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The Owens Community College men's soccer team dominated Mercyhurst North East in a 7-1 win at home as Novak Vuk Janicic (Elektro Technicka Skola/Belgrade, Serbia) had three goals to lead the way. The match was the season opener.
The freshman had netted five goals in just over two halves of play in scrimmage action. His three goals were the final three of the first half, which saw the Express take a 5-0 lead.
AJ Klever (Sylvania Northview) picked up the first goal of the season for Owens as he scored at the 10:38 mark of the first half. At the 18:49 mark, Nickyle Webber (Cornwall College/Trelawny, Jamaica) added a second one before Vuk Janicic scored at the 27:57, 33:44, and 40:46 marks.
Mercyhurst scored their lone goal at the 46 minute mark to make it 5-1. However, Owens answered back with goals from Ababacar Ndoye (Ypsilanti, Mich.) at the 72:12 mark and from Jauvanie Cole (Coconut Creek/Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at the 80th minute on a PK.
The Express has six players returning from last year’s team. Among the second-year players on Coach Art Johnson’s squad is Sean Kaighin (Clay).
First-ever win
Owens women’s soccer made its season and program debut as the Express hosted Mercyhurst College North East in its first-ever match as an NJCAA intercollegiate athletic sport on August 28.
Kendra Eitniear (Swanton) and Marissa Szabo (Sylvania Southview) made sure the Owens Express women's soccer team won their college debut in stunning fashion.
In the first NJCAA Div. II match in the history of the Owens women's soccer program, Eitniear scored six goals — two in the first 2:26 of the match, and Szabo added three of her own.
Overall, Eitniear's six goals game at the 1:42, 2:26, 16:06, 33:34, 59:49, and the 82:02 marks. Szabo added her three goals at the 48:44, 65:02, and 67:47 marks, while Haley Gasser (Sylvania Northview) added the other goal for the Express at the 78:50 mark.
Mercyhurst's lone goal came at the 42:08 mark in the game. They were only able to manage six shots on goal compared to 33 for the Express.
The match was played at Owens. Mary Whisler made her coaching debut for Owens, as well.
“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 the second match, the Express women's soccer team allowed an early goal to Jackson's Rachel Mervau at the 1:59 mark, and the lead withstood a strong second half barrage of Express shots in the second half.
Williams stopped six shots on goal for the Express, while Jackson had 14 shots on goal overall. On the other side, the Express had 15 shots on goal, most of them in the second half.
Among the missed chances for the Express in the second half included a ball that just eluded Weaver, who had an open shot two feet in front of the net, a ball that nearly trickled across the line in the lower left portion of the net before Jackson's goalie stopped it, a shot off the crossbar, and one that was put in the net but called back due to offsides.
Mervau's goal was assisted by Mary Stoner.
Owens will next play Kellogg C.C. at home on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Express have their chance at revenge against Jackson on Oct. 19.
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.
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