collegiately at Ohio State ... played club soccer with Ohio Galaxies FC Elite.
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BOWLING GREEN FALCONS • 2009 WOMEN’S SOCCER
THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THE FALCONS AND MAC WOMEN’S SOCCER
The Falcons won the MAC Tournament title in both 2004 ...
The fall of 1997 marked the first season of competition for women’s soccer as a conference-sponsored sport. Eight MAC institutions fielded teams that fall. The first season of league women’s soccer sponsorship coincided with Bowling Green’s first year fielding a program at the varsity level. Buffalo, Central Michigan and Marshall joined the MAC women’s soccer ranks in 1998, and Ball State began competition in 1999. Akron started a women’s soccer program in 2001, bringing MAC membership in the sport to 13 schools. Marshall left the MAC at the end of the 2004-05 academic year, giving the conference 12 women’s soccer-playing schools. The Falcons have enjoyed their fair share of success in MAC action. The 2005 team won the regular-season title for the first time in school history, and BGSU won back-to-back conference tournament titles in ’04 and ’05. The Falcons have appeared in the MAC Tournament’s championship game five of the last eight seasons, including in three-straight title tilts from 2003-05 and again in 2007. The inaugural MAC Tournament, in 1997, included the top four regular-season finishers, and the tourney doubled in size for the 1998 season. In that ’98 tournament, BG advanced to the semifinal round before losing in overtime to eventual champion Northern Illinois. All six of BGSU’s MAC Tournament losses have come at the hands of the eventual tourney champion. Two years later (2000), the Falcons won a pair of tournament matches to advance to the championship contest for the first time. In that final, the Brown and Orange lost to Miami, again in overtime. In 2002, the Falcons were picked to finish ninth, but placed fourth in the regular-season standings. That BG squad hosted a MAC Tournament match for the first time in school history, and won that match before falling to MU on the RedHawks’ home field. The next season, the Falcons finished eighth in the 37
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regular-season standings, but downed the top seed in the first round of the tournament, and advanced all the way to the championship match. The 2003 team’s improbable run seemed hard to top, but Andy Richards’ 2004 team did just that. Again seeded eighth, the ’04 Falcons outscored opponents, 8-2, en route to three wins over higher-seeded teams and the first MAC Tournament title in school history. The 2005 BGSU squad returned to the championship match yet again, achieving several program firsts. Richards and the Falcons won the MAC’s regular-season title for the first time in school history, and earned the right to host the league tourney for the first time. The Brown and Orange did not allow a goal in three MAC Tournament matches, en route to a second-straight title and NCAA berth. The ‘06 Falcons, despite losing seven starters from the previous year’s club, returned to the MAC Tournament for a fifth consecutive season. The Brown and Orange, with 12 newcomers on the 24-woman roster, saw their season end in the quarterfinal round. In 2007, the Falcons returned to the championship match of the conference tourney once again, for the fourth time in five Novembers. BGSU’s three tournament matches all went to overtime, with the last two requiring penalty kicks. The Falcons dispatched regular-season champion Ball State on the Cardinals’ home field in the semifinal round, before Toledo squeaked past the Brown and Orange via PKs in the final. Last fall, the Falcons finished fourth in the MAC’s regular-season standings. BGSU downed Western Michigan in quarterfinal-round action at Cochrane, before falling at UT on a late goal in the semifinal round. Eight teams will qualify for the tournament again in 2009, with quarterfinal matches held Nov. 1 at the top four seeds. The semifinals and championship will be contested Nov. 6 and 8, respectively, at the site of the highest remaining seed after the quarterfinal round.
... and 2005, with the latter crown coming at Cochrane Field
the mID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE Providing leadership in education and in diversity, the Mid-American Conference moves into its 63rd year of service to the student-athlete. Since its inception in 1946, the MidAmerican Conference has progressively grown and developed into one of the most aggressive Division I conferences in the country. One of only 11 football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences, the MAC named Dr. Jon Steinbrecher as its eighth commissioner in the 63-year history of the league this past March. Steinbrecher came to the MAC after serving for six years as the commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference. The league has grown its commitment to championships by expanding to six its number of neutral site post season events – football (Detroit’s Ford Field), volleyball (Toledo’s SeaGate Centre), men’s and women’s basketball (Cleveland’s
The Falcons hoisted the MAC Tournament championship trophy in 2004, the first league title in the history of the women’s soccer program at BGSU
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Quicken Loans Arena), softball (Akron’s Firestone Stadium) and most recently baseball (Chillicothe’s VA Memorial Stadium).
three teams to the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament (Miami, Ohio and Western Michigan). Western Michigan became only the third team to make it to the The MAC tied a league record Sweet Sixteen (Ohio 2005 in 2008 with five schools parand Western Michigan 1983). ticipating in bowl games – BufIn women’s basketball MAC falo (International); Ball State Tournament Champion Ball New Commissioner (GMAC); Central Michigan State upset perennial national Jon Steinbrecher (Motor City); Western Michipower Tennessee in the first gan (Texas); and Northern round of the NCAA tournaIllinois (Independence Bowl). The 2008 ment handing the Lady Vols their first season also saw the first MAC football ever loss in the opening round of the team ranked in the Top 25 since 2003. NCAA tournament. The victory was Ball State was ranked as high as 12th in named “Pontiac Game Changing Perthe BCS Standings, 12th in the AP and formance” of the 2009 NCAA Women’s 13th in the USA Today Poll. The CarBasketball Tournament, while first year dinals were ranked in all three polls for head coach Kelly Packard was named 10 straight weeks. MAC football teams Maggie Dixon Division I Rookie Coach won a league record four games versus of the Year by the WBCA. opponents from the Big Ten. Toledo became the first MAC team to ever beat Akron continued its dominance of MAC Michigan in Ann Arbor; Ball State won men’s soccer with its 11 regular-season its first-ever game against a Big Ten foe championship to go along with its sixth when the Cardinals beat Indiana; Central MAC Tournament title – both league Michigan also defeated Indiana; and records. The Zips were ranked as high Western Michigan beat Illinois in a game as No. 2 during the season and reached played at Ford Field. the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Northwestern, In its partnership with ESPN, the MAC 1-0. Steve Zakuani, who helped guide signed an eight-year rights agreement the University of Akron men’s soccer through the 2016-2017 academic year for program to a record-setting campaign football, as well as men’s and women’s in 2008, was the first overall pick of the basketball. The deal will be the most 2009 Major League Soccer Super Draft. extensive in the 63-year history of the Zakuani earned 2008 MAC Men’s Socconference. The new deal calls for a cer Player of the Year honors and was a minimum of 25 events annually to be finalist for the Hermann Trophy, which produced and aired on an ESPN platform goes to the best men’s soccer player in including the men’s and women’s basthe country. ketball championships, a regular-season MAC presence on ESPN, the Marathon The conference now has national leaderMAC Football Championship and a ship positions on the following NCAA minimum of 11 regular-season football committees: Warde Manual, Buffalo games. (Academic Cabinet); Susan Lipnickey, Miami (Leadership Council and InfracWomen’s athletics shined for the MAC tions Appeals); Derrick Gragg, Eastern this past year. For the first time in the Michigan (Legislative Council); Dr. history of the conference the MAC sent John Peters, Northern Illinois (Board
BOWLING GREEN FALCONS • 2009 WOMEN’S SOCCER
the mID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE of Directors); Tom Collins, Ball State (Amateurism Cabinet); Kelly Andrews, Toledo (Awards, benefits, Expenses & Financial Aid Cabinet); Stephannnie Harvey-Vandenburg, Eastern Michigan (Recruiting & Athletic Personal Issues Cabinet); Brad Bates, Miami (Academic Performance); Eileen Jennings, Central Michigan (Infractions); Ted McKown, Kent State (International Students Records); Jim Klein, Toledo (Legislative Review & Interpretations); Karin Lee, Ball State (Minority Opportunities and Interest); Melody Reifel Werner, Eastern Michigan (Research); Catharine Marosszeky, Kent State (Student-Athlete Advisory); Lee Meserve, Bowling Green (Walter Byers Scholarship). The MAC also has representation on Division I Sport Committees and related governing groups: Cathy O’Donnell, Kent State (Field Hockey); Dave Heeke, Central Michigan (Football Issues); Marling “Newt” Engle, Akron (Rifle); Karin Lee, Ball State (Tennis); Rich Ceronie (Track & Field); Laing Kennedy, Kent State (Men’s Basketball); Charlie Coles, Miami (Men’s Basketball Issues); Jim Schaus, Ohio and Reggie Witherspoon, Buffalo (Men’s Basketball Rules); Steven Cady, Miami (Men’s Ice Hockey); Mary Lu Gribschaw, Akron (Men’s Soccer); Greg Christopher, Bowling Green (Women’s Basketball); Anucha BrownSanders, Buffalo and Donyale Canada, MAC (Women’s Basketball Issues); Curt Miller, Bowling Green (Women’s Basketball Rules); Jerry Reighard, Central Michigan (Gymnastics); Matt Wolfert, Ball State (Women’s Soccer); Dee Abrahamson, Northern Illinois (Women’s Softball Rules); Derek van der Merwe, Central Michigan (Wrestling).
University), World Series winning manager Bob Brenly (Ohio University) and Olympic bobsled team member Brock Kreitzburgh (University of Toledo), the Mid-American Conference continues to excel in producing leaders in the world of athletics. Based in Cleveland since July 1999 following a 15-year stay in Toledo, Ohio, the MAC has established historic measurements in both football and men’s and women’s basketball since moving to Northeast Ohio. The Mid-American Conference was founded as a five-school league on February 24, 1946 in Columbus, Ohio with Ohio, Butler, Cincinnati, Wayne State and Western Reserve admitted as charter members. The Mid-American Conference has 12 full-time schools and a 13th, Temple, for football only. Comprising the East Division is the University of Akron (joined in 1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946) and Temple University (2007). The West Division members are Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, 1997), University of Toledo (1950) and Western Michigan University (1947).
From two-time Super Bowl quarterback winning Ben Roethlisberger (Miami University), NFL Defensive MVP James Harrison (Kent State University), British Open winner Ben Curtis (Kent State
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In 1946 men’s basketball was the first competitive sport in the MAC, which now sponsors a total 23 sports. Women’s sports were brought into the conference’s structure in 1980. For men, championships (11) are sponsored in football, basketball, baseball, cross country, soccer, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, wrestling, golf and tennis. For women, championships (12) are sponsored in basketball, softball, volleyball, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, gymnastics, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and tennis. (Text and information courtesy MAC office)
LAURA ARNOLD
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GOALKEEPER • 5-11 • FR./FR. HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, OHIO (MAYFIELD)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year letterwinner at Mayfield (’09) under coach Matt Lubin ... earned All-Ohio First-Team honors as a junior before being named to the second team in her final season ... a three-time All-Western Reserve Conference selection for the Wildcats ... also an All-Greater Cleveland Coaches honoree ... captained the team as a senior ... named to the honor roll in three years. PERSONAL Laura L. Arnold was born on May 6, 1991, in Highland Heights, Ohio ... plans to major in a science-related field (biology or chemistry) at BGSU ... daughter of Bill and Ann Arnold ... the youngest of two children ... has one brother ... has played club ball with the Cleveland Cobras Soccer Club ... prior to that, earned an OYSAN State Cup Championship in 2007 with her CASA U16 team ... has also played for Ohio Premier.
Arnold
AMIE BANNISTER
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DEFENDER • 5-6 • FR./FR. WESTERVILLE, OHIO (SOUTH)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year starter at Westerville South (’09) under coach Bobby Weimer ... the Wildcats’ team MVP as a senior ... also was named to the Ohio Capital Conference First Team in each of her last two seasons after earning second-team honors as a sophomore ... a First-Team All-Central District honoree in her final year ... also a four-year track letterwinner, competing in the sprint and relay events ... earned All-Central District and All-OCC honors in that sport as well ... a two-year captain for both the soccer and track teams ... Senior Class President ... spoke at commencement ... was a finalist for the Westerville South Hall of Excellence. PERSONAL Amie Lee Bannister was born on April 29, 1991, in Westerville, Ohio ... plans to major in elementary education and minor in psychology at BGSU ... daughter of Rick and Diane Bannister ... the second of four daughters ... has played club ball for Olentangy Premier FC the past few years, after playing for Premier adidas SC from the U9 to U16 levels.
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Bannist
THE FRESHMEN
KEELY CHANDLER
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MIDFIELDER • 5-6 • FR./FR. ROCHESTER, MICH. (ADAMS)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year starter at Rochester Adams (’09) for coach Aaron Donaghy ... a three-time allleague (Oakland Activities Association) selection ... also a three-time all-district pick ... twice named to the all-county team ... was the Highlanders’ MVP as a senior in the spring of 2009 ... helped the team to a regional title and a state semifinal berth as a freshman ... team captain as a senior ... was the Valedictorian of her class. PERSONAL Keely Ann Chandler was born on Dec. 24, 1990, in Orlando, Fla. ... plans to major in pre-medicine at BGSU ... daughter of Chris and Colleen Chandler ... the middle of three children ... has an older brother and a younger sister ... mother swam collegiately at Michigan State Univ. ... has played club ball for West Coast FC (2003-05) and Vardar (2005-09) ... has been her team’s captain as well as leading scorer in each of the last five years.
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JENNY FOWLER DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER • 5-3 • FR./FR. GROVE CITY, Ohio (CENtRAL CROSSING)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year letterwinner at Central Crossing (’09) for coach Amy Martin ... earned All-Ohio Capital Conference honors three times ... garnered honorable mention as a freshman, secondteam laurels as a junior and first-team accolades as a senior ... missed the bulk of her sophomore season due to injury ... a two-time team MVP ... National Honor Society. PERSONAL Jennifer Marie Fowler was born on March 19, 1991, in Grove City, Ohio ... plans to major in pre-medicine at BGSU ... daughter of Robert and Julie Fowler ... the middle of three children ... has an older brother and a younger sister ... has played club ball for Ohio Premier ... additionally, has been a part of the Ohio South ODP program since the U13 level, and has also played in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL).
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THE FRESHMEN
LAUREN LIVINGSTON
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MIDFIELDER/FORWARD • 5-4 • FR./FR. LISLE, ILL. (WHEATON WARRENVILLE SOUTH)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year letterwinner at Wheaton Warrenville South (’09) for coach Guy Callipari ... a unanimous All-DuPage Valley Conference selection as a senior ... helped the Tigers to the regional championship game in all four seasons, winning the regional title twice ... team won 57 games during her four years, including a 19-2-1 overall record and a DVC title in her junior season ... had career totals of 15 goals and 18 assists, including a team-leading 10 assists as a sophomore ... team captain as a senior ... four-time academic all-conference honoree ... also earned the HISA Scholastic Achievement Award all four years ... National Honor Society.
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PERSONAL Lauren Taylor Livingston was born on Oct. 20, 1990, in Winfield, Ill. ... plans to be a mild/ moderate intervention specialist major at BGSU ... daughter of Brad and Jenny Livingston ... the middle of three children ... the youngest of three daughters ... oldest sister, Brittany, was a four-year member of the gymnastics team at Ohio State ... sister, Brooke, is entering her junior year on the women’s soccer team at MAC rival Miami Univ. ... has played club ball for America’s Soccer Club (ASC Eagles).
EMILY ROTHWELL
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DEFENDER • 5-3 • FR./FR. COLLIERVILLE, TENN. (COLLIERVILLE)
HIGH SCHOOL A three-year letterwinner at Collierville (’09) for coach Bill Gillespie ... a sweeper who captained her team as a senior, and received Defensive MVP honors in each of her last three years ... the Lady Dragons went 20-1-5 and advanced to the state finals for the second-straight year in 2007 ... that season, team was ranked #1 in the region and state, and #6 nationally ... CHS went 17-5-2 en route to state finals in ‘06 ... named to All-Tennessee All Metro teams in those three years ... Best of Preps all four years ... Who’s Who Among H.S. Students ... honor roll all four years. PERSONAL Emily Christine Rothwell was born on July 21, 1991, in Germantown, Tenn ... currently undecided upon a major at BGSU ... daughter of Richard and Jane Rothwell ... has an older sister ... has played club ball with 1991 Lady Lobos, captaining her teams in each of the last seven years ... part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) state pool from 2003-05.
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SARAH VONDERBRINK
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MIDFIELDER/FORWARD • 5-7 • FR./FR. KETTERING, OHIO (FAIRMONT)
HIGH SCHOOL A four-year letterwinner at Kettering Fairmont (’09) for coach Jeff Kuns ... an All-Ohio Second-Team selection as a senior ... three-time all-league (Greater Western Ohio Conference choice) ... also earned All-Miami Valley honors on multiple occasions ... had a career total of 29 goals, including 12 as a senior ... had 21 career assists for the Firebirds ... also earned four letters in track and field, along with two letters in diving ... captained both the soccer and track teams as a senior ... National Honor Society ... United Student Body Commissioner. PERSONAL Sarah Marie VonderBrink was born on June 4, 1990, in Dayton, Ohio ... plans to major in communication disorders at BGSU ... daughter of Phil and Kathy VonderBrink ... the third of four children ... has an older brother, an older sister and a younger sister ... father played soccer collegiately at Ohio State ... played club soccer with Ohio Galaxies FC Elite.
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THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE 36
BOWLING GREEN FALCONS • 2009 WOMEN’S SOCCER
THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THE FALCONS AND MAC WOMEN’S SOCCER
The Falcons won the MAC Tournament title in both 2004 ...
The fall of 1997 marked the first season of competition for women’s soccer as a conference-sponsored sport. Eight MAC institutions fielded teams that fall. The first season of league women’s soccer sponsorship coincided with Bowling Green’s first year fielding a program at the varsity level. Buffalo, Central Michigan and Marshall joined the MAC women’s soccer ranks in 1998, and Ball State began competition in 1999. Akron started a women’s soccer program in 2001, bringing MAC membership in the sport to 13 schools. Marshall left the MAC at the end of the 2004-05 academic year, giving the conference 12 women’s soccer-playing schools. The Falcons have enjoyed their fair share of success in MAC action. The 2005 team won the regular-season title for the first time in school history, and BGSU won back-to-back conference tournament titles in ’04 and ’05. The Falcons have appeared in the MAC Tournament’s championship game five of the last eight seasons, including in three-straight title tilts from 2003-05 and again in 2007. The inaugural MAC Tournament, in 1997, included the top four regular-season finishers, and the tourney doubled in size for the 1998 season. In that ’98 tournament, BG advanced to the semifinal round before losing in overtime to eventual champion Northern Illinois. All six of BGSU’s MAC Tournament losses have come at the hands of the eventual tourney champion. Two years later (2000), the Falcons won a pair of tournament matches to advance to the championship contest for the first time. In that final, the Brown and Orange lost to Miami, again in overtime. In 2002, the Falcons were picked to finish ninth, but placed fourth in the regular-season standings. That BG squad hosted a MAC Tournament match for the first time in school history, and won that match before falling to MU on the RedHawks’ home field. The next season, the Falcons finished eighth in the 37
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regular-season standings, but downed the top seed in the first round of the tournament, and advanced all the way to the championship match. The 2003 team’s improbable run seemed hard to top, but Andy Richards’ 2004 team did just that. Again seeded eighth, the ’04 Falcons outscored opponents, 8-2, en route to three wins over higher-seeded teams and the first MAC Tournament title in school history. The 2005 BGSU squad returned to the championship match yet again, achieving several program firsts. Richards and the Falcons won the MAC’s regular-season title for the first time in school history, and earned the right to host the league tourney for the first time. The Brown and Orange did not allow a goal in three MAC Tournament matches, en route to a second-straight title and NCAA berth. The ‘06 Falcons, despite losing seven starters from the previous year’s club, returned to the MAC Tournament for a fifth consecutive season. The Brown and Orange, with 12 newcomers on the 24-woman roster, saw their season end in the quarterfinal round. In 2007, the Falcons returned to the championship match of the conference tourney once again, for the fourth time in five Novembers. BGSU’s three tournament matches all went to overtime, with the last two requiring penalty kicks. The Falcons dispatched regular-season champion Ball State on the Cardinals’ home field in the semifinal round, before Toledo squeaked past the Brown and Orange via PKs in the final. Last fall, the Falcons finished fourth in the MAC’s regular-season standings. BGSU downed Western Michigan in quarterfinal-round action at Cochrane, before falling at UT on a late goal in the semifinal round. Eight teams will qualify for the tournament again in 2009, with quarterfinal matches held Nov. 1 at the top four seeds. The semifinals and championship will be contested Nov. 6 and 8, respectively, at the site of the highest remaining seed after the quarterfinal round.
... and 2005, with the latter crown coming at Cochrane Field
the mID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE Providing leadership in education and in diversity, the Mid-American Conference moves into its 63rd year of service to the student-athlete. Since its inception in 1946, the MidAmerican Conference has progressively grown and developed into one of the most aggressive Division I conferences in the country. One of only 11 football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences, the MAC named Dr. Jon Steinbrecher as its eighth commissioner in the 63-year history of the league this past March. Steinbrecher came to the MAC after serving for six years as the commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference. The league has grown its commitment to championships by expanding to six its number of neutral site post season events – football (Detroit’s Ford Field), volleyball (Toledo’s SeaGate Centre), men’s and women’s basketball (Cleveland’s
The Falcons hoisted the MAC Tournament championship trophy in 2004, the first league title in the history of the women’s soccer program at BGSU
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Quicken Loans Arena), softball (Akron’s Firestone Stadium) and most recently baseball (Chillicothe’s VA Memorial Stadium).
three teams to the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament (Miami, Ohio and Western Michigan). Western Michigan became only the third team to make it to the The MAC tied a league record Sweet Sixteen (Ohio 2005 in 2008 with five schools parand Western Michigan 1983). ticipating in bowl games – BufIn women’s basketball MAC falo (International); Ball State Tournament Champion Ball New Commissioner (GMAC); Central Michigan State upset perennial national Jon Steinbrecher (Motor City); Western Michipower Tennessee in the first gan (Texas); and Northern round of the NCAA tournaIllinois (Independence Bowl). The 2008 ment handing the Lady Vols their first season also saw the first MAC football ever loss in the opening round of the team ranked in the Top 25 since 2003. NCAA tournament. The victory was Ball State was ranked as high as 12th in named “Pontiac Game Changing Perthe BCS Standings, 12th in the AP and formance” of the 2009 NCAA Women’s 13th in the USA Today Poll. The CarBasketball Tournament, while first year dinals were ranked in all three polls for head coach Kelly Packard was named 10 straight weeks. MAC football teams Maggie Dixon Division I Rookie Coach won a league record four games versus of the Year by the WBCA. opponents from the Big Ten. Toledo became the first MAC team to ever beat Akron continued its dominance of MAC Michigan in Ann Arbor; Ball State won men’s soccer with its 11 regular-season its first-ever game against a Big Ten foe championship to go along with its sixth when the Cardinals beat Indiana; Central MAC Tournament title – both league Michigan also defeated Indiana; and records. The Zips were ranked as high Western Michigan beat Illinois in a game as No. 2 during the season and reached played at Ford Field. the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Northwestern, In its partnership with ESPN, the MAC 1-0. Steve Zakuani, who helped guide signed an eight-year rights agreement the University of Akron men’s soccer through the 2016-2017 academic year for program to a record-setting campaign football, as well as men’s and women’s in 2008, was the first overall pick of the basketball. The deal will be the most 2009 Major League Soccer Super Draft. extensive in the 63-year history of the Zakuani earned 2008 MAC Men’s Socconference. The new deal calls for a cer Player of the Year honors and was a minimum of 25 events annually to be finalist for the Hermann Trophy, which produced and aired on an ESPN platform goes to the best men’s soccer player in including the men’s and women’s basthe country. ketball championships, a regular-season MAC presence on ESPN, the Marathon The conference now has national leaderMAC Football Championship and a ship positions on the following NCAA minimum of 11 regular-season football committees: Warde Manual, Buffalo games. (Academic Cabinet); Susan Lipnickey, Miami (Leadership Council and InfracWomen’s athletics shined for the MAC tions Appeals); Derrick Gragg, Eastern this past year. For the first time in the Michigan (Legislative Council); Dr. history of the conference the MAC sent John Peters, Northern Illinois (Board
BOWLING GREEN FALCONS • 2009 WOMEN’S SOCCER
the mID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE of Directors); Tom Collins, Ball State (Amateurism Cabinet); Kelly Andrews, Toledo (Awards, benefits, Expenses & Financial Aid Cabinet); Stephannnie Harvey-Vandenburg, Eastern Michigan (Recruiting & Athletic Personal Issues Cabinet); Brad Bates, Miami (Academic Performance); Eileen Jennings, Central Michigan (Infractions); Ted McKown, Kent State (International Students Records); Jim Klein, Toledo (Legislative Review & Interpretations); Karin Lee, Ball State (Minority Opportunities and Interest); Melody Reifel Werner, Eastern Michigan (Research); Catharine Marosszeky, Kent State (Student-Athlete Advisory); Lee Meserve, Bowling Green (Walter Byers Scholarship). The MAC also has representation on Division I Sport Committees and related governing groups: Cathy O’Donnell, Kent State (Field Hockey); Dave Heeke, Central Michigan (Football Issues); Marling “Newt” Engle, Akron (Rifle); Karin Lee, Ball State (Tennis); Rich Ceronie (Track & Field); Laing Kennedy, Kent State (Men’s Basketball); Charlie Coles, Miami (Men’s Basketball Issues); Jim Schaus, Ohio and Reggie Witherspoon, Buffalo (Men’s Basketball Rules); Steven Cady, Miami (Men’s Ice Hockey); Mary Lu Gribschaw, Akron (Men’s Soccer); Greg Christopher, Bowling Green (Women’s Basketball); Anucha BrownSanders, Buffalo and Donyale Canada, MAC (Women’s Basketball Issues); Curt Miller, Bowling Green (Women’s Basketball Rules); Jerry Reighard, Central Michigan (Gymnastics); Matt Wolfert, Ball State (Women’s Soccer); Dee Abrahamson, Northern Illinois (Women’s Softball Rules); Derek van der Merwe, Central Michigan (Wrestling).
University), World Series winning manager Bob Brenly (Ohio University) and Olympic bobsled team member Brock Kreitzburgh (University of Toledo), the Mid-American Conference continues to excel in producing leaders in the world of athletics. Based in Cleveland since July 1999 following a 15-year stay in Toledo, Ohio, the MAC has established historic measurements in both football and men’s and women’s basketball since moving to Northeast Ohio. The Mid-American Conference was founded as a five-school league on February 24, 1946 in Columbus, Ohio with Ohio, Butler, Cincinnati, Wayne State and Western Reserve admitted as charter members. The Mid-American Conference has 12 full-time schools and a 13th, Temple, for football only. Comprising the East Division is the University of Akron (joined in 1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946) and Temple University (2007). The West Division members are Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, 1997), University of Toledo (1950) and Western Michigan University (1947).
From two-time Super Bowl quarterback winning Ben Roethlisberger (Miami University), NFL Defensive MVP James Harrison (Kent State University), British Open winner Ben Curtis (Kent State
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BOWLING GREEN FALCONS • 2009 WOMEN’S SOCCER
In 1946 men’s basketball was the first competitive sport in the MAC, which now sponsors a total 23 sports. Women’s sports were brought into the conference’s structure in 1980. For men, championships (11) are sponsored in football, basketball, baseball, cross country, soccer, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, wrestling, golf and tennis. For women, championships (12) are sponsored in basketball, softball, volleyball, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, gymnastics, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and tennis. (Text and information courtesy MAC office)
