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Owens Community College women’s soccer made its season and program debut as the Express hosts Mercyhurst College North East in its first-ever match as an NJCAA intercollegiate athletic sport on August 28. The season opener will start at 2 p.m.
“Our new team is really looking forward to the start of our first season as an Owens Community College intercollegiate athletic program,” said Mary Whisler, first-year Head Coach of the women’s soccer program. “Owens has a rich tradition of academic and athletic excellence and the new women’s soccer program looks to build on that tradition and excel both on the playing field and in the classroom. We have a great incoming class of student-athletes who are very excited to represent Owens and the new Express women’s soccer program.”
First-year players to the Express women’s soccer program are goalkeeper Shara Williams of (Springfield); forward/midfielder Sarah Weaver (Margaretta); midfielder Jaime Sesock (Davisburg Holly, Mich.); forward Marissa Szabo (Sylvania Southview); defender/midfielder Erica Lankey (Toledo Christian); midfielder Shauna Kastel (Southview); forward/midfielder Alyvia Lieber (Maumee); defender/midfielder Aleha Almester (Rossford); midfielder Haley Gasser (Sylvania Northview); forward Kendra Eitniear (Swanton); defender/midfielder Chelsea Charniga (Otsego); defender Shelby Ramirez of (Whitmer); defender/midfielder Sarah Ruiz (Swanton); forward/midfielder Amanda Roumaya (Whitmer); defender Malaysia Wright (Central Catholic), and Kristina-Marie Rutherford (Norton).
In 2010, Owens announced the expansion of its intercollegiate athletic programs with the creation of a new women’s soccer team. The Express program officially begins NJCAA competition with the start of the current fall season. Owens women’s soccer competed as a club sport during the 2010 fall semester and finished the campaign with a 3-8 overall record.
The Express women’s soccer program is a Division I member of the NJCAA. Owens will primarily compete against other colleges and universities from around the Midwest, including Cincinnati State, Lorain County, Schoolcraft, Delta and Jackson, among others.
With the start of the 2011 fall season, the Express women’s soccer program becomes the eighth intercollegiate athletic program offered at Owens. The seven other sports include baseball, softball, men’s golf, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s soccer and volleyball.
National volleyball tourney
Owens has been selected among community colleges nationwide to serve as host venue for the 2011-13 NJCAA Division II Women’s Volleyball National Championship Tournament.
The college has hosted the national championship tournament on seven previous occasions. Owens served as the host site for the NJCAA Division II Women’s Volleyball National Championship Tournament from 2001-04 and the NJCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball National Championship Tournament from 1998-2000.
“Owens Community College is honored to be chosen by the NJCAA to host the Division II Women’s Volleyball National Championship Tournament for the next three years,” said Chris Giordano, Owens Dean of Student Life. “The College has a long and proud history of academic and athletic excellence in women’s volleyball and we look forward to welcoming some of the country’s finest programs and community colleges to Northwest Ohio for the chance to compete for a national championship.”
This year’s national tournament will take place Nov. 17-19. The top 16 teams from across the country will compete in the double elimination consolation tournament. All matches will occur in the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.
Owens women’s volleyball is led by Coach Sonny Lewis. The Express ended their 2010 season with a 42-9 overall record and finished 11-1 (first place) in the OCCAC regular season standings. Owens has now won 10 out of the last 11 OCCAC regular season championships. Lewis’ squad also was ranked No. 11 in the final NJCAA Division II volleyball regular season poll.
In addition, Owens’ volleyball team advanced to its second NJCAA Division II National Championship tournament where they finished 11 among 16 participating intercollegiate teams. The Express also participated in five Division III national tournaments and finished third in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
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